Now that I have drafted the pattern and done my toile fitting for my wedding dress, I am embarking on a 'practice dress', using the same pattern, with a shorter, slightly less full, skirt, and a sheer yoke, rather than a full bodice overlay. The fabric is Liberty's Tana Lawn in "Eltham" (which I where I live, although unfortunately not in the actual palace the print is named after!) The yoke is a coordinating silk organza, which I will also use as an overlay on the waistband. I am just finishing off the bodice, so I thought I would share some progress shots.
Here is the right side. You can see the edge of the waist stay and wrong side of the corselette peeking out underneath. I didn't need to use the fashion fabric for the boning channels, but I had a long selvage edge so I went for it. I am currently finishing off the bias binding by hand around the neck and armholes.
And here is the inside. I used self-fabric for the corselette, which makes it tricky to photograph, but I think you can just make out the hanging loops, foam lined cups and underwires. I machined the two layers together but on my wedding dress I will attach them by hand. I still need to understitch, which I will do by hand.
And here from the back. The back panels of the bodice are not joined to the corselette so that they can fasten independently. I sewed the hooks and eyes in individually, which I think was ultimately easier than using tape, after watching lingerie week of GBSB! The waist and bust stays are elastic and fasten together at the waist due to the low back. They are secured at the centre front of the corselette and threaded through gaps left in the boning channels to keep them in position. The bottom edge of the corselette is finished with bias binding.
Possibly the most exciting part: corded rouleau loops and buttons! I made the loops myself but the buttons I had covered.
Once I have completed all the hand finishing on the bodice, I just need to sew the skirt seams (and inseam pockets, obviously) then attach the skirt and bodice with the waistband and hem it! I think that will all come together quite quickly, but we will see!