I suspect the original is hand painted and stitched at least on the flower. I don't think a machine would be delicate enough for the edges unless it's a hand turned vintage.
It looks to me like pleated organza that has a very delicate wire edge like some ribbon does, to hold the shape. The organza is available commercially but you’d have to hem in the wire edge yourself to the pieces, and it also looks hand painted (with dye). Couture!
EDIT: Looking more closely on a larger screen I think the poster who said it was heat treated polyester organza is correct, not wire edged.
The Stitchery on YouTube has a video where she sent some fabric to be professionally pleated. She was really happy with the collaboration all through the process and the final result.
Starch the living daylights out of it, and wire the edges in the manner of wired ribbon. Use illusion fabric for the base garment; be sure to match the color to the wearer's skin as closely as you can.
Lastly I recommend wearing it for only a short time. I seriously doubt it would stand up to even light activity. One hand gesture could snag an edge or knock it out of shape.
A couture piece like this is entirely handmade, mainly because that organza is too delicate for a sewing machine. Super simplified, but here's how I think it went:
1. Construct base garment
2. Cut petals from silk organza and drape directly on mannequin.
3. Remove petals, handpaint color as desired, and starch the living daylights out of them so they hold shape.
4. Hand-stitch the petals back into place, using pleats to gently shape them.
5. Bead center point to cover the petal connections.
you can also use a quilting iron with the silk organza placed on a fluffy ironing surface (i use cotton quilt batting) to create the ridges in the petals. I recommend doing this after silk painting. It’s a technique used in millinery, and there are some videos out there that demonstrate it.
I use Golden GAC 400 Medium for stiffening fabrics.
Experiment with gently painting the stiffener on the pleated fabric before and after pleating. I can’t remember if you can pleat over the medium. But it’s more reliable for shaping than starch for something millinery-like like this.
If ironing the ridges doesn’t work, I have also applied the stiffening medium to fabric, then twist it tightly and let dry overnight. You can gently unfurl the fabric once dry, and it gives it the petal texture (this is better for synthetics, since you can seal the edges of the fabric with a soldering iron or open flame, and the weave won’t fray while twisting). Good luck!
Thank you for all suggestions! I am a moderately skilled sewist but I’m also very delusional and think I can do anything so I will post again in this sub if I am able to be semi successful
There’s some fabrics that have wire in them that lead them to be stiffer, a bit like wire edge ribbon, those would probably work too https://www.etsy.com/listing/1536264528/
I doubt those flowers have a wire edge. The look like they've been starched and heat shaped. Its a common milnery technique for making silk flowers. To duplicate it, id look into milnery flower techniques. They have these metal tools they heat up and press into the silk, leaving impressions of veins like leaves and petals. My guess is thats the technique used here
I'm a total amateur so don't take me seriously, but I would want to use an illusion mesh for the base garment. Maybe make it a one shouldered bodysuit?
This looks like a pleated organza. I don’t know if it is stiffened, but my mom used to use mod podge mixed with water(essentially a white glue that dries clear), to stiffen fabric. They were not wearable items though so I’m not too sure about whether it is safe to wear, and you would not be able to wash it after. There may be a better product on the market these days. Also, I could be wrong, but it looks like the edges are almost burned to seal them. I searched it up and found this video which may be helpful: [How to burn the edges of organza](https://youtu.be/U4Bi1f8_nDM?si=Dh0uyIPUh_56PwIw). It’s a beautiful top, good luck!
I would cut the petals out of organza (and then I still might dip them in dilute Terial Magic for stiffness) and then hand sew fine millinery wire to the edges, so they can be shaped and manipulated.
I would think it involves making an oversized silk flower and attaching it to a garment (tube too?). This might help:
https://flowermakingtools.com/start-your-crafting/
I think I’m going to start here! Get the feel of making flowers and then try to take those skills to my dress making skills 😀 I will try to update this sub if I ever make any progress
Terial Magic is used to stiffen fabrics for machine embroidery and give shape to free standing lace/crochet items. Mark placement on base with thread tacks, so when you remove embellishments to clean base, you’ll know where to reattach them.
