How to MAKE Cheryl’s Gold Cage Dress
Photo Copyright: ITV.com
Answering more blog questions; this time it’s for Hannah who asked the following:
I really like cheryl’s gold dress (the one she wore on the first x factor show) – where can I buy it?
Sorry Hannah; you’re not in luck here. This is Versace Atelier and not available to purchase. We asked award-winning designer and film costumier Dawn Wood, of Leeds-based Ages of Elegance, to provide some expert sewing tips and advice on how adapt a High St inspired dress.
Sewing Expert Dawn Wood says:
Want the Versace dress but can’t afford it? We show you how to turn a high street dress into something similar.
Using the Miss Selfridge or Dorothy Perkins dress as a base you will need a length of millinery wire available from any millinery suppliers and haberdashers.
Starting at the lower centre back seam carefully unpick a couple of stitches so you can access the hem, and, using it as a channel, thread the wire through the hem until you reach the centre back seam again and the dress lays smoothly over it, with a bit of tension.
Make the wire overlong so that you cross them over and into the opposite channel so it doesn’t poke out. You can over sew the wires at the seam to hold them.
Then, on the outside of the skirt at the lower edge, stitch several rows of sequined ribbon along the hemline.
For the bodice, using gold sequins stitch them in a chevron pattern and fill in the empty areas with marabou feathers. If you are feeling brave you could also paint the feathers in yourself. Using fabric paint and a feather stencil, but practice on a scrap of fabric first to get the technique.
You should be able to find all items used, in your local haberdashers. However if you are stuck here are a few suppliers you made find useful:
www.creativebeadcraft.co.uk/about-creative-beadcraft.asp
www.fredaldous.co.uk/shop-online/dylon-fabric-paint.htm
www.thestencilstudio.com/feather-stencil-380-p.asp
www.hennydonovanmotif.co.uk/feathers.htm
Dawn Wood
