Wedding Blog
What you see here is not an old picture from a ’70s wedding. No, it’s a quality camera phone photo of one of my BM dresses. I think my bridesmaids are going to hate me. I hate me. I had good intentions with their dresses. As you may recall, I’m having my mother make the BM dresses using this pattern, and even found (what I thought was) the perfect fabric:
Well, it’s not so perfect. My mother finished one of the gowns last weekend. Of course with my sister in New York, my cousin in California, and BM “A” on official work hibernation, I had to try it on. Oh boy. It’s everything a bridesmaid fears: big, unflattering, and seafoam. Mind you, it was more the design of the dress than any lack of skill on my mother’s part.
I didn’t like the fullness at the top so I had her pin knots midway down the straps. And it looked a little better, but I kept thinking that the dress looked so much like some horrid seafoam cliche. And I’m forcing the girls to wear them.
My mother said the gathering at the waist creates fullness… and large hips. So she’s going to adjust them and turn them into flat pleats. I’m still uncertain if I like the top. I was thinking spaghetti straps, like this J.Crew gown (which has the same skirt and waist).
It requires some balancing out, I think. It can’t have a full top and full bottom or else the girls will look…full! So, I’m going to have my mother work on the top a bit more. To be continued…
Did your dream bridesmaid dress look a little off once you or your BMs tried it on?
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Share this post: A Seafoam Cliche
i dont think it looks that bad. the skirt is just a little full. What type of material did you use? I think chiffon is the way to go for a dress like this. But it looks like you used satin, which would make it look heavier and fuller.
Yea - I don’t think it looks bad. I did have the girls try on dresses from a boutique that I adored online… but they hated 
So we’re still on the search. Good luck on the dress!
I don’t think it looks bad at all!
I think spaghetti straps would definitely help balance out the fullness and flowy-ness (yup, made that one up!) of the rest of the dress.
I don’t think they look bad at all…Just a little tweking maybe to complement each girls figure. I would thin the straps out a little but I would wear it!
I actually think it’s pretty nice. A bit vintage-y but that’s in right now. I feel like it’s very flowy and if that’s the color you like, then go for it. I also agree that chiffon or another light fabric would be best. Even a nice cotton could be pretty.
I actually like the color! I would wear that color! I just think the bottom is to pouffy (that’s a technical term). Spaghetti straps may balance a bit, but changing the fabric for the skirt would be better…
My sister made my going-away dress with a similar pattern from the vintage Vogue collection. I too had the fullness in the skirt problem. It made me look like I had gained 30 pounds. We adjusted it by removing much of the fabric from the skirts, thus diminishing the amount of gathers. All told the amount of fabric we ultimately used in the skirt was half that that was suggested. You could try this and see what happens. But I love the bodice of the dress and the color.
still, your mom is really talented! I hope the dresses get altered to your preference, but I really like the color and style!
what type of fabric did you choose? I had that dress made for me, but I chose a crepe that hung nicely.
Personally, I really like the dress, but you definitely need to love them as well! I notice all your inspirations are long dresses, but have you thought about just making the dress your mom made knee-length? It might make the color a little less intense, as there will be less of it, and it looks like it might already have an A-line type skirt, which is almost universally flattering on all shapes and sizes.
I looooove that color. Call it turquoise & perhaps it will make you feel better? 
As for my first impression when I saw it, I immediately thought “Wow - it looks like that JCrew dress”, then scrolled down & realized “that” JCrew dress in my head is the same one you pictured. I think balancing it out with spaghetti straps would look great! It will give it a more feminine feel.
Keep us posted!!
It really doesn’t look that bad. If your mom can make a dress that beautiful, I’m sure she’s going to perfect it so it turns out just how you envisioned it.
I also love the color (very similar to one of my colors). Spaghetti straps and a little less fullness in the skirt should really help take the weight out of this dress. I think they will look beautiful and props to your mom for being able to sew these.
I actually really like it, and totally would wear it as-is! Well, if I were in the market for sea foam 
But it looks comfortable with the wider strap, whereas I always feel like spaghetti straps are sort of awkward and lingerie-ish if you’re bigger than an A-cup or have broad shoulders :/ Maybe just doing like chelseamorning recommends, and halving the amount of fabric in the skirt?
I actually like it too! What about making the design but in a different fabric, like chiffon or jersey?