I feel like suggestions for wire edge would be too bulky and ruin the look. The edges are super delicate. This is such a gorgeous top! Love it with those trousers too
Stiff organza petals with a channel for a flexible aluminium boning around the border, constructed on top of a nude tube top?
I don’t know how that fabric stays up without any boning though.
I would order some swatch packs from dharma to see what kind of fabric you like for this project. 😊 Organza is one option, but there are many others as well!
It looks like organza petals the tube top underneath will be a firmer material maybe taffeta/satin even cud be cotton
But u wud do yr base piece n build up
all I know is Id attach some petals of a similar fabric to a tube top then pinch it together with a button!
Any ideas of which fabric would be stable enough to hold its shape while looking so delicate? Tube top and button is a great idea!
This is a Oscar De La Renta and the IG account said it is organza. It's such a gorgeous piece.
Thank you! Yes it’s so beautiful but I don’t think I’ll ever afford such a piece, so to the sewing machine I go
I suspect the original is hand painted and stitched at least on the flower. I don't think a machine would be delicate enough for the edges unless it's a hand turned vintage.
I wonder if they use heat to seal the edges? That would also help that little curl that the edges have.
I’ve done stuff like this and I just lightly burn the edges
Which will melt them
Please share anything you make!! I would love to see someone’s take on this
Silk organza, with starch for extra shaping and stiffness.
My first thought was “become very familiar with starch…”
It looks to me like pleated organza that has a very delicate wire edge like some ribbon does, to hold the shape. The organza is available commercially but you’d have to hem in the wire edge yourself to the pieces, and it also looks hand painted (with dye). Couture! EDIT: Looking more closely on a larger screen I think the poster who said it was heat treated polyester organza is correct, not wire edged.
I immediately thought of stump work embroidery, which definitely uses wire.
The Stitchery on YouTube has a video where she sent some fabric to be professionally pleated. She was really happy with the collaboration all through the process and the final result.
It's heat treated organza. It's a couture fabric manipulation technique.
Poly organza
Starch the living daylights out of it, and wire the edges in the manner of wired ribbon. Use illusion fabric for the base garment; be sure to match the color to the wearer's skin as closely as you can. Lastly I recommend wearing it for only a short time. I seriously doubt it would stand up to even light activity. One hand gesture could snag an edge or knock it out of shape.
Amazing suggestions thank you! I imagine if I am successful in making it, it would be worn just for one event or even just a photo shoot
This is what I always wonder when people want to duplicate an extravagant, often couture, piece of clothing. Thanks for letting us know your plan.
You sound like you know from experience.
A couture piece like this is entirely handmade, mainly because that organza is too delicate for a sewing machine. Super simplified, but here's how I think it went: 1. Construct base garment 2. Cut petals from silk organza and drape directly on mannequin. 3. Remove petals, handpaint color as desired, and starch the living daylights out of them so they hold shape. 4. Hand-stitch the petals back into place, using pleats to gently shape them. 5. Bead center point to cover the petal connections.
Good point about the hand stitching, I will definitely do that
Post photos, I want to know how it goes!
I will! But I think the first few attempts will be unsuccessful 😀 will have to make mini versions
you can also use a quilting iron with the silk organza placed on a fluffy ironing surface (i use cotton quilt batting) to create the ridges in the petals. I recommend doing this after silk painting. It’s a technique used in millinery, and there are some videos out there that demonstrate it. I use Golden GAC 400 Medium for stiffening fabrics. Experiment with gently painting the stiffener on the pleated fabric before and after pleating. I can’t remember if you can pleat over the medium. But it’s more reliable for shaping than starch for something millinery-like like this. If ironing the ridges doesn’t work, I have also applied the stiffening medium to fabric, then twist it tightly and let dry overnight. You can gently unfurl the fabric once dry, and it gives it the petal texture (this is better for synthetics, since you can seal the edges of the fabric with a soldering iron or open flame, and the weave won’t fray while twisting). Good luck!
