A Dress A Day

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February 04, 2009

APB on a BDP (BDP = Bridal Dress Pattern)

Vogue 7009

Jen at MOMSPatterns is trying to help a customer find the dress on this pattern -- not this actual pattern, which is for fabric roses -- but the dress that Vogue used as a canvas in the picture on this pattern envelope for the flowers that this pattern makes. Is that clear?

We're assuming that the marketing whizzes at Vogue would use one of their own patterns ON one of their own patterns, but nobody's been able to find this yet. Can you help?

Speaking of brides, I'm going to be a bridesmatron again in May! I'm very excited. [Not-so-interesting Erin trivia: thus far I have only stood up in the weddings of people named "Vanessa".] This is the dress my bride-to-be has chosen for us -- I really like it:


Watters 350

(NOTE: She is not getting it in BLACK. You guys know how I feel about that, and anyway, it's a May wedding. But you know what? If she asked me to wear black I would so totally do it. I even offered to wear purple if she wanted me to, and purple and I don't get along.)

This dress is from Watters -- does anyone have any helpful tips for dealing with them? They're saying "ten weeks"; is that for real, or a nervous-bride-buffer?

Labels: ,

posted by Erin @ 8:00 AM  

55 Comments:

  • At Feb 4, 2009 9:07:00 AM, Blogger Helen said…

    Re the Vogue pattern - my unhelpful comment is 'yes' that is from a bridal pattern (I remember it being in the books when I worked in the 90s) but I don't recall the designer. Happy hunting. I will go a-googling and try to help though too!xx

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 9:26:00 AM, OpenID kylydia said…

    I'd say yes on the 10 weeks. It's crazy, but they don't keep stock, they make to order. My bridesmaid dresses (from a different company) have a lead time of 12-14 weeks.

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 9:45:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Aw, cute! Yeah, I know it's cheesy, but I love weddings (especially if I don't have to do any of the work!!). Have fun, bridesmatron!!

    Anon in Ire

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 10:03:00 AM, Anonymous Cathy said…

    So what color is the bridesmatron dress going to be??

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 10:31:00 AM, Blogger Zoltar Panaflex said…

    My wedding dress was a bridesmaids dress from Watters, and it was the nicest outfit, pity I never actually wore it.

    I had to go through a Bridal Shop Of Horrors, they ordered it Too Big and "with Extra Length" despite the reality that I'm 5'5". I swam in that thing.

    It was a FINE dress though, and when I donated it to a Prom Dress For Needy Girls shop, it made a local girl feel very special to wear it to her prom!

    Watters is wonderful though beautiful garments.

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 10:59:00 AM, Anonymous Theresa said…

    Hey! I was a May bride and now I am goign to my BFFs may wedding in Boston...I am so excited. I am makign this dress...pray for me
    http://www.voguepatterns.com/item/V1084.htm??tab=whats_new&page=1 -- in blue taffeta

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 11:12:00 AM, Blogger Vavi said…

    Well after Googling, I came across 2 patterns that were close:
    Vogue Pattern #2263
    Vogue Pattern #1325
    Good luck

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 11:18:00 AM, OpenID nineveh-uk said…

    HAs she tried asking Vogue? Surely they have a back catalogue and could look this up (and maybe even sell it to her)?

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 11:23:00 AM, Blogger Patricia said…

    Erin,
    I seem to vaguely remember that dress as being a Vogue pattern, and I think it might be a Vera Wang, if indeed she has done any designs for Vogue Patterns. I have the pattern for the flowers, and I bought it new about 10 years ago, so that might give you an idea of the timeline for the dress pattern. Hope that helps!

    Trish

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 11:37:00 AM, Blogger fabricgirl said…

    Pretty dress - Watters makes some of the nicer ones. The timeline is for real. They are indeed 'made-to-order' overseas somewhere; thing is, they order by the largest of your measurements. If you're pear shaped, for example ( not saying you are ) you will get a dress in according to your hip size, and it will have to be altered down for the bust at the store, or by you. The alterations are what the shop makes $$ on, like the consessions at a movie theater. Crazy, but true.

