The Divine Top
The Divine Top is defined by its beautifully dramatic drape that features a bold lace that makes a V frame down the back. It has been one of my favorite features to add to wedding dresses and tops that call for extra glam. Many would be surprised to know that the first rendition of this drape was made in a mad dash to be worn for the 2018 award season here in Los Angeles.
I met my friend Kristin Booth on set at the Universal Lots while I was styling her to be interviewed for the Home and Family Show.
She had starred in a new Hallmark movie and I was doing her hair along with her co-star Crystal Lowe. We all hit it off right away and became fast friends. We had so much fun talking jewelry, outfits, and hairstyles in her trailer and of course, I had to show her my very new love affair with making crochet clothes. Kristin LOVED my crochet work which was very flattering because her stylists can pull from any designer she wants.
She asked me if I could make her something for an upcoming award show for Hallmark thus giving me my very first opportunity to design something for the red carpet.
We decided I would make her a dress in gold using the Angel Skirt design. I was so excited and began making her a beautiful gold dress.
Three days before the event I sent a photo of the dress to Kristin for her approval. It was then that she let me know that her entire cast had decided to wear black on the red carpet in solidarity with the Me Too Movement. She felt so bad asking if I had another dress in black she could wear instead. I had been wanting to make a black dress so I decided right then to begin a new dress to hopefully have ready for her in time for the award show. I went to Michaels, grabbed some new black yarn, and got to work.
I will never forget the three days leading up to the award show.
I locked myself in my room and watched my favorite telenovela: Velvet. It’s about a fashion house in Spain in the 1950s and the visuals are so inspiring. There is an episode where the characters are making a dress in a mad dash and I couldn’t help but laugh at the parallels in my own life and felt less alone as my hands moved feverishly.
I made the drape last…
Kristin had asked me for cap sleeves but to be honest, I didn't have time to figure out how to make them. It was the night before the red carpet and there could be no unraveling. I decided to make one piece that would serve as a sleeve and cover the corset back of the dress. I was trying to make a U shape down the back but it came out looking more like a V. I put some pretty dangling beads down the edges and was surprised by how much a liked it. The dress was not perfect but it would have to do.
I went to her hotel the day of the show to do Kristin and Crystal's hair as usual but this day I was not just the glam team. This time I was also the gown designer and it felt good. I got them ready and prayed Kristin would like the dress as I fitted her into it.
She looked amazing and sent photos from the red carpet.
I photographed the dress a few more times and put it in a gallery. The next time I would make the drape was for a bride Sacha who commissioned me to make her a pearl-beaded wedding gown. The drape was dripping with pearls and this stunning rendition caused the drape to be one of my most popular wedding dress design elements.
Rachel Sedory modeling the Dark Angel Dress
I finally made the drape available as one of the sleeve options for my Edith Dress pattern and have been delighted to see makers all around the work make an elevated version of that original drape.
I decided to call the drape the Divine drape because of its beauty and the V shape in the back. I am so excited to make this top available on its own so that makers can wear their own versions of the drape as a top or as part of a dress.
