Please rest assured, this hasn’t (permanently) turned into a women’s sewing blog. I have a shirtmaking project in the works that I plan a big blog series about – if you want to see the sneak preview I’ve been posting pictures on my Instagram feed, @lineofselvage.
In the meantime, here’s an update on my progress in the Fashion Draping course I’m taking at City College of San Francisco. Since the midterm, we’ve done projects including draping flared skirts, dartless torsos, fitted torsos, and draping with knits. But two projects stand out.
Bustier
A bustier is a strapless bodice top that fits very closely to the body (though you can add a strap to it once draped). It is different from a corset in that the bustier sits right on the body, while a corset is actually smaller than the body.
Ideally, the shaping in a bustier is accomplished by seams. Each seam provides a place where the fabric can be sculpted and shaped over the body. One requirement is that a seam of some sort crosses the bust point, or the apex of the bust. This allows for shaping of the bust area.
We use draping tape to mark the style lines of the design. Each line becomes a seam in the bustier, and is also part of the design. Everyone was encouraged to make their own original design; mine had many style lines and curves.
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