In a world where fashion is an aesthetic expression and a potent visual marker of our times, one bridal gown designer is taking things to adventurous new heights by replicating what he calls Life in Miniature. And he’s creating quite a buzz on the social media scene.
Dale McCarthy’s fascination with detailed, glamorous outfits has seen him replicate everything from Princess Diana’s royal wedding dress to the entire wardrobe worn by Kate Winslet in the third highest-grossing film of all time, “Titanic”. He includes everything down to the finest detail and makes the gowns to fit miniature, Barbie-sized mannequins perfectly.
‘It must’ve started in the early 90s when I was a young boy. My mom was an avid Royalist, specifically for Princess Diana, and she kept a scrapbook of the Royal Wedding from 1981. When I finally got my hands on the scrapbook years later I happened to see the official fashion sketches done by David and Elizabeth Emanuel (the designers of the wedding dress) next to pictures of the actual dress, and it fascinated me. I think this is where the seed was planted.’
Thirty-two-year-old Dale recalls his desire to make his own little version of the wedding dress, which he did. And it didn’t stop there.
‘I made multiple versions over the years, perfecting my technique with each dress. I wish I’d kept them but I can still see them in my mind, and wow they were not so good,’ he laughs. ‘But the version I have today – made last year – is my most accurate, detailed and refined attempt. I don’t think I’ll make another one – I am satisfied with it.’
Unapologetically single (because it gives him the time to indulge in his hobbies), Dale’s love for fashion design (and doing it perfectly) and being a large part of helping the people he dresses look and feel good, is what ultimately catapulted him into a thriving career in the bridal world. Together with his design and business partner Jane Wolff, they run McCarthy Wolff studio, and describe it as a fairy-tale of modern times, created through metres and metres of fabric, plenty of dreaming, heaps of inspiration and, of course, many awe-inspiring magical designer wedding dresses.
‘Most fairy tales start with ‘once upon a time’ and there is usually a dress involved somewhere within the enchanted tale. Just as Jane and I have stuck together through the years, burning the midnight oil to build a successful business that has brought us to the forefront of designing and creating bespoke bridal wear and designer corsets, I have dedicated all of my spare time to exploring and developing my other creative outlets as an artist … through painting, drawing, and my growing passion for Life in Miniature. It is also a really great means of de-stressing and relaxing.’
Over the years, Dale’s miniature outfits graduated from the royal wedding dress to the red and gold sequined dress worn by Kate Capshaw in the opening scenes of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – another dress he says he would make many, many times over. ‘I’m actually going to be doing an even more detailed version of it in the next few months. I’m obsessed!’
‘In December 1997 I watched Titanic at La Lucia Mall, when the cinemas were still there, and, well … it was game over for me. I was so taken with the story and Rose’s character arc (I thought Kate Winslet was just luminous), it was just one of those magical things that sometimes happen to people. You are exposed to something at just the right age, at just the right time, and it instils this deep inspiration that stays with you. I think it’s pretty great that the Titanic fever that swept around the world at the time was so exciting, I can still feel it as though it were yesterday.’
Competitive by nature, Dale remembers seeing official Rose dolls being sold overseas soon after the film was released, available in every single outfit.
‘I wanted to make my very own versions and, where possible, make them as accurate as possible. So you can imagine this has absolutely inspired and consumed me for years. I love it. it’s so much fun! The best thing is that with every passing year, more pictures of the costumes are discovered, so I’ve managed to build up quite an extensive archive of all of these costume reference images – mostly from costume exhibitions that have been shared online. Thank goodness for the internet and generous people sharing their personal images with me.’
Wishing he had a more glamorous answer to the question of where he creates these miniature masterpieces, Dale admits the magic happens at home on his bed, with his trusty domestic sewing machine at arm’s reach, but he says it’s strictly for use on lazy days because the bulk of his miniatures are all hand sewn.
