I also asked at the Sew Obsessed group on Ravelry, and mamafitz there came up with this pattern:

http://www.butterick.com/item/B4918.htm?tab=evening_prom_bridal&page=2

It's fabulous! I'll just have to pleat the bodice instead of doing the twisty thing, and add decorative pleated side-straps.

The order of operations you suggested sounds good. Thank you so, so much!

Hello friends and lovers! I'm invited in two weeks to a "dead celebrities" costume party, and in my wildest of dreams I go as Bette Davis as Margo Channing from All About Eve.

My question is: do you know of a pattern or a method that might approximate Margo's party dress?

                

There's also a video on YouTube and replicas pictured here in fabric and here in polymer clay.

I'm not much of a tailor/seamstress, so I'd love to have some idea of what I'm up against. And seriously, this would make my life. Talk about having every Halloween sewn up for the rest of your life, eh? (No pun intended!)

I've been using a gum tin as a pill/vitamin box. I'm looking for a non-polymer clay way to cover it, but I love it.

It looks like neapolitan ice cream! And I love the fringe -- I've been knitting for two years and I haven't attempted that yet, so well done!

I. love. this.

This definitely rocks. I freaking love it, and I'm going to try to make some of my own. If you're making more, however, a tute would be great -- er, I'm a real beginner at sewing.

Thank you so much for such a great idea!

This is fantastic.

not only does this look so professionally made and gorgeous on you, you also referenced 30 Rock. I think I might want to take you behind a middle school.

My thoughts exactly. Fantastic on all counts.

"Yeah suck it, I DO read the paper"

That's pretty delightful. Great work!

Wonderful wonderful wonderful.