Fashion Miniatures - Course Content - Week 1 - Intermediate

*This course is suitable for intermediate sewists who are comfortable with hand-sewing techniques. 

The Couture Bustier Dress

Step into the enchanting world of haute couture and experience the artistry, precision, and timeless beauty of 1950s Parisian fashion. Under the expert guidance of Elisa Dubois, Haute Couture tutor, you’ll create your own historically accurate half-scale couture bustier gown, inspired by Christian Dior’s iconic New Look silhouette — a symbol of elegance and refinement. 

Inspired by the iconic Miss Dior silhouette, this five-day workshop explores the

construction of a miniature bustier dress with a fitted bodice and a dramatically full skirt.

Students will discover how structure, hidden layers and precise finishing techniques can

transform a simple pattern into a beautifully engineered dress.

From traditional thread marking to building volume with layers of tulle and shaping the

final silhouette with horsehair braid, each step reveals the techniques behind the dress.

Classes run Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM, offering a total of 15 hours of studio time. 

Both the intermediate and advanced Fashion Miniatures programmes will be complemented by a pre-recorded online course of the tutorials and techniques included in the in-person classes. Created by Elisa Dubois and Sarah Sontigo (Director of Artesane), this invaluable educational resource is an opportunity to revise, refine and master the techniques learned during Fashion Miniatures after you have returned home from your couture adventures in Paris. 

The course will be taught entirely in English by Elisa with a classroom assistant available where needed.

All materials—fabrics, threads, tools, and notions—are included. Artesane have sourced the materials from the finest French manufacturers so that with every stitch we are supporting French artisans and learning about the Haute Couture ateliers. Rebecca will accompany you on visits to several fabulous boutiques, where you can purchase fabrics, trimmings, and accessories to recreate the design in either miniature or full scale.

• Building a miniature structured bustier with dancer seams
• Creating an inner foundation to support the outer dress
• Thread marking for accurate construction
• Topstitched structural seams to strengthen and shape the bodice
• Building volume with tulle interlining
• Layering and assembling the inner and outer dresses
• Invisible side zipper insertion for a clean, uninterrupted silhouette
• Self-fabric bias binding to finish and support the upper edge
• Horsehair braid hem to sculpt the volume of the skirt
• Hand finishing for a refined, professional result

If your application is successful, you will be invited to a live online session to meet Rebecca and Elisa so we can introduce the course schedule, learning objectives, the bustier gown pattern and answer any questions about the Fashion Miniatures educational program before your arrival in Paris.

Day 1 — Inside the Couture Dress

• Welcome and introduction to the project
• Understanding the architecture of a structured bustier dress
• Exploring the different layers: inner dress, outer dress with tulle interlining
• Introduction to traditional thread marking
• Begin thread marking the pattern pieces

Day 2 — Building the Foundation

• Complete thread marking and cutting
• Construct the inner bodice using dancer seams
• Topstitch along the seam lines to add structure and support
• Assemble the underskirt

Day 3 — Creating the Volume

• Join the inner bodice and underskirt
• Construct the outer bodice
• Insert horsehair braid to sculpt and support the volume of the skirt
• Construct the full outer skirt with tulle interlining

Day 4 — Bringing the Dress Together

• Join the outer bodice and skirt
• Insert the invisible side zipper for a beautifully clean finish
• Finish the upper edge of the bustier with fabric bias binding
• Layer and connect the outer dress to its inner foundation

Day 5 — The Finishing Touches

• Hand-finish the inner dress around the zipper
• Finish the hem by hand
• Final pressing and finishing
• Reveal the finished silhouette

Participants must already be comfortable with basic hand-sewing techniques, including threading a needle, basting/tacking, running stitch, back stitch, darts, pleats, and French seams. While prior experience in historical dressmaking or couture methods is an advantage, it is not mandatory—enthusiasm, patience, and skill with a needle are the true essentials.

*In order for your application to be considered, we would ask you to complete our questionnaire and sewing sample.