The "Apricot Spring" Gown: a Simple Guide to a Victorian-Style Dress and Pearl Necklace

Have you ever wanted to look like a princess from a history book? I made this "Apricot Spring" outfit to show that you don't need to be a professional to make something beautiful. My goal was to capture the drama of 19th-century fashion, while using accessible materials. This project has two parts: a big, fluffy dress with soft orange folds and a matching handmade pearl necklace.

​I chose these colors because they feel like a garden in the springtime. Here is how I did it!

For the Dress:

1. ​Orange/Peach Fabric: I used a light, see-through fabric called chiffon ( you can use any colour fabric)
2. ​White Fabric: (For the bottom layer).
3. ​White Lace: To make the edges look pretty.
4. ​Fake Flowers: I used deep red and white ones.
5. ​Pearl Beads: To hang on the dress.
6. ​Basic Sewing Kit: Scissors, thread, and pins.

​For the Necklace:

1. ​White Pearl Beads: Small ones and medium ones
2. ​One Large Pearl
3. ​Jewelry Wire and a Clasp: To hold it all together

Before I started cutting, I looked at old photos of dresses from the 1800s. I noticed they always had a tight top and a very big bottom. I decided to use orange for the main color and white for the "secret" layer underneath to make it pop

Victorian dresses are all about being big and puffy!

1. The Bottom Layer: I made a simple, full white skirt first. And sew both inner fabric and outer fabric together. This is what makes the dress look wide.
2. ​The Orange Top Layer: I put the orange fabric over the white skirt but I pulled it open in the front (like opening a set of curtains).
3. ​The Draping: I pinned the orange fabric so it hangs in beautiful curves.
4. ​Lace Edges: I sewed white lace all along the bottom of the orange fabric to make the edges look beautiful.

The top of the dress has a lot of texture.

1. The Base: Start with a simple top that fits well.
2. ​The Folds: I took long pieces of orange fabric and bunched them up into rows. I pinned these folds across the front of the top.
3. ​Sewing: I sewed right over the folds to keep them bunched in place.
4. ​The Center: I added a straight line of small half pearls down the middle to look like fancy buttons.
5. ​The Straps: I used white lace and fluffy white fabric to make "butterfly" sleeves and front design.

This is the part that makes the dress look expensive!

1. ​Pearl Swings: I took strands of pearls and sewed them so they "swing" across the hips of the dress.
2. Bow : I used the orange fabric to make the bow and put those on the waist.
3. ​Flowers: I put clusters of red and white flowers on the shoulders and on the waist. The red flowers really help the orange color look brighter!

To finish the outfit, I made a double-strand necklace.

1. ​Top Row: I put small pearls on a thread that fits close to the neck.
2. ​Bottom Row: I used slightly bigger pearls for the bottom row.
3. ​The Centerpiece: I put the large pearl right in the middle.
4. ​Connecting: I hooked both rows to one clasp so it's easy to put on.

After all the pinning, sewing, and decorating, your "Apricot Spring" outfit is finally ready to wear.

Here is the complete video tutorial.