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 11:44:00 AM, Blogger Patricia said…

    Vera Wang Vogue Pattern 1583? (Saw some copies on ebay)...

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 11:56:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I don't know how I missed the original post about appropriate wedding day attire. My mother in law wore a whitish shade to our wedding. I was not pleased. It's nice to have some validation that it's WRONG!

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 12:18:00 PM, Anonymous Hana said…

    If it is Vogue 1583, it actually is listed on MOMSPatterns!
    http://www.momspatterns.com/inc/sdetail/20108
    Although, it seems to me the waistband isn't present on the photo Erin posted... but it's definitely very, very close.

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 12:31:00 PM, Blogger Miss Amelina said…

    It does look alot like Vogue 1235:

    http://shopping.sewingpatternsupply.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3&products_id=51

    they have all three size ranges available

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 12:33:00 PM, Blogger Miss Amelina said…

    but the back of 1235 is more v-like than rounded, methinks

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 1:22:00 PM, Blogger Chantelle said…

    It sort of looks like different dresses (or different views of the same dress, possibly) were used as a canvas for the roses.

    There's the dress with the sheer top and sleeves, scoop back, basque waist, and full skirt shown for views D and E. For view G, the bodice has a low, wide scoop neck with short sleeves and covered boning/seamlines. View C's dress is similar to view G's but it looks like there might be more boning lines, and the boning lines aren't covered. There might be a sheer top on view C's dress as well; it's hard to tell from the picture.

    Do you know which dress the customer is interested in finding?

    Thanks for a reminder on appropriate dress for weddings, Erin. My brother-in-law is getting married in July and of course I'll make a new dress! I wish I could use the pale pink fabric I bought, but it's too light. Sigh. I'm sure I'll find some other fabric. After all, I did just order some vintage mint fabric that is gorgeous.... and there will be lots of other fabric in the stores, if it comes to that :)

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 1:32:00 PM, Blogger Jen ~ MOMSPatterns said…

    Oooh! Y'all made me go RUN to pull the Vogue 1583 to see if it was it, how embarrassing that would have been to have had it the whole time! lol

    BUT I think we can scratch this one off the list. The Vogue 1583 is a straight fitted skirt with a removable overskirt; the one that she's looking for on the 7009 envelope looks like it has a dropped waist and full gathered skirt?

    Thank you for mentioning it and making me check!

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 1:47:00 PM, Blogger Patricia said…

    To Jen,

    Perhaps your customer could still use 1583 with some modification, i.e., adding a gathered skirt below the waistline. The top part of the pattern is definitely identical -- the same illusion bodice with no armhole seams (as in 1235). Hope that helps...

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 1:55:00 PM, Blogger Jean said…

    Yep, fabricgirl is right on! Most all companies that order from overseas have at least a 2-3 month wait! But hopefully they will already be in stock and sent right out!
    Have fun, weddings are great!

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 2:28:00 PM, Anonymous JennR said…

    That really looks like a Vogue Vera Wang gown in the pattern picture, although it may not be called a bridal gown. I could swear I remember seeing it in the catalog. yes, with the dropped waist and full skirt. Although, it *might* be a Vera Wang original that they "translated" for home sewers.

    (FWIW, my bridesmaid wore a dress with black velvet bodice and printed taffeta skirt. It was February, 20 years ago. We felt that there was no reason for her to buy yet another formal dress, and she already had it in her closet. And stylewise it was a perfect foil for my dress....)

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 2:44:00 PM, Blogger ISS Man 71 said…

    Erin, Thanks for coming back to us. I was beginning to think this was dressaweek.com. ;->

    Good luck as a bridesmatron. And What color IS that dress going to be?

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 5:03:00 PM, Anonymous La BellaDonna said…

    Erin, if Jen HAS the actual pattern, there should be photo credits for that dress listed somewhere either on the pattern or the instructions!

