Chemise Dress

My first attempt at a Chemise a la Reine, made for the 2007 Chemise Dress Day at Costume College.

Inspiration & Resources

Construction Details

2007

I fell victim to the great chemise dress craze of 2007! My first chemise dress was very simply constructed. I used the diagram in The Cut of Women's Clothes as a base, but the dress is basically a tube with shoulder straps. I cut two panels for the front and two longer ones for the back so I would have a slight train.  Then I sewed them together, leaving the front seam open to the waist. I used the full 45in width of the fabric, sewing edges selvedge to selvedge so I didnt have to finish the seams. I sewed a narrow channel for the front drawstring, gathered the back, attached the shoulder straps  (I lined them with linen, taking a cue from Katherine), and finally bound the back gathers.

 

 

I omitted the waist gathering. The sash does a nice job of controlling the fabric.

 

To finish, I bound the front gathers, added a double ruffle to the neckline, and long sleeves with pleated cuffs.