Abby, my amazing pic
finder, you so rock!
So before Halloween 2007, I took a poll: which costume should I
actually finish? My
Alice in Wonderland dress, my 1776 gown (dubbed the Betsy Ross dress),
or my blue Belle dress.
The unanimous vote was the Belle dress. Probably because I've been
planning on making it for the last two years, and everyone's tired of
hearing "Maybe I should actually finish that for this year."
Regardless, I STILL didn't finish it for Halloween (but my Hermione
costume was again a hit). Still, I'm actually wanting to make it now.
In 2001, I made a version of this dress that was based entirely on the
animated film. Although I'm quite proud of this version, I did make it when I was 14.
As I'm *ahem* let's just say older now, and more experienced when it
comes to sewing
and draping, it's high time to make a new one.
This version is going to be based more on the musical version than the
film. It will consist of a bodice, skirt, and shirt. Below are some
pictures from various sources, but mostly my friend and fabulous
photo-finder Abby. If you find one you think is yours, please e-mail me
and I'll give you the credit for it.
Although it varied from the Broadway to the national tour to London to
the rest
of the international productions (Denmark
in particular is pretty
cool), the basic design of this costume was as follows: the bodice,
constructed from a floral satin fabric (I'm thinking it's a brocaded
fabric- check out the 2nd and 4th photos: the floral print looks
inlayed. Interesting...); the skirt, usually gored, made from striped
fabric (very lightweight, I've noticed when seeing the show live that
it
moves very easily) and finished with a ruffle at the bottom; the
blouse, a shawl-collared white textured fabric with not-quite wrist
length sleeves. Also worn is a set of white petticoats, which I
personally think are attached to the skirt at the waist (quick changes,
people, quick
changes), an apron with embroidered flowers at the bottom and
white lace running around it, white tights, and brownish flat character
shoes (Mary Janes). Oh, and her blue hair ribbon, along with a
locket which, depending on the production you see, is either oval or a
heart.
Shockingly, I'm not going to make an exact reproduction of this
costume!! (I know, the people who know how obsessed I am with costume
detail are trying to figure out what just went off-kilter in the
universe). And here's why- I think I can do better. And if not better,
than different. So here's the basic breakdown: My bodice is not going
to be made out of brocade, as I can't ever find the right print (see my
ongoing battle with the brocade for Belle's
Yellow Ballgown). Instead,
it's going to be made out of this blue floral fabric I found at JoAnns
during their Memorial Day sale last year. I'm going to use the same
trim the Broadway production uses (mainly because I already have it
from this corset kit I got and never used), but the piecing of the
bodice is going to be different. You'll see what I mean when I get my
in-progress pictures up.
And because I hate goring with striped fabric
and do not have the time or patience for it, the skirt is going to be a
basic circle skirt made out of a patterned blue fabric, with a ruffle
at the
bottom (so I don't have to hem the circle. Crafty, I am). The
ruffle will have white and navy lace trimming it.
The
blouse will most likely be a printed cotton (as much as I like the
textured fabric, I 1) doubt I'll be able to find it, and 2) probably
won't like how it looks when you don't have a theater full of really
bright lights shining on it), made with the same shawl collar. The
apron is embroidered muslin trimmed with lace (already embroidered it.
Mwhaha). And I'd kill to find those brown (taupe?) mary janes, but as
they're most likely made specifically for the production (damn you,
multi-million dollar budgets!), I'm going to stick with my
own much loved black mary janes.
Wow, that was a lot of text.
I'll keep you updated on my process!!
UPDATE: 11/29/09
Call me crazy, but I've finally decided on the fabrics for this dress!
Here's the crazy part- I'm making two versions.
Version 1 is going to be what I've described above- blouse, bodice, and
skirt, in the following fabrics:
or 
(clockwise from top left: blouse fabric, bodice fabric, skirt
fabric)
Still debating which fabric to use for the bodice. I might just make
both of them :0) Leaning towards the darker blue, but we'll see.
Version 2 is going to be more of the 'animation-esque' style: solid
blue bodice and skirt with the same patterned blouse from Version 1.
I've had a bunch of blue polyester suiting fabric for years that I had
originally purchased to make an Alice in Wonderland dress out of, but
decided to sacrifice it to this project instead. The styling is going
to be similar to the Denmark costume, but the bodice is
going to be different. Yeah. I promise, it will all make sense soon :0)
Skirt is cut, waiting to be gathered. Photos to come.
Updates soon!
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