    Anonymous, how tacky! The subtext to that is always "I want to be the one to sleep with my son!" (Yes, feel free to pour that oil on the fire.) I think at least in Western customs it will be one of the last "Don'ts" - unless of course the bride requests it. I'm willing to stretch a lot of other colours - yes, even the red which gets Erin's disapproval - but then, my colouring pretty much DICTATES black, white and red - all verbotten, in theory, at someone else's wedding. And so is my fallback print - which is leopard! I haven't had to go to many, fortunately; I had a miserable search for a navy outfit for my brother's wedding (I was making the bride's dress, and didn't have time to sew mine) - black outfits and red outfits were EVERYWHERE, and would have looked perfect on me, but I wanted a blue that would fit in with the rest - even though it really wasn't flattering.

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 5:56:00 PM, Blogger Sandra B said…

    I am standing up with BFF in less than 2 weeks, with no dress yet. It is a small, intimate wedding, and I can wear whatever I want. Just looking for the right fabric for a pattern I already have a nd love.

    When we started talking about the wedding, she said "of course, you will be my matron of honor..." I said "of course I will, but if you ever call me a matron of honor again, I WILL poke you with a fork". So, I am the best girl.

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 6:15:00 PM, Blogger Nancy (nanflan) said…

    Yes, try googling Vera Wang in the pattern section of eBay. I remember that treatment with the sheer was really a signature look for her and did a skating dress for Nancy Kerrigan at the Olympics with the same sheer effect.

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 6:25:00 PM, Anonymous tammyo said…

    how about vera wang vogue #1945 on etsy? dropped waist, gathered skirt...

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 7:06:00 PM, Blogger Oldpatterns said…

    The pattern companies do not store out of print patterns. They have a a few, but once they pull it from the catalog and they are done selling it as out of print, it is gone. You then have to hunt on ebay of the many fine people who sell out of print patterns. Many of the pattern companies refer their customers to me. I know McCall's and Butterick send them to my website once a pattern has been out a print for a while.

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 7:25:00 PM, Blogger mmcnealy said…

    I think Tammyo found it!

    Vogue 1945 dress on Etsy

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 7:38:00 PM, Blogger Carolyn said…

    Belladonna, if your colours are black, red and white I'll bet you look brilliant in cobalt blue..

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 7:39:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    10 weeks is a very short time frame for bridesmaid dresses. From the time you order the dress at the bridal shop, it can be a week before the factory in China receives the order. It is then placed in sequence of wedding date with ALL the other orders placed from around the world. Then it is transported by ship to the country the order was placed; then has to go through customs. From there it goes to a warehouse that has to ship to the individual bridal shops. That dress travels a long road before it ever gets to the customer. That said, as a bridal consultant and master seamstress, Watters are beautiful gowns.

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 7:51:00 PM, Blogger Jen said…

    Isn't this the dress?

    It's on ebay...Item number: 260334386174

    http://cgi.ebay.ca/5-7K-Exquisite-VERA-WANG-BRIDAL-WEDDING-DRESS-GOWN-6_W0QQitemZ260334386174QQcmdZViewItemQQptZWedding_Dresses?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 8:15:00 PM, OpenID brocadegoddess said…

    I just read the dressing for weddings post now for the first time. It's FABULOUS!!! I was surprised at the number of people defending black. Live a little people!!

    May I also add one more rule? This is to do with shoes actually:

    NO CROCS!!!!!

    I actually *SAW* someone wear a pair to attend a wedding a couple years ago. Could not believe my eyes!

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 8:27:00 PM, Anonymous tammyo said…

    Jen, that looks just like the pattern that I mentioned above! I bet that's it!

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 8:34:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I just read the wedding-dressing post too. I haven't read all the comments, though! I'm from the south where black is definitely not a color to wear to a wedding. However, when I went to a trendy, young, urban wedding in NYC a few years ago I warned my best friend (also a Southerner) "do not wear pastels." Sure enough, every. single. person. other than the bride and the mothers (who were in cream, as were the bridesmaids) wore black.

    brocadegoddess--I am reeling at wearing crocs. that's hilarious! (and terrible!)