‘I listen to music or go down rabbit holes on YouTube while I work, so it’s rather relaxed, but the biggest challenge is figuring out how to scale down details in a way that works best and looks accurate – while still fighting gravity! My hands are my most important tools, and for the rest, it’s pretty much the same as any other fashion designer – paper, cardboard and pencils when drafting my tiny patterns; narrow pins, thin beading needles and sharp scissors when actually constructing the outfit. For miniature corsets, I have this awesome little eyelet setting tool, which I use with a hammer when bashing eyelets into the fabric. They are miniscule, so it’s a bit nerve-wracking but it must be done’.
Because he uses fine, delicate fabrics to ensure the outfits hang just like the life-size ones, Dale is constantly on the lookout for tiny beads and sequins – the smallest he recently discovered were 2mm in diameter – while experimenting with nifty ways to eliminate fabric bulk.
‘With an outfit that is at Barbie scale, every bit of fabric has an impact on the fit, every layer adds bulk which, if not handled correctly, can start to negatively change the silhouette of the outfit and create lumps.’ Seams have to be very narrow, sometimes boning is inserted into the sides of fitted bodices, and for sheer fabrics Dale does tiny rolled hems by hand, measuring around 1.5mm wide.
‘It’s all very satisfying though. The greatest thing is that for each miniature outfit I create, I am able to master and refine a very specific artistic discipline – whether it is hand beading, embroidery, miniature millinery, tailoring, ombre-dyeing, fabric painting, fabric flower-making – it’s all so vast and exciting.
‘I am always aware of how I want the final outfit to look and it must not appear ‘crafty’ or look like I’ve taken shortcuts – I always want to create the best possible version and I never shy away from tiny, delicate work. I revel in it, to be honest.’
So extraordinary are his skills that they have drawn the interest of a few noteworthy folk in the celebrity world who are following his Instagram feed which is also growing rapidly in followers by the day.
‘It’s quite surreal. I have been lucky enough to have Frances Fisher, the woman who played Ruth DeWitt Bukater (Rose’s mother) in Titanic, see, comment and buy some of my drawings. To know that someone I’ve admired for so long now actually has some of my work in her home is quite indescribable.
‘A similar thing has also happened with the wonderful activist and artist Rose McGowan – I’ve been a supporter of her work for years, and she in turn has been nothing but kind and supportive of me and my art as well! Rose owns a number of artworks I’ve done of her and her beloved, departed dogs Bug and Fester, and had them displayed in her home when she was still living in Los Angeles. I was also fortunate enough to have high tea with her in London back in 2011, and that was truly magical – she is absolutely lovely in person!
I have had a number of interactions with quite a few high profile people but I shan’t name drop any further. There is such a strong community of creatives online too, and I am so honoured to be a part of that world. I’ve made some wonderful friends this way and couldn’t be more grateful.’
While his bucket list contains a whole host of movie costumes he’s dying to recreate in miniature form, for his own personal fulfilment, as well as a few actual commissions of miniature replicas for collectors overseas, Dale hopes never to stop learning and exploring different techniques, to enhance and perfect his work.
‘I’m always excited about new sewing discoveries and challenging myself to create something beautiful. I’d really love to have my miniatures exhibited somewhere, at some point. I’d love for those who are interested to actually get to see them up close. Something that is very exciting and is linked to my bridal business, thanks to my hobby, is the fact that we’ve been commissioned by a client in America to make a life-size replica of the dress Kate Winslet wore in Titanic when the ship was sinking – that delicate little pink and lilac chiffon number – so that is going to be absolutely thrilling to do. It will all be documented on social media too.’
Dale offers these words of advice as we end our interview. ‘Don’t be shy about showing your interests and passions to the world. Go forth and just do you. Do things that make you happy. Indulge, and remember that we only have one life. Don’t hold back on sharing parts of you that might be vulnerable – you never know who might find and appreciate what you do. Doors opened for me and the same can happen for you.’
Details: You can follow Dale in Instagram: @dale__mccarthy or visit mccarthywolff.co.za
