i am designing costumes for a show called "all my sons". i have had very difficult time finding dresses from the 1940's in our stock. either they aren't the right length, they don't have the right sleeve shape, or there isn't the right amount of fullness in the skirt. i did find this dress though. i actually didn't pick it out when i first saw it. i walked past it several time thinking to myself, "it's not quite right." you see, when i first sat it, it was hemmed very short, mid thigh, it was salmon colored, and it had dowdy lace lining the color and sleeves.
i walked past the dress again. i decided that maybe i could use the dress, if a few slight changes could be made. i took out the hem, let it out on the sides, took off the dowdy lace, dyed it using rit dark brown, and added some applique. the dress isn't quite finished. i am going to add more velvet applique around the color.
i called my actress in for a fitting and it looked amazing on her. plus it fits in wonderfully with my color palette. i will post my color palette along with renderings and more pics of costumes soon!