My fetish for foundation garments and passion for leopard print begat a lovechild: a strapless, boned, leopard print dress. My first boned garment, I made this dress to attend the musical “CATS” in Vancouver BC Canada in 1987, from Style pattern 2740.
I began by cutting out the bodice from a similar scrap fabric. I painstakingly fit it so the bust point on the pattern piece matched my bust apex ( nipple ). That’s when I learned I have a “low” bust ( my tits aren’t big, they’re long! ) and always lower the bust point on all bodices I sew.
I sourced out boning from Dressew Supply ( dressew.com ). An independent, family business since 1961, this place is Mecca for sewists. I get waves of inspiration every time I visit over 27,000 square feet of merchandise.
The instructions for Style 2740 were easy to follow so the dress came together quickly, and fit perfectly. The bodice stayed up. I could have stood on my head and not fallen out of this dress! To complete my look I wore long black gloves, seamed fishnet tights ( danskin.com ), high-heeled pumps, and vintage jewelry from my Grandmother.
Oh yeah, I went a little nuts with leopard print in the 80’s! I sewed a one-shouldered leopard print dress for my 10th high school reunion in 1988 from Butterick 5704. For Halloween 1989 I dressed up as a cavewoman, making my costume from leftover fabric, and completed the look with a ring in my nose and a bone in my hair. I always got such a rush of titillation when I wore leopard print. It’s a sensation I enjoy today with another lovechild: a leopard print corset. This garment compresses my overgrown midsection wonderfully well, making me feel slimmer, taller, confident, and sexy. I wear these corsets over top a blouse and skirt when I want to show off my lifetime love of foundation garments and leopard print.