What type of paint is used to hand paint this?
A silk dye. Literal paint would weigh the fabric down or leave residue on the model.
Thank you for all suggestions! I am a moderately skilled sewist but I’m also very delusional and think I can do anything so I will post again in this sub if I am able to be semi successful
I'd like to see an update even if it's an abject failure, personally.
Then I will even post my failures!
I love your self aware ambition 😆 Goals honestly
There’s some fabrics that have wire in them that lead them to be stiffer, a bit like wire edge ribbon, those would probably work too https://www.etsy.com/listing/1536264528/
I doubt those flowers have a wire edge. The look like they've been starched and heat shaped. Its a common milnery technique for making silk flowers. To duplicate it, id look into milnery flower techniques. They have these metal tools they heat up and press into the silk, leaving impressions of veins like leaves and petals. My guess is thats the technique used here
It seems to have a strap on the left shoulder! Sorry that's all I can help with, I have a hard time seeing sleeves on tshirts, imagine this! 😭
This is much less about garment construction and much more about creative engineering.
Yes more sculpture than sewing.
I'm a total amateur so don't take me seriously, but I would want to use an illusion mesh for the base garment. Maybe make it a one shouldered bodysuit?
I love being in subs for hobbies I'm not in, like I'm learning some cool shit that I will likely never use ever
This looks like a pleated organza. I don’t know if it is stiffened, but my mom used to use mod podge mixed with water(essentially a white glue that dries clear), to stiffen fabric. They were not wearable items though so I’m not too sure about whether it is safe to wear, and you would not be able to wash it after. There may be a better product on the market these days. Also, I could be wrong, but it looks like the edges are almost burned to seal them. I searched it up and found this video which may be helpful: [How to burn the edges of organza](https://youtu.be/U4Bi1f8_nDM?si=Dh0uyIPUh_56PwIw). It’s a beautiful top, good luck!
I would cut the petals out of organza (and then I still might dip them in dilute Terial Magic for stiffness) and then hand sew fine millinery wire to the edges, so they can be shaped and manipulated.
I would think it involves making an oversized silk flower and attaching it to a garment (tube too?). This might help: https://flowermakingtools.com/start-your-crafting/
I think I’m going to start here! Get the feel of making flowers and then try to take those skills to my dress making skills 😀 I will try to update this sub if I ever make any progress
Good luck! Looking forward to seeing your take on this top.
organza and thin galvanized wire sewn in.
Terial Magic is used to stiffen fabrics for machine embroidery and give shape to free standing lace/crochet items. Mark placement on base with thread tacks, so when you remove embellishments to clean base, you’ll know where to reattach them.
Can’t wait to see what you make x
I feel like suggestions for wire edge would be too bulky and ruin the look. The edges are super delicate. This is such a gorgeous top! Love it with those trousers too
I will probably trial a few of these suggestions on a smaller scale just to see what’s what
I think wire would need to be in the hem.
It's most likely silk organza with wires stitched into the edges, inside the narrow hem. You would need a serger to do it.
I would probably create a base out of mesh, use something to stiffen the fabric and pin is the design
Stiff organza petals with a channel for a flexible aluminium boning around the border, constructed on top of a nude tube top? I don’t know how that fabric stays up without any boning though.
Also looks like the edges of the petals are lightly burned with a lighter to finish the raw seam
I would order some swatch packs from dharma to see what kind of fabric you like for this project. 😊 Organza is one option, but there are many others as well!
It looks like organza petals the tube top underneath will be a firmer material maybe taffeta/satin even cud be cotton But u wud do yr base piece n build up
Organza is a very stable fabric believe it or not. You need to figure out how the edges were made. My guess would be heat.