@Andie: @Mary: @MightySapphire: @MissStellar: @Miss Hot Cocoa: Ha, actually, that’s interesting that you guys should mention the fabric! It’s a crepe. BUT my mother lined it in this shiney lining material! So, maybe I’ll have her use the lining that I ACTUALLY purchased for the dress, which is crepe-y. Hopefully that will solve part of the problem.
@MagPie518: @markyK: @MightySapphire: @Miss Quiche: @Shanna: @KS: Thanks for the support, I think spaghetti straps would also help the situation (good thing none of the BMs is naturally full up top!).
I’m also going to check out how it looks shorter. But I’m really wanting long-flowyness.
And thanks to all for giving my mom props. She’s been so patient and she is really talented.
@jkoala: Really?! Seriously, are you guys just yanking my chain?
I sway between redoing it all together and making adjustments here and there… Maybe it’s not so much the dress but my linebacker shoulders that I hate IN the dress….
I love seafoam, the colour looks great! I think the dress would look really cute if it was knee length.
Miss Perfume the dress is not that bad - Seriously! I kinda like it, especially the color, but I do think the spaghetti straps will make it look less bulky.
I almost had my BM where Sea foam, but I found a yellow I really liked.
The color is a little brash but I think the dress itself is nice!
like many of the others, i really like the dress and the color. this is definitely a dress i’d buy. i think it’s really cute actually.
I don’t think is bad at all. When I read 70’s my first thought was: “well, that’s a very modern look for the 70’s”. Maybe if you take a better picture… but overall, not bad.
I don’t think it looks bad–I’m sure you’ll figure something out to make them look like you envisioned.
hm, i actually can’t tell. like the other gals said, it’s not bad whatsoever. but i’m sure you’re looking more for ‘love it’ versus ‘not bad’. you look good in it, but i can see it being not so flattering for curvier girls. lurve the color though. really really do! pretty pretty perfume.
Miss Perfume- I think part of the problem is that it looks to me like it’s too long for you so all the fabric is puddling at the bottom. If this is the case, perhapes you can get someone taller to try it on? Or stand on something to give you more height? I think that that might help make it look more like the image on the pattern.
I really think spaghetti straps will solve the problem- and the color is lovely!! So fresh!
the colour’s a little bright for me, but i think its really ok. contrary to the other comments, i think spaghet straps may appear disproportionately thin.
i suggest taking in the fullness of the skirt, to have it flowy but not pouffy. it could really be the material.
don’t trash the idea yet! good luck!
The dress isn’t bad at all, it’s just not the one pictured in the pattern.
The top from the pattern has a plunging V that ends at/near the navel, whereas the dress your mother made is more of an empire waist. It’s also much more gathered/pleated in the pattern.
Perfume, I’m liking the dress! Change up the straps and you’ve got yourself the J.Crew dresses! Wow, Mama Perfume is one talented lady!
I Love that dress, I Love that colour, I would love to be a bridesmaid in that dress. It’s perfect.
I like the wide straps, makes people with wide shoulders like me look narrower and is good for Bra straps and the extra stomach space is good for any eating that might take place…
@anon: @anon: You are correct. I originally told my mom to bring the waist up to more of an empire and make the neckline not so plunging. Now it’s a completely different dress! Oy! And yes, it’s too long for me because a couple of the girls are taller than me. I should see how it looks as I stand on a chair or ladder or something. So short I am!
@Miss Latte: @GAprincess_22: @maria: @mrspaetz: @MissCricket: Ok, you guys are right! I’m going to ask my mom to take out some of the gathers, take out the stiff volumonous lining, and maybe play with spaghetti straps.
Fingers crossed! Thank you ladies for all your advice, support and compliments!!! You’ve been really helpful!
I know this is a little late, but I just saw this on jcrew too:
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/dresses/knitdresses/PRDOVR~12613/12613.jsp
doesn’t look so different - maybe you should go try it on, and steal some seamstress ideas!
@Miss Rye Bread: Oh wow, thanks Rye Bread!!! I like it!
im using the skirt of my moms dress and putting a new top on it from empire waist up…and this is the top im using! were using this pattern altered and meshed with another pattern… but with a smooth fronted dress! i cant wait to see how your bridesmaids dresses turn out!!
please show us the updated dress!
@linda: Yes, I definitely will!! It’s still under “development” though. Will post soonest.
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Mrs. Perfume, DC
Age and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, Consultant
Engagement Date: May 13, 2008
Wedding Date: May, 2009
Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia
About Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
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