How to Design Dresses
Every woman likes to walk into a room and have all eyes on her. There is nothing like the compliments a woman gets for a dress she is wearing to an event, whether it is a class reunion, a wedding or even during a date night with just her and her husband. Sometimes in order to get that perfect look, she has to take matters into her own hands.
- Check the skin tone. Make sure that the dress idea is compatible to the young lady's skin tone. This is to pick the perfect color for the dress being designed. Certain skin tones will not flesh well with certain colors. Some women have a warm skin tone, which features a lot of yellow or golden color, while some women tend to be a bit pale, sporting a bluish skin tone. Yellow tones look great in shades of red, while bluish tones look great in white.
- Get the correct measurements. Everyone isn't a size zero. Don't be shy or ashamed about being a size 12 and up. Get the real measurements; this will help with fitting and overall hanging. If a dress doesn't fit well, it isn't worth wearing.
- Design your bodice. This is the top half of your dress that measures from the neck and shoulder down toward the waist. The bodice can sport a closed in collar like a bateau neck (a boat neck), which has sewn in Princess seams that are great for covering bras and slip tops. An open v-neck that has 1-inch shoulder straps is also sewn into a Princess seam and also compatible with most bra and slip straps. No matter the design of the bodice, the choice of the bodice helps set up the skirt options.
- Determine the skirt length and width. This can be done by looking at the occasion for the dress, the body type and personal taste. For example, a woman's choice could be a skirt that is gathered at the waist, giving a sense of fullness as the skirt flows downward.
- Select the fabric. Fabric selection is important for both look and care. A cheap fabric will give way over time to wear and tear. Even at its newest, the fabric will not look as good as a fabric that is of a better grade and quality. A good fabric choice for a dress is silk peau de soie (double face). It is a lush choice with a brilliant sheen. Exquisitely elegant, it is the perfect choice for formal occasions.
- Select the color of the fabric. This goes back to skin tone. If your skin tone is a bluish color, black is going to make you look really pale.
- Add detail. This gives your dress its character. This sets the dress apart from others in the room or the same vicinity. One idea is to add a narrow ruched sash 8 inches wide and ruched down 4 inches wide. This can be tied in the back, with the length of the ties at the wearer's discretion. This can be made with a separate fabric, such as a silk crepe satin. This fabric in itself is soft, with a beautiful feel and a delightful drape to it.