Dress design for Shabby Apple dresses

Dress design for Shabby Apple dresses

Shabby Apple is this AMAZING dress shop online that I have been a customer at for years. Vicki, my stepsister, wore a Shabby Apple as her maid of honor dress for my wedding. I have three Shabby Apple dresses myself; a red one, a black one, and a purple one. They are all hemline appropriate, figure flattering, and fashion forward. I cannot speak enough about it. Recently I got an email from them, because I am on their mailing list, announcing a design contest.  Coincidentally, I was designing wedding dresses for my Art class, wherein each dress was one of the four seasons, so I was already in the mood to make someone feel beautiful and make a statement through fashion.

Here is my dress:

I knew I wanted to design a gray dress as soon as I heard about the contest. Gray is the new brown. Especially this Spring we are going to see weddings and events with the base color as gray. Accessorizing gray is beautiful, chic, and modern. A dull yellow broach, or a pink flower pinned in the hair create this lovely fresh look. I call it “Overcast Spring Rain” because when the sun is covered by the rainy clouds, the new bloom of yellow daffodils and red tulips are the palet of the season.

The dress is tight and form-fitting from under the bust and down the body, also at the top of the arms to the forearm. It is loose around the bodice and the forearms. Under the bustline it is gathered with a cord-like effect within the material.

Now as for the design, I was inspired by a few designers:

Firstly I was inspired by this Jacques Olivar photograph from his series showing off the ‘60 fashion made popular by shows such as Mad Men:

I can’t get enough of the sleeves. The idea of a long-sleeved dress with the poof there at the wrist is just a beautiful idea. However, that color, material, and neckline were something I stayed clear from.

My neck line is more like the one from this Elisabeth Toll photograph, wherein it hangs down to create this pretty effect, however the one in my design is higher, more up on the collar-bone:

Now as far as material goes I love the flattering cottony, practical but fashionable material from the Shabby Apple dress my stepsister wore to my wedding:

I think that my dress would be a wonderful addition to anyone’s Spring wardrobe and really be something they can wear with confidence and style to a party, wedding, or church on Sundays. Thank you Shabby Apple for giving me this opportunity to design.