Simplicity 2251 - LBD?

Before Xmas, I mentioned the drape that I was going to make on the front of the wedding dress. To familiarise myself with how this would work, I had a go at Simplicity 2251 which is the closest pattern that I could find. 


I had this in mind when buying the fabrics, so I ended up with:

• 1m of white/black silk chiffon with butterflies (for the drape)
• 1.2m of black silky material - I think it's viscose  but it's nice and shiny and very comfortable to wear!
• silk habotai lining. 

Here's a photo of it as a work in progress. I'm yet to finish the hem and all the seams - as the fabric frays A LOT, I'm going to hand finish all the seams... but maybe after all the hand sewing for the wedding dress is finished first. Priorities!

I haven't made many alterations to the pattern (thankfully I'm usually a standard Simplicity size 6), but then again I haven't followed the steps in order. A couple of thoughts when I made the dress in case it's helpful:

1. The pattern called for interlining for the neckline on the wrong side of the lining. I'm not sure how much this add - personally I prefer to use silk organza selvages to stablise the bias. 
2. I had a 'tube turner' gadget that is supposed to help me turn straps inside out easily... but it didn't work! However the trick explained in the pattern is really useful - I think I'm going to use the 'needle method' for the satin straps for the lace-up back of the wedding dress.

Once I've hemmed the dress and ironed it, I will upload some more photos of the finished product. Who knows, if it turns out well, maybe that can be the dress that I wear to our summer ball this year?