The Dressmakers Ball 2024: My Re-loved Dress
I had the absolute pleasure of co-hosting the Dressmakers Ball and what a night it was! Celebrating our fifth event, this was the first of many at our stunning new venue, the Grand Hotel, Leicester, and I couldn’t be more excited for the future! From start to finish, the night was filled with joy, creativity, and a true sense of community.
The food was absolutely delicious, hot, and plentiful. The music was fantastic, keeping us on the dance floor well into the early hours. And, of course, the most important part—the outfits! The creativity on display was nothing short of astounding, with every guest bringing their A-game in style. It was humbling to see so much effort, talent, and skill showcased in one room.
Sustainability at the Core
As promised, I wanted to share a little insight into my outfit for the event. This year, I decided to embrace sustainability by reworking my dress from last year. It’s my re-sew-lution for 2024, keeping sustainability at the heart of my sewing practice.
I took my 2023 dress—a sea green taffeta bodice and skirt—and reimagined it into a completely new design. I joined the pieces together to create a one-piece dress, then added a navy blue mesh tulle with gold spots, draped on the stand, and hand-stitched into place.
To make it unique, I added an asymmetric single shoulder detail with a drape cascading over the shoulder, secured with a clear strap. I finished off the design with hand-sewn appliqué butterflies on the bodice and a beautiful silk velvet ribbon, kindly gifted to me by my milliner studio mate Giulia.
Wearing the dress felt so special. It was 100% new to me—fresh, vibrant, and completely reworked, which made it all the more meaningful to wear for this event.
Find out more about my dress on my Youtube Channel now!
A Proud Moment with a student and friend ❤️
One of my favourite parts of the night was being able to share a special moment with my lovely friend and customer, Charlotte @echarli. She attended my Pattern Making Retreat in 2023, where she learned how to draft her own dress block. Seeing her wear the very first dress she designed using those skills made me incredibly proud! She looked stunning, and I can’t wait to work with her again at the next retreat in January to help her further develop her design ideas. It’s so exciting to watch her progress, and I’m thrilled to be a part of her sewing journey.
Looking Ahead
The Dressmakers Ball was a beautiful celebration of sewing, style, and community, and I can’t wait to do it all again next year. Thank you to everyone who made it so special, and a big shoutout to all the talented makers who shared their creations with us. Keep an eye on @thedressmakersball and sign up to my newsletter for more updates and sneak peeks of upcoming events.
Here’s to more creativity, more beautiful garments and many more fabulous events ahead!
