This dress is sleek. What will be a feat in itself is to make the piece look good while just on the form. The movement of the cummerbund and slit at the leg make it so that the tilt of a body shows off the dress. My main research quest was to try and find a picture that shows off the body enough that I could get a sense of what the was the seaming of the dress.
It was easy enough finding the fabrication for this dress. The Met talks all about how this dress is a take on mens' fabrics usually used for tuxedos. Luckily enough, I had a wool and faille already on hand to make a sample of this dress. In a bright yellow and blue, obnoxious enough. They will be perfect colors to transfer over to an all black look. This isn't so bad because the bright yellow helps me with being able to see the seaming work and to make sure the lines are good and not hidden by the black on black.
I was able to find images on Google Art that allowed me to zoom into the piece. I can see a side seam and even the lip of the neckline where there is more faille. I can barely make out the bust but came to decided on bust darts and waist darts. I'm going to put a waist seam because I believe that the cummerbund will be covering it up.
My final question for this dress is: what is that hem? There seems to be a dramatic slit but it cute diagonally up across the left leg into the hem. Seems easy enough, but I want to make sure the drama isn't lost on this dress when draped on a dress form. I am still on the hunt for a small mannequin to put these dresses on but have had no luck. Anyway, I was able to find a picture from @defunctfashion that pointed out that this dress was the finale for the Dior show for that season and is included in footage of the show. The picture below doesns't seem to be the actual dress and is less severe in design: a perfect example of what not to do.
