Sometime last year, I took on a fun project-- design and sew a tutu for a bride-to-be's hen's night. The challenge: the bride is not a girly-girl type of uh, girl, so Kel Li the maid of honor wanted something feminine yet edgy for the bride. We discussed it and decided on a combo of soft tulle, pleather and studs: the ultimate hard and soft (hello Project Runway episode title!).
And of course, the tutu had to be in black ;-)
Here are the initial sketches:
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While both are rock star-worthy, the tiered tutu was a little more playful while the single layer tutu was more... grown up. Kinda like Avril Lavigne vs Gwen Stefani, y'know what I mean? Kel Li decided the single layer was more becoming of Joanna (the bride), so we went with that.
Kel Li said the tutu has to be poofy, so a lot of ruffles went into it. I actually laughed when I was sewing them because the ruffles seemed never ending and I was surrounded by it!
And all the ruffles, ruffles and ruffles were worth it.. the hemline of the lining was so flouncy and pretty-- time to look for a subway grate ala Marilyn Monroe maybe?
And all that flounce, topped with layers of soft black tulle...
Gold studs on the waistband for that rock star edge. My favorite part though, was the tiny little widdle rhinestones.
Tutu: Unfluffed. Oh she's a rocker chick.
I didn't want to overdo the bling-ness of the skirt, but wanted the tutu to sparkle with a bit of dreaminess. So the tiny rhinestones dotted the tutu like stars in the dark sky.
And when the tulle is fluffed up by hand, that's when things begin to get dramatic.
Tutu: FLUFFED! DRAMA MAMA! SHE'S GOING TO SMASH HER GUITAR!! MASCARA EVERYWHERE!!
But don't take my word for it-- let the bride speak for herself:
Pic by Kel Li
Uh sorry she can't speak now, she's kinda... occupied.
Hahahaha I love that bathtub pic, Joanna really rocked it!! Pretty epic.
Pic by Kel Li
I know this is super late, but congratulations again to Joanna the rock star bride! And thank you Kel Li & Nora for the fun project, and for the pics! ^.^
