My final project in 2018 was completed the week before Christmas. My family always does a dress-up High Tea for Christmas Eve, and I have very few formal things that fit me and I can nurse in. So I decided to make a gown inspired by one I have long admired, worn by Grace Kelly.

While hers looks like a dress, and does not open down the front, I chose to make my version a 2 piece, and used a late 1950s wrap blouse pattern that had the same overall style lines as the Grace Kelly bodice.

First I made a trial in cotton to make sure it would fit, stay shut, and be something I could nurse in. Also to make sure I could make it! I followed the instructions very carefully, since it was very different from making a normal blouse.

I ended up tweaking the final version enough that I don't know if I will wear the cotton trial, but the 2nd version worked out pretty well. The blouse crosses in the front and the ends fasten in the back.

The midnight blue satin I used was darker than I wanted, since ideally I would have liked to match the flowers in the skirt, but I was determined to make this project completely from the stash and the satin was the only thing I had that was suitable.

The skirt's under layer is off white linen – again, the only fabric the right color that I had – and the overskirt is a gorgeous floral chiffon which I bought a few months ago, along with a lot of other formal deadstock fabric, from the auction of a local formal/bridal wear business that was going out of business and liquidating their warehouse stock. The large print is so pretty and very 1950s!

I had intended to make a circle skirt, but I didn't have enough linen, so changed my plans at the last minute and went with a very full formal skirt pattern I have, from the late 1940s. It was already the right length, which meant less pattern adjusting for me. I decided to go ankle length instead of floor length for practicality. It is still plenty full when worn over a crinoline, and has a lovely drape and swish when I walk.

This was the first time I've done an overlay on a skirt, so I had to do some research to figure out how to insert the zipper. Originally I did it wrong and had to redo part of the zipper seam, but otherwise it came together easily – once I had cut out and pieced the chiffon.

The 1940s skirt pattern had a center front and back seam. I didn't want a center seam on the chiffon, so I sewed the linen skirt pieces together first, then used them as the pattern for the chiffon so I could cut it all in one piece. But each skirt half was too wide for the chiffon, so I had to piece a bit on one side. Hopefully it's not too noticeable in all the fullness.

Otherwise the skirt was pretty basic. I followed the picture and made sure the overlay was hemmed an inch or so below the underskirt. I was very grateful for my rolled hem feature on my serger! The chiffon would have been horrible to hem any other way, but as it was it only took a few minutes to zip around it after I'd done the measuring to mark where the hem needed to be.

The overall look I think really does resemble the Grace Kelly dress, and I'm happy with its simple elegance. Of course I can wear the pieces separately if desired.

I kept accessories simple. Vintage 1950s earrings, pearl and silver bracelet, (on Christmas Eve I also added a silver corsage on my shoulder) and these formal heels from Golden Age Hollywood, which I snagged on holiday sale. They have metal eyelets, which I don't consider historically accurate, but otherwise the style is perfect for 1930s-1950s outfits. 

I love the toe detail! The silver leather isn't too metallic, but I probably will still only wear them for high dress and holidays.

Incidentally, their slick leather soles made posing on ice and snow rather…challenging! 🙂

The outfit felt very dressy, yet was comfortable to wear for an evening of fine dining and singing carols. I'm happy I had the inspiration, the right fabric, and took the time to create it.