The 2007 dress is not the same as the 2012-present dress. There are four major differences in the dresses linked.
The 2007 dress is not the same as the 2012-present dress. There are four major differences in the dresses linked.
1) Waistline - the 2007 dress has an empire waistline with no waistband while the 2012-present dress has a natural waistline and waistband.
2) Neckline - the 2007 dress has a modest scoop neckline that has a slight gather while the 2012-present dress has a boat neckline. There is no way you can ADD fabric to a neckline that way without completely remaking the dress.
3) Sleeves - the 2007 dress has clear seams encircling the biceps while the 2012-present dress does not. It's hard to tell for certain but my educated guess (as a seamstress who has made 200+ formal dresses) is the 2007 dress sleeve is slightly puffed on the upper section and attached to a fitted section that extends from the bicep to the wrist.
4) Skirt seams - the 2007 dress has two very clear seams on the front (front pattern piece and two side front pattern pieces) whereas it's clear from the 2014 picture that the 2012-present dress is one single pattern piece for the skirt front with no seams.
The only similarity between the dresses is the color and possibly the fabric -both appear to be velvet to my eye. The 2007 dress is very much in keeping with some patterns I have from that era - the Regency/Empire look was pretty popular from around 1998-2010 and there were patterns galore. The 2012-present dress is certainly, I agree, a more timeless, mature style that suits Mary much better than the 2007 dress.
It is the same Birgit Hallstein dress. She has just reworked it several times and in 2007, she was pregnant, hence the major remodelling afterwards.
It seems you are both saying the same thing. The designer says it is the same dress except the top of the dress and the sleeves. The whole bodice was replaced, the whole skirt and back and train keptWell, "lol" right back at you. If you refuse to take my word for it, surely you can take that of the designer of the dress. Or are you implying that Birgit Hallstein is lying when calling it the same dress? ("Yes it is the same dress, but after 2007 the top of the dress is cut in a new design; new body, new sleeves and a belt & a choker to use with it.")
That dress is certainly a favourite and not really surprised she wearing it too.
Well, "lol" right back at you. If you refuse to take my word for it, surely you can take that of the designer of the dress. Or are you implying that Birgit Hallstein is lying when calling it the same dress? ("Yes it is the same dress, but after 2007 the top of the dress is cut in a new design; new body, new sleeves and a belt & a choker to use with it.")
It seems you are both saying the same thing. The designer says it is the same dress except the top of the dress and the sleeves. The whole bodice was replaced, the whole skirt and back and train kept
Dying on the hill that reworking an old dress makes it a new dress (when even the designer of the dress calls it the same dress) sure is a choice You're of course free to call it what you will. Personally, I will choose to go by what the acclaimed couture designer (that wouldn't be you) calls it