Lavender Phantom

🧵 Testimonial Tuesdays – Issue No. 2
Lavender Phantom Gown
Bridgerton Ball and Banquet

This gown was created for a designer friend of mine, Emily Prozinski, who lives in Charlotte, NC. Emily is a talented designer and fashion illustrator with a deep love for historical events—she doesn't just attend them, she immerses herself in them as if she's stepped back in time.

Late last year, she discovered the Bridgerton Ball that would be held at the Charlotte Museum of History in February and began planning a Regency-era ensemble worthy of the occasion. The event featured live music and performances by the Queens Chamber Orchestra, an author talk with Julia Quinn—the creator of the Bridgerton series—historical costume displays, and even a costume competition among attendees.

Emily asked me to create the gown while another friend of hers constructed the coordinating walking coat. The gown’s design was ambitious, especially the sleeves—which evolved from dinner roll sleeves into full pumpkin sleeves—and the timeline was tight. But I accepted the challenge in the spirit of growth, believing that every challenge is a learning opportunity.

We met one Saturday afternoon at a Starbucks in Salisbury to discuss ideas, study the illustration Emily had drafted, and pass off materials (including ordering more on the spot!). She mentioned the coat designer would need a muslin version of the gown  before she could even start the  draft of the coat’s pattern. No pressure, right?

We pulled it off.

The final gown was a one-piece design that combined satin, chiffon, velvet, and what seems like an iridescent , deep purple, lamé. The bodice featured pleated tulle overlays on the center front and back, highlighting hand-sewn jeweled embellishments. A velvet waistband was adorned with a jeweled pin at the center front. The pumpkin sleeves sparkled with embellishments and were enclosed in flowing chiffon sleeves that extended to the wrist. The multi-layered skirt included the shimmering lamé that caught the light with every movement. And at the back—a hidden gem: a detachable cape, snapped in four places above the waistband, giving the illusion of seamless design.

You couldn’t even tell how to get into the dress—it was that magical.
Emily was thrilled with how her vision came to life.