    --polly

     

  • At Feb 4, 2009 9:42:00 PM, Blogger Anan said…

    I love that wedding gown... but I've already bought the "Winter Wedding" dress pattern, not that I'm making plans. :P Still I too wish I knew what pattern that is.

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 1:37:00 AM, Anonymous Pamela said…

    Its Vogue Pattern 1583, a Vera Wang Bridal dress with overskirt. This seller has it on Ebay for $15

    http://cgi.ebay.com/UNCUT-VOGUE-PATTERN-VERA-WANG-WEDDING-DRESS-8-10-12_W0QQitemZ310112127898QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

    Ebay # Item number: 310112127898 if the link doesn't work.

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 1:45:00 AM, Anonymous Pamela said…

    Woops, it is Vogue 1945 by Vera Wang. I thought that pattern didn't have the long sleeves like 1583, but it does. And it has the dropped waist. Lovely dress!

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 2:02:00 AM, Anonymous Hana said…

    Yes, Vogue 1945 it must be! Great find, tammyo!

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 6:56:00 AM, Anonymous Becky O. said…

    Aww, I made the headpiece that the model is wearing for myself over 15 years ago : )

    That is a great memory to start the day with!

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 7:28:00 AM, Blogger Jen said…

    Why not call Vogue/Mc Calls' direct?

    There contact information can be found on http://www.mccall.com/about/About_The_McCall_Pattern_Company.htm

    I'd call the Kansas office first as it would probably be easier to speak to someone there than in the New York office.

    Best of luck on the dress -- it is lovely.

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 8:05:00 AM, Blogger Jen ~ MOMSPatterns said…

    Vogue 1945 YES!!! I believe that's the one and have just emailed my Hunter & Seeker.. you guys are awesome!

    Thank you so much!

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 8:07:00 AM, Blogger Jen ~ MOMSPatterns said…

    PS.. I didn't see anything about 'credits' on the Vogue 7009/Roses pattern.. and she was advised to contact Vogue directly who were no help to her at all; she got the 'oh, that's out of print, we don't know' spiel.

    I bow to your searching abilities!

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 9:02:00 AM, Anonymous Kate McK said…

    Awwww, that's such a pretty dress, Erin. Are you wearing a wrap or anything?

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 9:04:00 AM, Anonymous Elizabeth said…

    This post led me to the one on dressing for weddings -- and let me thank you, Erin, for explaining the so-called rules.

    It always baffles me when people say that proscriptions on wearing black or white to a wedding are outdated.

    Manners aren't about making yourself comfortable or about self-expression, they're about acknowledging other people and their rites of passage. At someone's wedding you don't dress as if for a funeral (yes, yes, you can wear black if the bride has set a different dress code) and you don't in any way try to upstage the bride.

    If these ideas are outdated, I'm very happy to be a dinosaur.

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 1:05:00 PM, Blogger Jen ~ MOMSPatterns said…

    From the gal looking for the pattern:

    THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK EVERYONE FOR HELPING!! HOW AMAZING THAT YOU FOUND IT!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! AWESOME!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I'M OFF TO BUY THAT PATTERN!!!
    THANK YOU!! TO EVERYONE ONCE AGAIN!!

    Have a fabulous day!


    LOL!

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 2:19:00 PM, Blogger scormeny said…

    Vis a vis Watters dress and 10 weeks -- this does steam me. I had to buy a bridesmaids dress for a wedding I stood in, and also had a lengthy wait for the gown, even though like Watters it came only in off-the-rack sizes, no custom-tailoring. The dress fit me so poorly and I ended up spending about $70 on alterations to shorten the skirt (which had nearly a foot too much length!) and completely alter the neckline, arms and waist as I'm a busty short-waisted woman and had to order something that was 2 sizes up everywhere else, to make sure it was wide enough at the bust.

    I would suggest, if there's time, to ask the bride to choose something comparable that is carried at Michael's. You can at least try it on first to get the closest size, and they may even have it in stock in your size and color. And it will probably be cheaper than a Watters dress.

