Mizrahi presented a peach tulle gown, nicknamed "polypuff," with leaf-pattern beading and an explosion of uneven tiers of tulle.

Those were the contrasts that were representative of Mizrahi's fall "Central Park Story Book" collection.

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Please contact me should you have any questions.

Lee Ann Torrans
ltorrans@gmail.com

 
Using any bodice pattern requires extensive modifications for your dancer and the pattern can be expensive.   

Why NOT make your own bodice pattern --- without the modification.   

One roll of duct tape costs roughly $4.00 and will make one Duct Tape Bodice Pattern!   

With a duct tape - pattern fit will be precise.   

See my Webpage on How to Make a Duct Tape Bodice: http://tututoday.com/how-to-make-a-tutu-intro/bodice-pattern/duct-tape-a-bodice-how-to   

Below you will find a duct tape pattern for a basque attached and for a detached basque.   

You will also find pattern pieces scanned in from a PDF that you can print and expand to create your own pattern or you can study them for creating your own Duct Tape Bodice pattern.   

Here is a completed Duct Tape Bodice Pattern ready for cutting.
   

A purchased pattern will require extensive fitting and modification a Duct Tape Bodice will provide a perfect fit and it takes less than 30 minutes to make one.   

Tip from the Master - Paul Drake   

When making your bodice pattern Paula Drake suggests this:   

I have altered most comercial patterns because with dance bodice you only should have between 0 to 1/2" wearing ease. Most comercial patterns have more then that.......and the tutu can get too big while they are dancing because the heat and sweat from the dancer can make the costume bigger.   

Removing and Cutting Center and Side Seams   

Making your cut to remove the bodice down the center back is the most forgiving location.   

• Cut the Duct Tape Bodice from the center back to remove.
• Once removed cut the center front seam on the line your drew on while on your dancer or the mannequin.
• Once removed cut the two side seams on line drawn while on your dancer or the mannequin.

Now study the pattern pieces below.   

These cuts are for a bodice without an attached basque. You will see the bottom cut is straight across, consistent with the Duct Tape Bodice.   

Here is a Paula Drake of Tutus Divine bodice with attached basque.   

The bodice is corded (see cording instructions here) and the basque is attached to the bodice.   

In creating this pattern you cut the basque layer before you cut the side and individual pieces.   

The bottom piece, the horizontal piece is the basque piece which was cut before the individual bodice pieces (the vertical pieces.)   

Assemble the upper portion of the bodice, add cord and then attach the lower portion.   

• This is not a no sew project. This is complex and multilayered.
• I use boning, fabric and nude inserts. The fabrics used will be the exterior, lining and in some places and on some piece interfacing if necessary.
• Coutil cloth is what I typically use next to dancer's skin. (See link for coutil cloth under Resources.)
• If the fabric has no 'give' I may insert elastic between the boned pieces to give dancer security and comfort.
• If the fabric has no 'give' or if interfacing will be used there is no point in cutting on the bias.
• If the fabric is stretch there is no point in cutting on the bias. The stretch is already there.
• The purpose of cutting on the bias is to exploit the natural expansion a fabric has with a bias cut.

In cutting the center front piece cut it with the decolletege piece in the fabric.   

Remove the piece and use that for the pattern for the nude insert.   

Center Front Bodice (above) for full page which you can place on copy machine and expand as needed. Legal size paper is required for perfect pattern image.   

If you do not have legal size paper and printer you will have to blow this up a bit in as much as standard paper is 8.5 by 11 inches. Or you may divide it into two pieces.   

As you can see the length of the center front piece is 16.5 inches.   

Center Front Bodice - Full Page Image.   

 Side Front Bodice - above. Link to 8.5 by 11 image here.   

  Link to Full size image here.   

Piece Number Four - Back Side toward Waist Above   

Link to Full Size Image   

   Piece Number Five Above - Center Back.   

Center Back Full Size Image Link Here   

 Piece Number Six Absolute Center Back   

Full Size Image Link Here   

Free Basque Pattern

One Piece Basque   

It is best to fit the dancer with the decolletege piece in tact.   

Will link to actual pieces soon that you may enlarge on copying machine by 100 percent for usable pattern.   

One Piece Basque Pattern   

Please contact me should you have any questions.

Lee Ann Torrans
ltorrans@gmail.com

“I always wanted to live a man’s life in a woman’s body,” Von Furstenberg said in her programme notes, a concept that paved the way for seductive androgyny.

The blazer, so redolent of the golf club, was transformed into a slinky, rose-printed velvet companion to a fluttering, taupe crepe dress, or cut tuxedo-style in satin, and worn with a floral, laser-cut, navy chemise.

A granddad cardigan, in chunky cable-stitch, accompanied a cloud of chiffon, printed with watercolour swirls.

A jewelled, grey sweater came with Brian Jones-look, rainbow-stripe, rock ‘n’ roll trousers.

Little berets, trimmed with silk flowers and veiling, contrasted with man-style, high-heeled “Oxfords”, laced-up, but in fishnet and patent.

Satin dinner-jackets, car-coats, cropped, cuffed trousers and twill riding-pants, all chimed with the emphasis on tailoring that is evident in the New York Fashion Week collections.

But the masculine references were constantly juxtaposed with all manner of frothy, feminine embellishments: metal beads, feathers and chain-mail woven into knits; sequins twinkling like stars on full-skirted prom-frocks; simple shifts which exploded into a frou-frou balloon of tulle flounces from mid-thigh; a bolero jacket made of chiffon rosettes.

In keeping with Von Furstenberg’s concept of the yin and yang dress code, the author, Salman Rushdie, joined celebrity clients such as Molly Sims, Peaches Geldof, Tamara Mellon and Marisa Berenson, in the front row.

Thank you for visiting my website.

Please contact me should you have any questions.

Lee Ann Torrans
ltorrans@gmail.com