long sleeve open back maxi dress Palmacea Rue Long-Sleeve Open-Back Open back TFNC long sleeve shoulder cut

The Bow adds the perfect touch and is so elegant

Taking place in early January at a time when the most covetable autumn/winter collection pieces will have already been worn, and when everyones still in mince pie mode it can feel like a bit of wild rush

The pattern for this gown is based on portraits from the era and cutting styles seen in the Herjolfnes dresses

Jeanette also helped facilitate the tweaks we made to the back (so buttons ran all the way down rather than having the cut out from the original design) and was full of helpful advice about shoes, cardigans and underwear

Its actually a small dresser, which is perfect for her room

Well, I did, and finally decided it was time to sew a custom DIY dress form