New Semi-Formal Dresses & Bridal Expo Recap

Wow, is it the end of February already?

I hardly remember January . . . probably because I was working like crazy. Designing, sewing, and photographing new dresses, mostly!

You see, I was an exhibitor at the Warsaw Premier Bridal Expo on February 3rd. The Warsaw area, where I live, is fairly small, so there are not too many ways to advertise to brides-to-be. The Expo is the perfect place to meet most of my local target market! 

My goal was to have a large supply of dresses & bridal accessories on display at the Expo. And I did! 

Not only did I have lots of dresses displayed, I also had models!!! My mother, sister, and 2 friends came to help me out :) It was so nice to have others to help my exhausted self talk to excited brides.

Speaking of exhausted, back to those dresses ;)

The plan was to make sample dresses with fabric from my stash, left over from previous projects. I made several and barely made a dent in the fabric, so be on the lookout for more!

I designed about 8 dresses, and sewed 5 of them. Then I had a full Saturday of photographing the new dresses, as well as some older ones which needed new photos.

New Dresses:

Sweetheart Dress with Lace V-Neck Overlay

This dress design started off as a super-complicated mash of purple and white. As I sewed, it evolved into a much more simple & elegant little number, with a purple, strapless, sweetheart bodice overlaid with white lace in a V-neck design.

I think this dress is so sweet :) 

I want to make this one again, maybe with a pencil skirt or circle skirt.

Listing HERE

Vintage-Inspired, Side-Pleated Dress

I LOVE one-shoulder dresses! So slimming and sexy, yet modest.

Adding even more slimming goodness: side pleats and a pencil skirt. Add to that the gathered strap, and it's a vintage-inspired beauty that I drool over.

I can hardly wait to make this design in a less-dressy fabric, so I can wear it to a wedding :)

Listing HERE

Short Gathered-Bodice Dress

I love the tea- and floor-length versions of this dress, so I had to make a knee-length one!

The gathered front of the bodice is so cute! And isn't that skirt prefect for twirling? This would be great as a bridesmaid dress, or a sundress in cotton.

Listing HERE

Short Double-Gathered-Bodice Wedding Dress

I also have a floor-length version of this one--quite possibly my favorite of the formal dresses I've worn. The top gathering is adorable, and the waist gathering is sooo slimming! 

Instead of contrasting colors, I made this one in bridal satin and lace. Perfect as a short wedding gown or reception dress!

Listing HERE

Re-Takes:

Wedding Dress "Amber"

Listing HERE

Wedding Dress "Faith"

Listing HERE

Grecian Dress

Listing HERE

Yoke Neck Dress

Listing HERE

Sweetheart Dress with Straps

Listing HERE

Little Black Dress

Listing HERE

Halter Neck Dress with Flounces

Listing HERE

Pleated Sundress with Pockets

Listing HERE

Great for maternity, too!

Gathered Neck Sun Dress

Listing HERE

P.S. My new Spring/Summer Collection is in the works! I hope you like it as much as I do!