Strappy Cupped Boned Dress
A captivating dress featuring a meticulously structured, boned and cupped bodice, delicate spaghetti straps, and a gracefully flowing maxi skirt for an elegant silhouette.
When To Wear:
- Summer Weddings & Garden Parties: Its elegant flare and light feel suit outdoor celebrations.
- Resort & Vacation Evenings: Perfect for sophisticated dinners with a scenic backdrop.
- Special Occasions & Prom: A flattering, refined choice for significant events.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: A close-fitting princess-seamed bodice that flares into a full maxi length through gores set into the princess seams on the front and back.
Neckline: Features a flattering sweetheart neckline.
Straps: Supported by delicate spaghetti straps.
Bodice: Two-piece shaped cups, with two rigid bones in casings along the lower edge of the inner cups for structure and support.
Back: A straight-across upper back with princess seams, a center back seam and a concealed-teeth center back zipper.
Length: Designed for a sophisticated maxi length.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires confident skills in constructing structured bodices, working with cups and boning, and installing a zipper with facings.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose elegant, well-draping fabrics that hold shape while allowing graceful movement:
- Silk satin
- Other well-draping fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Silk satin, 150 cm wide
- Fusible interfacing
- Zipper
- 2 rigid corset bones
Cutter’s Must For Dress Sewing Pattern
From Main Fabric:
- Strap – 2 pieces
- Middle Back – 2 pieces
- Side Back – 2 pieces
- Side Front – 2 pieces
- Middle Front – 2 pieces
- Side Cup – 4 pieces
- Middle Cup – 4 pieces
- Gore – 4 pieces
- Bodice Facing – 2 pieces
- Upper Back Facing – 2 pieces
From Fusible Interfacing:
- Middle Cup – 2 pieces
- Side Cup – 2 pieces
- Upper Back Facing – 2 pieces
- Bodice Facing – 2 pieces
Important Information
Before cutting your fabric, print and lay out the paper patterns according to your fabric width (90–150 cm) to determine required yardage.
Remember to account for paired and symmetrical pieces.
When sewing, pay close attention to all notches — they must match precisely to ensure correct construction and fit.
Careful pressing and accurate seam alignment are essential when working with satin fabrics to achieve a professional eveningwear finish.
Assembly Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to 2 Middle Cup and 2 Side Cup pieces, the Upper Back Facings and the Bodice Facings.
- Stitch the Gores into the princess seams from the notches downwards. Stitch the princess seams (Middle Front to Side Front, Middle Back to Side Back).
- Stitch each Middle Cup to a Side Cup. Stitch the outer pair of cups to the dress front, and the inner pair to the Bodice Facing. On the inner cups, stitch lines parallel to the seam joining them to the Bodice Facing to form casings for the bones. Insert the boning into the casings and stitch the edges of the casings.
- Stitch the side seams, and the center back seam from the notch downwards.
- Press the seam allowances for the zipper opening to the wrong side. Place the zipper under the edges of the opening and stitch so that the teeth are not visible.
- Stitch the side seams of the Bodice Facings and Upper Back Facings. Place the facings and the dress right sides together and stitch the upper edges. Trim the seam allowances to 2-3 mm from the stitching line. Turn the facing to the wrong side, baste, and press. Fold the short sides and sew them to the zipper tape. Secure the facing above the side seam and above the center lines.
- Fold each Strap in half lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch along the long side. Turn right side out, baste, and press. Sew the front ends under the corners of the cups. Try on the dress, adjust the length of the straps, and sew their back ends under the top edge of the back.
- Press the hem allowance to the wrong side, fold the raw edge inwards, and topstitch.
