Joanne Fleming Design: Sequin Art Deco Dress

The cast of BBC1's new 'Upstairs Downstairs'

I was watching the first part of the new BBC 'Upstairs Downstairs' mini-series last night...... I've been pining since the end of Dowton Abbey, and although this is set a couple of decades after the Edwardian era depicted in that series, the costumes are just as gorgeous!

Keeley Hawes as Lady Agnes Holland in BBC1's Upstairs, Downstairs

The climax of the initial episode was a cocktail party at which the ever fascinating Wallis Simpson was to appear, and the hostess of the party, Lady Agnes Holland (played by Keeley Hawes), wore a glamorous gold sequin evening gown (costumes by Amy Roberts). As soon as I saw it, it reminded me of a dress I designed about 3 years ago........
*Have just done a little research, and discovered that the dress used in the programme is actually a genuine vintage gown from the era!*

Art Deco Sequin Dress by Joanne Fleming Design

This dress was made up in a nude silk georgette, which was embroidered with silvery-gold sequins. the neckline and handkerchief hem was edged with individually hand-sewn antique-silver bugle beads, which gave a lovely weight and drape. The gown had an under-slip of plain silk georgette, again edged with the bugle beads. The front girdle panel was encrusted with crystals and more of the antique-silver beads.

A little interesting addendum to this concerns the origin of the sequined silk I used. In the olden days ( well, about 5 years ago), I used to do some freelance work for Madame Tussauds. I was commissioned to make some of the 'red carpet' gowns for a number of their wax figures, including, in 2006, Christina Aguilera. This was the same fabric I used for her dress.......
Here are a few very poor quality pics taken in my studio of the work in progress (sans head!), followed by a couple of the official Madame Tussauds portraits.