Elizabeth commissioned a couture gown for her daughter’s Traditional Yoruba Engagement ceremony which took place a few days before her white wedding. I decided to create an gown that fused Yoruba and Western style elements.

The gown comprised of an off the shoulders corset bodice with 3/4 length sleeves and a trumpet silhouette skirt with a puddle train. The heavily beaded burnt orange tulle fabric with 3D flower detailing was backed with a satin underlay. I harvested some of the flowers to be hand stitched strategically throughout the gown.

The outfit was completed with a traditional head tie called a gele and shawl worn over the left shoulder in a bespoke Nigerian fabric called Aso-Oke handwoven in silk threads and embellished with pearls and burnt orange beads.

Location: The Resort At Pelican Hill, Newport Beach, CA.

Please play the video to view the process.

Heavily beaded fabric that the 3D flowers were harvested from
The flower appliques pinned in place on the toile. These will later be hand-stitched in place
Back view of the toile
Back view of the toile
The 3D flowers hand-stitched on the actual fabric
The gown in the middle of the creation process
The completed gown
Elizabeth in her couture Kosibah gown
Elizabeth in her couture Kosibah gown.

What are your thoughts or questions about the process involved in the creation of this gown? Please leave your comments below.