Sewing Outside The Lines: A White Cotton Faille Wedding Dress, That’s Not a Wedding Dress
Self Drafted Dress made with FS Cotton Faille in White
I proposed to my boyfriend. It wasn’t a leap year, he just deserved it. Nine months later, he proposed back with candles in my sewing room, kneeling next to my ironing board and pausing only when I leant to turn the iron off.
But then we bought a house, we started drawing up plans for some renovations, I left my full-time corporate job and almost without talking about it, the wedding got put on hold. He’s Greek. When you do a wedding…well, I think you know the idea. It’s not for the faint of heart. In fact, we just went to one in September that had 2,000 invitees.
Self Drafted Dress made with FS Cotton Faille in White
On hold or not, I got the bridal bug. I started sewing white dresses, thinking, well, this could be a reception dress or perhaps for a hen do. It wasn’t just dresses. Someone else said I looked like I was in my ‘cult phase’ as I rocked up to dinner in a pair of cream Persephone Pants and a white poplin Harrison top. I was obsessed with white fabric. That’s what drew me to Fabric Store’s white cotton faille, I had more cult/bridalwear to make.
For my second ‘colouring outside the lines’ project I wanted to create a pattern from scratch, to design something, follow my heart and my Pinterest inspiration board instead of dutifully knocking out someone else’s pattern. It didn’t hurt that the fabric felt like the ideal ‘it’ll be great for a wedding’ fabric, with enough body and structure to hold its own, but light in a way that means I wouldn’t hate my life in the Greek island heat. There’s a little texture too, enough to give it some attitude.
Self Drafted Dress made with FS Cotton Faille in White
That being said, I’m still the same anxious person I was for the last project so I drafted in my sewing tutor to help — a present from my one-day husband (you see why I proposed?). We sat at the kitchen table and sketched out some ideas. We talked about a back so low it gave swimsuit vibes, a skirt that had a subtle bubble structure to elongate the legs and give me enough room to dance. We thought about thinner than normal straps, a princess seam bodice with a slightly rounded square neckline for a contrastingly sleek top half. It was inspired by many things I’d seen and loved, but not a copy. This felt like creativity.
We (mostly, she) created the pattern from my pattern block and we cut out a toile in calico. It was short and the bodice was a little loose. We went again, adjusting the skirt and the bodice, lowering the neckline. Each tiny tweak got me closer to the dress I’d had in my mind.
Self Drafted Dress made with FS Cotton Faille in White
Sewing using the cotton faille is foolproof. It’s so easy to sew with and it doesn’t fray when you get it wrong and have to unpick (which I did quite a few times, those skirt pieces all look the same but they’re really not). I added lightweight interfacing to the bodice and something a tiny bit heavier to the skirt and found some cotton poplin for the lining. I then proceeded to mess up attaching the lining to the dress, repeatedly. I could not figure out how I kept making a balloon with no obvious way in, instead of a lined dress. I was on my own by this point and I confess, I was quite stressed. But this fabric hides all manner of sins, you’d never guess that I was practically ripping apart seams on the last few goes.
Self Drafted Dress made with FS Cotton Faille in White
I should have stopped and left it behind, but I imagined taking photos against the blue of Sifnos or Kimolos and I’m so glad I did. The insta husband took these shots at our Airbnb and after, when we sat down to take a look, the first thing he said was: “Wow, you look like a bride.”
About Author
Leila d’Angelo
Thanks for reading! For context, I’m a self-taught sewist with a small, mostly under control addiction to good linen. The first proper pattern I ever made came off Stumble Upon (which was Pinterest before Pinterest, anyone else?) but it took a pandemic to get me to properly sit down and stop overthinking it. I still do a lot of overthinking, but at least as much sewing too. I live in London with my partner and our two sphynx cats and you can find me on Instagram as @peaceontheside. A page I started because even when you’re a brand director all day, you still need a bit of creative freedom (and peace) on the side.Leave a comment
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13 Comments
Joy Brasington
What a beautiful love story and a beautiful dress you created to honor it. Thank you for sharing. I wish you many blessings during your life together.
Leila d'Angelo
Thank you Joy! What a lovely comment and your blessings are gratefully received. X
Fleur! Wingren-fleur
Well done you–in so many things! May you and your whenever-husband live prosperously and joyfully together!
Leila d'Angelo
Ha! I’m totally going to start calling him my whenever husband. Thank you Fleur!
Debbie Weekes
Beautiful dress indeed, looks lovely on you.
Heike Childs
The dress looks breathtaking fabulous, but the women within it is even more awesome. Such a fabulous combination. I applaud her perseverance.
Leila d'Angelo
Oh wow, what a compliment! Thank you Heike!
Stacey Fackler
That is absolutely gorgeous, and you are wearing the heck out of it! Fantastic all around! (And the info on working with the faille is helpful, too!)
Best wishes to you for a long and happy marriage!
Leila d'Angelo
Ha if you’re prone to unpicking that looks more like ripping apart in frustration, this is your fabric!! And thank you Stacey (for the wishes and the compliments!)
Tom S.
Love the dress. The pictures brought back wonderful memories. Yes, I went to Greece last summer and purchased my first linen blouse. Loved the feel. Those my obsession with linen started.
Leila d'Angelo
Greece is totally made for linen – the breezes, the heat, make it so perfect!
Priscilla Knoble
Your dress turned out beautifully. I love the lines! And the pictures were stunning. It didn’t hurt that I just got back from a week in the Greek islands a few days ago. (^_^)
Leila d'Angelo
It’s such a dream there right – and thank you!!