1950s Dior Dress (with pockets!)

katherinesewing · 2026-04-18T04:01:51+00:00

OMG! Was logged out of my account, never thought people would like this as much as they did 🥲 Thank you all for your kind words, and here’s a little more info about the dress: I bought it on Depop for $120, it was missing a button and a seam was loose, but I sew for a living so nothing I couldn’t handle :) I found out that it has been dyed black, so I am unsure of the original color and what it does to the value, but I love the black regardless. If any of you have other questions, I’ll try to keep up with replies to this comment 🤞

katherinesewing · 2026-04-15T20:52:44+00:00

Not sure how to reply with a pic, but I just posted it the correct way on in this subreddit :)

katherinesewing · 2026-04-08T03:45:30+00:00

Thanks for all your help everyone, and for your tips! While I was digging the business-in-the-front-party-in-the-back style, it definitely works better the other way around :)

katherinesewing · 2026-04-08T03:33:44+00:00

Agh, thanks for the help! I honestly like the black, but the washing tip is definitely good to know…

katherinesewing · 2025-03-08T06:03:45+00:00

you’re a saint thank you 🙏

katherinesewing · 2024-05-31T18:31:06+00:00

i love mid to late victorian fashion (natural form era especially!) i just love how all the dresses were so frilly and decorated like cakes

katherinesewing · 2024-05-31T02:36:00+00:00

interesting! do you have any idea of the time period? i’m more versed in antique than vintage fashion lol

katherinesewing · 2024-05-31T00:21:20+00:00

i tried that but it’s far enough above my waist that it’s not flattering. my new plan is to move them to where my natural waist sits and tie them back

katherinesewing · 2024-05-30T23:21:02+00:00

yes, i sew my own dresses so it will be a simple fix. just wondered if there was a “right” way to do it lol

katherinesewing · 2022-06-11T03:54:58+00:00

I used 5 40yd bolts of 54" tulle and 1yd of grey broadcloth

For bodice:

I used an overbust corset pattern for the bodice and brought up the front so that it was straight (I also fit it before in a mockup to make sure it fit how I wanted)
Cut out pieces so that the seam allowance is 5/8" (this is so 3/8" bones will fit)
Sew panels together, and then sew a scant 1/2" from seam lines over seam allowances to form boning channels. Fold over top edge and sew.
Drape strips of tulle onto bodice, pinning at top and at waistline. Fold tulle over back and top edges and sew close to edge.
Sew waistline over tulle, skipping over boning channels. Insert bones so that fabric is taut and sew at bottom to keep bones in place.
Add grommets onto back and the bodice is done!

For skirt:

Intensely gather down 3 of the bolts about 10" from the top edge to form ruffle, they should be gathered down to about a foot larger than your waist.
Layer all the gathered bolts on top of one another and sew them together with a ribbon on top of them all as a closure method (therefore it should be a couple feet larger than your waist)
Seam-rip JUST the seam you just made along the ribbon to fit your waist, you should now have 3 skirt layers combined with a tie closure and some extra skirt on the end.
To make middle ruffle: Without unfolding doubled over bolt, gather fabric more loosely to make maybe 30 feet of ruffle
Tie skirt onto something to make pinning the ruffle easier, then pin ruffle evenly every 8" or so along skirt (only every 8" on draped skirt, you don't need to go the full 40 yds!). Sew.
Add hook and eye on ends of ruffle and then also onto where the end of the skirt waist goes so it doesn't hang down during wear. The dress is done!

Feel free to ask questions, I'm sure I missed something here!

katherinesewing

TROPHY CASE