For this piece I started with the 1913 Hume patent and adapted it into a higher bust coverage cocktail dress. I paired this with a black wrap skirt, maintaining the shorter front but changing the shaping. I was inspired by the long line of the patent to attempt to create a dress. I worked on this in between my client work and managed to try out a few techniques and ideas that I will pursue further very soon. These included using synthetic whalebone as well as doing a more cupped rib (inspired by Marianne Faulkner, whom I hope to lace into this one day, because the rib shaping doesn't show on the mannequin shots). I put together a dress diary about the construction and journey along the way, which ended with some silly fun in Las Vegas.

Dress Diary