Debs Look and How I Made My Own Dress


 Last Wednesday I had my debs, for you non-Irish readers, the debs is our version of the prom, but held from around August to October/November in the year you first go into college, it's late compared to other countries, but it's great because you get to catch up with all your friends after they've already gone to college, rather than before they go.
 I've already been to a debs last year, which you can read about here. Last year I wore a navy Coast dress so decided to wear a little more colour this year. I had an exact dress in mind, a wine red dress with an a-line skirt, with a sweetheart or Bardot neckline. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything remotely like that dress, even when I discarded the colour. I had two months to the debs and I'd made dresses before, so I thought why not try? (Granted a formal dress is a good bit different from a casual day dress, but I wasn't really thinking of that


 I knew what I wanted, but there was the issue of actually making the pattern for the dress, which I had no idea what to do, so I brought my design to the Fashion Hot House in Dublin where the fab Corina (actual lifesaver) made up this reusable pattern. The fabric I choose was a strech visco ponte, which is basically a mix of nylon and hard cotton, so it's stiff but still has a bit of stretch.
The dress itself took a day, I couldn't do boning (too scared I'd mess it up) so instead I sewed in a strapless bra. The skirt had a 20cm train and if I could change one thing it would be that I made the skirt stiffer by actually adding some kind of boning to the bottom hem so it would keep place when I stood still, but I have to say when I walked or twirled (I mean you have to twirl when it's an a-line skirt) it had full body and almost looked like a mini ball gown, which was the goal. 




 I don't have more to say, so below are some pictures from the night to show you the dress in action. (And how gorgeous do my friends look?)







Gabrielle x

9 comments

  1. Wow I can't believe you made that! It looks amazing. I would love to be able to make my own clothes

    Lauren x | www.laurenapowers.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you! The physical part is actually very easy for the most part and it was great to wear my own design for the night x

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  2. Beautiful photographs,
    How lovely that you made your dress yourself, now you know it's one of a kind!
    Hope your debs was unforgettable

    http://whatrajwants.blogspot.co.uk/

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  3. Goodness, that's such a wonderful dress!! Really incredible how you made it, I could never understand textiles at school haha, but I always wished I could make my own dresses by ones I am inspired by on Pinterest. You look lovely! :D xx

    elizabeth | ”Ice Cream” whispers Clara | bloglovin follow for follow

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    1. Oh thank you so much! You should try a simple pattern sometime, it's really rewarding when you can say you're wearing your own dress :) x

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  4. What an amazing skill to be able to make your own dresses... And not only that but sketching the design in the first place! It was worth all your hard work because you looked fantastic!

    Claire // Technicolour Dreamer

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  5. You all look amazing! Makes me miss my prom BIG time, haha. Can't believe you made that dress though that's crazy, you obviously have a lot of patience! x

    Hannah x hannatalks

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  6. Fabulous as always Gaby! So proud of you and so happy to be featured :D

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