I follow a variety of seamstresses on Instagram, and through this sewing community I heard about a British event called The Dressmaker’s Ball. It certainly sparked the curiosity of this feminine, dress-wearing, vintage-fashion-loving seamstress! I started to see mention of a ball planned for this year (2023), so I investigated. Sure enough, The Dressmakers Ball is planned for September 23rd in Leicester, England. It takes place at The City Rooms, an elegant Georgian, Grade 1 listed wedding venue and banquet hall. The event is hosted by two ladies, Freya and Sarah CraftySewAndSo , which is a sewing studio space and haberdashery shop in Leicester, England. The event was created because the ladies wanted a special occasion in which there would be reason the create and wear lovely dresses / formal attire. Since formal ball attire occasions are rather rare, they created the perfect event and excuse for all of the seamstresses to sew dresses for and come make friends and socialize. I think it is truly brilliant! This event has happened annually apart from Covid, from my understanding. Tickets are first come first serve for roughly 150 guests.
So why would we fly all the way to England for the ball? There are so many reasons. First, I am very thankful and blessed to have a flight attendant career which gives me the opportunity to fly for free on standby to any country, and to pay only for taxes, on the return to the states.
I could not be more thankful, and we try to use these benefits to the fullest for opportunities such as this. Secondly, I am smitten with British culture and fashion.
This started with the British Cunard line’s Transatlantic Fashion Week aboard the Queen Mary 2, where I got to listen to lectures by Lindy Woodhead (and read her books), and meet British Royal milliner Alex Jones.
Later visits to the V&A Mary Quant exhibit, the London Fashion and Textile Museum, the Manolo Blahnik exhibit at the Wallace Collection, and shopping for textiles at Liberty of London solidified my love for British Fashion. Also I enjoyed the Masterpiece Theater series, Mr. Selfridge, about the American Retail entrepreneur who started the British landmark store Selfridges. I also design textile prints and patterns for London-based Patternbank. I could go on and on, the bottom line is I just love England and the fashion culture there.
My husband was very supportive of the adventure as well because he also loves England. He has co-authored a text book with a colleague in Brighton, England, and he is always open to exploring English cities such as Leiceser. He is also very happy for me to have such a joy-sparking and fun event and project to keep me busy in the coming months. I am going to love having him there to attend with me. I appreciate his support of this.
So the big question now is what will my dress design be? What materials and colors will I pick? Stay tuned! (and by stay tuned I likely mean I will not tell you about my dress until just about the time of the event so it will be a surprise ! 🙂
ball gown sewingLeicester EnglandsewingThe Dressmakers Ball