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 4:36:00 PM, Blogger Marla said…

    I cannot for the life of me figure out what body part(s) are being shown in "G." Is it... someone with a bit of a pot belly, wearing a white T-shirt and khaki slacks, with a garland of roses around his/her waist? Because that is SO not what I would wear to a wedding :)

    I also am a firm believer in the No Black at Weddings rule. As you point out, it's not just a party, it's a very specific event with its own rules and customs. I will never forget at MY wedding, an acquaintance WORE HER OWN WEDDING DRESS. Yes. Granted it was a tea-length dress that could pass as a dressy dress and not specifically a wedding dress, but still. It WAS HER WEDDING DRESS. Was she f***ing crazy or what?

    My worst faux pas was wearing a summery, beige dress to a recent wedding - to discover I was dressed almost exactly like the bride! I guess she was even more traditional than I am, as it was her second marriage and presumably she felt she couldn't/shouldn't wear white (now THAT is a rule people can ignore!)

     

  • At Feb 5, 2009 7:29:00 PM, Anonymous Belinda said…

    marla, i believe that G is a neckline, with that velvet trim tapering down to a waist. and i think its on a dress form, because surely nobody has skin that uniformly white (i mean, i wish I did, but... when they have 'fake paling' salons, i will so be there....)

     

  • At Feb 6, 2009 8:31:00 AM, Blogger AuntieShel said…

    I recognized that it was a Vera Wang, so glad someone was able to find the exact number. My son is getting married in August and I'm so excited. I promise not to wear anything remotely white or black.

     

  • At Feb 6, 2009 8:45:00 AM, Blogger L said…

    oh i love those dresses....

     

  • At Feb 6, 2009 11:36:00 AM, Blogger Marla said…

    OK, I see it now! If I extrapolate from view "C" it all makes sense.

     

  • At Feb 8, 2009 2:41:00 AM, Blogger <b>Not a Knitter</b> said…

    Oh, I am so glad you posted about this! That picture is in an ad in one of the pattern books at JoAnns, and I have been looking longingly at it for ages. I'm not getting married anytime soon (that would require a man, lol), but it's nice to know that this actually exists as a pattern!

     

  • At Feb 9, 2009 12:08:00 AM, Anonymous Send gifts to Pakistan said…

    Beautiful design of dress.

     

  • At Feb 10, 2009 9:56:00 AM, Anonymous goldilocks said…

    Thank you a million times for that wedding post-- copies should be printed and mailed to every home in America. ;)

    Half the reason that people show up at weddings so inappropriately attired is that NOBODY has ever told them what IS correct dress.

    When I was a girl, mom told me that at a wedding you wear "something nice enough for church."

    That still meant something, in Oklahoma, in 1988.

    The bride was allowed to look "sexy" if she so desired, but the rest of us looked modest and scrubbed and well-behaved. Because we weren't there to be sexy.

    Now, of course, even the most conservative among us go to church in jeans and crocs.

    Last Sunday, our pastor's wife attended in skintight denim pants, a thin plunging-neck knit shirt, and patent-leather FMBs.

    I guess she thought she was All Dressed Up.

    And so of course the general advice to "just wear something nice!" will inspire the ignorant populace to wear anything from their favorite holey Levis ("but they make me look thin! And they're soooo comfortable!") to club-wear.

    Blah!

     

  • At Feb 16, 2009 10:01:00 PM, Anonymous Dr. Birdcage said…

    My bridesmaids (in wedding to previous husband) wore Watters dresses, and though this was more than a decade ago, I recall it being a close call for one of them who not only needed a tiny size, but also needed hemming and taking in (she is 4'10"), and it was being done the day before the wedding. Ten weeks, for reals.

     

  • At Mar 14, 2009 8:23:00 PM, Anonymous rachel G said…

    ok I'm sooooooo glad someone else is looking for this dress too. I just went today and found this same dress picture in the vogue patterns catalogue. Of ciourse i have veen on limne all night trying to find 1945 and the life of me I CANT FIND IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Someone help me out here - I'm stressing and getting married in October - Help!!!!!!

     

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