Review: Butterick 5182 | Mikaela's Senior Prom!
12:00 PM
This is such a bittersweet moment for me. For those of you that have been reading my blog from the beginning, you all have witness my tiny baby girl grow up over the last 10 years. I get emotional just flipping back through all of the previous post. And now, my last little one attended her senior prom last night.
For those of you with daughters that have hit this chapter in their life, you know that picking the right prom dress is major. You can't just grab something off of the clearance rack. It has to suit her personality. There are some girls that will want their big Cinderella moment. Or some that want to look sexy. And others that will take that moment to be as daring as allowed. And then you have the ones where their mothers are trying to live vicariously through their daughters. Since Mikaela is neither a princessy girl or one that will dress overtly sexy, she said that she wanted to look like Jessica Rabbit, have Veronica Lake-ish hair but with her on spin on it. I thought "Modernized Old-Hollywood Glamour" and this is what we came up with.
I decided on Butterick 5182, view B. The fabric is from Hancock Fabrics. It's the BFF Prom Stretch Satin in Melon. The hand of the fabric is very lightweight and drapes beautifully. If you want to emulate a silk charmeuse look without the price tag and with fabric wider than 45"? I recommend this one. It worked perfectly for the fitted bias-cut style.
I cut the smallest size of the pattern, a size 6. I had to remove about an inch and a half from the bodice down to the waist. I had to add inches to the length of the skirt. It does not account for heel height. I added a total of 4 inches: one inch at the waist and right around knee level, I added three more. There is no lengthening line marked. How I did it was to add the length above where the skirt began to flare.
For the lining, I used a stretch mesh in the coordinating color.
And for a bias-cut, I allowed the dress to hang for over 24 hours before I hemmed it. It is important to allow a bias-cut garment to hang for the fabric to fully collapse by allowing gravity to have its effect. If not, it will essentially grown and your hem will become wonky and uneven. And for my hem, I fused it. It created a great finish and also added weight so that the hem would hang perfectly to the ground.
Here is a closeup of her shoes and clutch.
Here a few pictures of Mikaela and her friends.
They all looked gorgeous and it was fun photographing half a dozen giggling teenage girls!
And my favorite group shot! A take on Solange Knowles' Vogue wedding shot.
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51 comments
Beautiful! Daughter, dress and pictures!
ReplyDeleteThank you Dawn!
DeleteTime has gone by soooo fast. Your baby girl looks stunning. How blessed to have a custom made prom dress. Awesome mom.
ReplyDeleteI'm still in amazement. It feels like I blinked and she's now grown! Thanks Dei!
DeleteLove the group pictures. Wonderful memories for all. Now, what did the guys look like?
ReplyDeleteOnly one of the girls had a date. The others went solo as a group. They all had a great time.
DeleteYour daughter is gorgeous and wearing a beautiful dress. There are proms nowadays in the UK but not when my daughters (late 20s and early 30s) were at that stage. The daughter of one of the ladies at my sewing bee is super excited about her dress (purchased). How fantastic that you made this dress.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anne. And great facts.
DeleteMikaela is perfect, and that dress is exquisite.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie. She was really pleased.
DeleteLove it! Dress is bad, your daughter is beautiful and lucky to have such a talented Mum. The group photo looks like the next hot girl group!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Miss J!
DeleteI truly can't believe she's a Senior already. Love her dress and she and her crew look like beautiful young ladies.
ReplyDeleteYou can't?! LOL Thanks Tonia!
DeleteBeautiful girls, beautiful dresses. So full of life, starting a new chapter in their lives. (For parents too). Great work Erica!
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin!
DeleteShe looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Styling Me!
DeleteBeautiful, truly beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Candice!
DeleteShe looks so beautiful. You did a wonderful job on the dress. Perfect.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vicki!
DeleteWhat a beautiful lady with a lovely dress.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dk's Wife!
DeleteLove this! My daughter is going to her first prom and is letting me make her dress, and the skirt portion of this pattern is a great hack to finish the faux wrap top she wants. It's so much glamour for a 17 yr old...
ReplyDeleteEnjoy making it! Thanks Laura!
DeleteYour daughter is lovely and the dress is perfect. Senior prom- what a milestone!
ReplyDeleteYes, an awesome milestone! Thanks Eileen!
DeleteYou did SUCH an amazing job on that dress, especially given how hard it is to sew bias-cut charmeuse! And your daughter looks AWESOME!!!! You should be really proud on both counts, the dress and your daughter!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sewing Faille!
DeleteMikeala is stunning in her gown. I totally understand the emotions surrounding making this dress for your daughter since I've done this too. The dress is perfect and I love the Solange Knowles picture the girls took!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carolyn!
DeleteGorgeous! You did an awesome job!
ReplyDeleteThanks Zina!
DeleteYou survived the week :) & your daughter looked stunning Erica. Well done. Ive been following your blog since Mikeala was little so this was lovely to see too. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYes I did and no straightjacket needed! Thanks!
DeleteI don't have a daughter but I do have a niece and I was blessed with the task to make her grad dress. What an honour to make a mess dress for such a special occasion and you nailed it. Your daughter and the dress look both look absolutely beautiful. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Graca!
DeleteSo Beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tanielle!
DeleteShe's so beautiful! She looks like you. You did a great job on her dress!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lene'!
DeleteMikaela looks so comfortable and beautiful in her dress. I hope that she had the best time!
ReplyDeleteShe did! Thanks Ianiza!
DeleteShe looks beautiful and very ladylike! I remember that feeling when my daughter, who's now 25, graduated. I cried like a baby after her graduation! I felt like she didn't need me anymore! My hubby thought I crazy lol!
ReplyDeleteIt's so bittersweet! Thanks Norie!
DeleteThe dress and pictures look amazing. Put a smile on my face this morning. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tasha!
DeleteAww how beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Eryn!
DeleteWow Erica. Smh...time...She's grown up beautifully! Dress is just enough, love the color and fit. Are you ready to be an empty nester?
ReplyDelete