The outfit was constructed to compete in my company's holiday party "best-dressed" contest - yes, I won by a landslide. There were prizes for male and female contestants. Strangely, the winner of the best-dressed male category was also a holiday tree! Unfortunately for my poor tree brother, the lights on his outfit were not battery-operated, and he spent the entire party plugged into the wall while his wife fed him snacks (apparently, trees don't have arms in his world).

This gown was a real learning experience, as it's the first time I've really tried to make a close-fitting top. Usually I am only making a jacket or shrug and a skirt to accompany a perfectly-made C&S corset. As a result, I'm really pleased with how everything turned out EXCEPT the bodice, which has a number of things wonky with it. I would really like to make this gown again when I have better sewing skills - it's such a beautiful design!

With coworker C - isn't she pretty? *

With Karen and a coworker

With the second-place winner of the best-dressed male category, Bob's Big Boy Santa!

Peeking around a coworker, with almost the same expression as the last picture. Perhaps holidays bring out the Stepford Wife in me.

Since no one at the party seems to have taken a picture of the back of me, here's one of the bow and train as shown on my dressform, prior to the gown being finished and decorated. It's big, huh? *