costuming ADD

[madamemodiste]

Not only do I have 1830's on the brain, but now I'm cheating on my Chemise a la Reine with a Victorian ballgown bodice I need to have done in time to see Peter Murphy on Sunday night. I'm doing my own version of Michelle Pfeiffer's red ballgown from The Age of Innocence.

You may remember I bought 7 yards of red bengaline, and this was the project I had in mind for it. Now is the time to do it! I plan to make the center front panels in black and use black trim so I can wear this with a black underskirt. Yum.

I did pop to Michael's Arts and Crafts where I got my straw hat to wear with the Chemise a la Reine, so I didn't abandon the project totally today ;) Also, the bridal section has rhinestone slide buckles - perfect for hats - for $5/each in square, oval, or heart shapes. I picked up one square and one oval.

*off to cut out my fabric*

Comments

[vanessa-lynne.livejournal.com]

Nicole Kidman's Michelle Pfeiffer's red ballgown.

[vanessa-lynne.livejournal.com]

And I think the bengaline will be perfect! Can't wait to see it. Age of Innocence is one of my all time favorite movies/books.

[madamemodiste.livejournal.com]

That's what happens when you spend an hour with the newest Vogue, featuring Nicole Kidman!! I swear I know it's Pfeiffer!! Don't take away my costume movie buff membership!!

[madamemodiste.livejournal.com]

One of the rare cases where the movie is just as glorious as the book :)

[vanessa-lynne.livejournal.com]

It's wonderful. I have it on my ipod. . .whenever I need a random pretty-dress-pick-me-up I watch the ballroom scene near the beginning.

[bauhausfrau.livejournal.com]

Ooo, oo! Do 1830s (or 1840s) and we can both wear em to Salon Con! Wouldn't it be fun to widen everyone's idea about what "Victorian" means!

[bauhausfrau.livejournal.com]

Hey, is that the same red bengaline that fashion fabrics was selling? If so I've got it too, lol!

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

Nope, I got it for $1/yd at Jomar! Thrify McThrify Pants over here! It's soooo pretty. I'll bring it to SalonCon!

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

That sounds fun! Got an 1830's pattern you can loan me? I'd love to do one in lilac and black!

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

I love those slightly bustled gowns too. That's what I'll be leaning towards when I finish my black dress, which is being partially used for my Steampunk costume.
I was at Michael's today *cough, looking for raygun accessories* and saw their hats, and was wondering if it would work for chemises. We'll see!

[madamemodiste.livejournal.com]

So what is this black dress you speak of? As a huge fan of black, I must know!

What pattern did you use for your Regency open robes? Inquiring minds are nosy...I mean, want to know.

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

Nosey is welcome when it comes to costume.
I started my "Best Black Dress" a few years ago, using TV's 460/420 for the bodice http://trulyvictorian.com/catalog/460.html I bought my first upholstery fabric for a costume for it; a two toned black stripe. I planned on making it an 1885 bustled gown, with lots of trims, braids, & beads. The bodice sat 1/2 finished for a couple years till I finally was able to come back to it when I needed a black skirt for my Steampunk costume. By this time I liked the Natural Form better, and made the skirt with TV221 http://trulyvictorian.com/catalog/221.html I ended up making the skirt with a tafetta. I planned to add a split pannier TV 328 overskirt to it with the two toned black http://trulyvictorian.com/catalog/328.html I would have prefered to use 225 for the skirt http://trulyvictorian.com/catalog/225.html but that pattern seems to have disappeared into a black hole. (How appropriate)
I've been collecting black trims for it whenever I saw anything I liked. I figured this would work for a mourning dress too, since we have two events in San Diego that it could be used for. We were talking about doing the Ghost Tour in Old Town San Diego with all of us wearing black someday.
My open robe is made from Butterick 4890 http://tinyurl.com/5nbwto I'm kind of copying a portrait of Empress Borghese, and I closed up the front of the pattern just under the bust. It was a very easy pattern to do, and with lots of trim, it looks pretty awesome. I'm wearing it over a white Regency bib front gown, which is what I'm pulling my hair out from right now. But I think I finally got the bodice figured out tonite. Tomorrow is a Sew Day with sewingbird at my house, so I hope to get some major sewing done with few interruptions. I get distracted easily. I'm feeling the pull of painting my raygun but am resisting. I'm totally comfortable with painting so that's the big draw for that.
I've admired your black wardrobe for quite awhile, and I think I saved a couple pics for reference. I love your hats too.

[madamemodiste.livejournal.com]

Wow, your plans for the black gown are really wonderful! I can't wait to see the finished garment!

Oh, yay! I have that pattern and also want to make an open robe. I'm glad to hear a good report about it! Post piccies of it.

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

They're seekrit for Costume College, but will be shown then. ;)
Don't you love that gold dress with the black robe?

[medvssa.livejournal.com]

Natural form, eh??, heheee ;)

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

Yes and no. I'm making my ballgown bodice with bustle from the TV Tail bodice, which is 1884. The Age of Innocence dress was inspiration!

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

Oh, ok!!

Yes, I do!!

[bauhausfrau.livejournal.com]

Remind me about that again at the tea and I think I can help you out. :)

[madamemodiste.livejournal.com]

Rock!