This is the secret wedding gown design page for Stacy. Jay don't count, he's only there to provide balance and a nice contrast (what is beauty without a beast) for the pictures (that and structural steel for the gown).

All material is copyright Stacy Jyl McKenna Seip. All structural steel is copyright Jeremy Grant Seip (the Web master). You are welcome to steal the structural steel designs. I advise caution, you are basically building it out of mainsprings and it wants to explode.

An outfit like this must be built (the correct word) from the inside out. Lots of fun for a spectator/laborer. The first item built was the corset to get the amazing waist. This is the second of 4 corsets Stacy built by the time the wedding occurred. This corset has a 4 inch reduction and had some design issues (like installing half of the busk upside down so the sides in front wouldn't match up right with trim on the edges). The third of the four corsets is the same essential pattern but with a 5 inch reduction, and refinements for better upper torso shape and comfort. It is shown in most draping/fitting pictures and originally caused a little bit of back pain. This trained out as she reduces beautifully. The fourth corset was the final wedding corset.

The second essential part is the bustle. This is what gives the lovely shape and drape to the back of the gown. The bustle is a contraption of strapping and spring steel. Every picture we found is different and Stacy came up with this design. Just before I started construction she found a picture just like this. I'm so proud the groom got to use power tools to design the wedding gown. This marriage will work. I learned a lot building this. Write me for details. I also made the robo-Stacy which is standing in for her in all later draping pictures. 42 inches high ground to waist. For the curious the waist is 23.5 inches around.

This is the petticoat being draped on the dummy. The dummy got made right after we tried draping the petticoat on her. I'm very into functional sewing. Give me two pieces of material and they will NEVER come apart. Elegance and refined fit . . . not so much. Poor Stacy just about hemmoraged trying to turn at the waist to help me place the FIRST dart. We found that only GI Jane is actually articulated in that manner with that type of waist reduction.

This is the gown being draped. Note the excellent vertical panels in the side transitioning into the ruffles over the top of the bustle. Stacy is proud. The bustle was NOT visible (a shame, it's nice work) in the final fabric with all the assorted other layers. Of interest here is the discrepancy in the waist heights of the dummy and Stacy. Never fear, this was managed through use of truly cool shoes Stacy was wearing.

Last but not least, This is an in progress picture of how the gown will retract into itself for dancing/walking. Stacy was excited to see how long a train she could have. There will be hidden hooks and eyes to ruck it up with. My tasteful suggestion of power assist retraction was turned down for doubtless good reasons.

Here is Stacy turning her draped petticoat (the pattern pieces) into the actual petticoat. You can see in these pictures Stacy is fully supported in her quest for a gown to make people drop dead with envy by all of us including Tasslehoff. Not 10 minutes goes by when I don't hear "Daddy! Help! Come get your girl, she's HELPING!"

Here is the finished petticoat over the bustle, both over the corset. I was responsible for installing all the hooks and eyes so far. Stacy is trying out my skills where it doesn't show to see if she'll have to do the outer stuff.

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