Designing a Cocktail Dress

Finding the perfect cocktail dress can be a challenge. Current dress trends may not match your taste or body type, or maybe you just cannot afford the dress you love. If you have sewing skills or access to a good dressmaker, you can design your own cocktail dress. It's not terribly difficult, but can take some time and careful consideration.

Things You'll Need

• Pattern or patterns
• Dress form (optional)
• Fabric for muslin
• Fabric for final dress
• Any necessary notions and thread
• Sewing machine

Instructions

Designing a Cocktail Dress

1. Consider the shapes and silhouettes you love. Different styles flatter different body types. You probably already reach for the best shapes for your body in your closet every day. Do you prefer close-fitting styles or more classic and tailored pieces? Are there certain time periods in fashion that you favor?

2. Look at where you will be wearing the dress. Something worn for a dressy business event should be more conservative and modest than a dress designed for your best friend's New Year's Eve bash. You should also think about whether you will wear the dress again. Designing a cocktail dress is a fairly time-consuming process, so you may wish to choose fabrics and styles that will work for other occasions. Basic black is classic, but deep charcoal gray, ivory, navy and other neutrals can all be lovely and accessorized differently for future events.

3. Sketch out ideas and compile a notebook, folder or bulletin board with pictures of dresses you love. This step will help you determine your cocktail dress design. You can download basic figures for sketching, called croquis, online or draw your own.

4. Take your sketches to the fabric store. Start at the pattern books. You may find that there is a commercially designed cocktail dress pattern similar enough to your design. Choose fabrics. Make sure to buy a bit more, say one-half to 1 yard, than is called for to allow for errors or inaccuracies. Many different fabrics will work well for cocktail dresses. You can also find fabrics and swatches online. Pick up necessary yardage for a practice dress. You will make any alterations on this version, check the fit and make sure the pattern is right. You can select something like muslin or a wearable fabric for the practice run.

5. Cut and sew a muslin for your dress. This is the ideal time to adjust for bust or waist size, add style details or otherwise change the basic pattern. If you use a less-expensive fabric, a cocktail-style dress may work for a summer afternoon date or less dressy party.

6. Sew your final dress. Designing a cocktail dress is easier than you might expect, and the end result is a dress perfect for your event and your body. Press as you go for the most professional result.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't sew, visit a dressmaker at the end of step 3 to design a cocktail dress without so much work.