Retro Cocktail Birthday/Easter Dress

Embroidered edge.

The sketch.

  This year my birthday fell on Easter (April 21). So sometime last year I purchased a heavily embroidered, organza fabric, with the plans to make myself a fancy retro cocktail/Easter dress.
   It wasn't until late march that I actually started working out the design details of the actual dress. I knew I wanted to utilize the embroidered salvage edge as much as possible in the final design. I had intended on making the under dress out of a lavender cotton (purple is my favorite color!), but couldn't find any at an affordable price that was the correct shade of purple, so mint it was!

Corseted back.

   I started off by making the and boning the mint sweetheart bodice to the under dress, as well and cut the skirt panels. I then cut out the skirt panels for the embroidered organza. Setting them aside, I concentrated on the organza bodice. The ending result was very far from the original idea I had in mind for the dress. Partly due to my miscalculations, partly because of the deadline I was working under, I had to come up with a way to make it work. Taking a page out of some bridal gown books, sewed some fabric loops on either side of the open of the organza overlay opening, creating a corseted effect.
   The skirt panels for the under and over skirt, came together quickly, and without any hiccups.

My miscalculations. 

   In the nick of time, I finished by dress. I first debuted this dress at my brother's house on April 13th for an early Easter get together, which was the reason for the expedited deadline.
   I was able to enjoy the dress again on Easter for church services, of which I received many compliments on the dress. Afterwards, for my birthday, we went to a theme park for some BBQ. The weather was bright and sunny, with a tad bit of overcast, the perfect day for an Easter Egg Hunt and to celebrate my impending turning of 30 years old!
   Check out my progress video on my channel on all the challenges I encounter along the way. Please subscribe to my channel, it's free! A like, comment, or a share is encouraging and really helps me out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1pq2egr9jU&t=1s