The fabric was $10 a yard and I needed around 12 yards. $120 = NOT affordable. I waited for a sale. Finally, I hit a 40% off sale - and had a coupon for an additional 15% off! This made it $4.50 a yard, For a total of $54. I had a $25 gift certificate, so I ended up paying $29.
I again used the Simplicity pattern. This time, instead of closing it down the middle, I made the front of the bodice one piece, and hooked it on the side under the trim.
I love the a la francaise back. I like the way it bellows out behind you. I had fun pleating it and seeing it take shape on my dress form dummy, named Half-Maude. She was originally just Maude, but one day I put an extra heavy costume on her, and the legs collapsed. She now sits on a bar stool.
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| OH LOOK! BONANZA IS ON! |
The sleeves were fun to do. I used three layers: the brocade for the outer layer, black and silver lace for the center layer and sheer black dotted swiss for the inner layer. Around the sleeve is a black velvet strip on top of silver lace. I sewed skull beads around the velvet strip and glued on little diamond bling.
I went to the National City swap meet where they have a fantastic booth full of trim. I bought pre-pleated, black grosgrain ribbon for $1 a yard. I also bought 1/8th inch wide silver ribbon and sewed it down the middle of the pleated ribbon. I bought silver gimp trim. I sewed a lazy S shape down both sides of the front of the over skirt, and sewed the silver gimp at the front edges of the over skirt. I got six silver roses which I pinned on between the S shapes.
I also bought two big ribbon bows with giant “diamonds” on them for the front of the bodice.
The underskirt was made from black satin, which was a gift. The wig was from Amazon, a steal at $12. Its a vampire wig with pointed bangs which I clipped up underneath the cap.
My headpiece was fun! It was a headband with black and silver roses, feathers, a tiny pirate hat and a silver skull attached. It was made by my friend, Seven Deadly Sins, Inc. I had in my possession from a previous costume a pirate hat with a ship attached. It fit Mr. Skull perfectly! So I added that.
The mask was also from a previous costume, and I used silver eyeshadow on my eyes as well as my lips! Black and white feather fan I have had for several years.
Dress Cost Breakdown:
$29 Fabric
$10 10 yards pleated black ribbon $1/yd
$2.50 10 yards thin silver ribbon 25cents/yd
$4 8 yards silver gimp 50cents/yd
$7.50 6 silver roses $1.25 yd
$5 15 skull beads
$3 2 bows with large "diamonds"
sleeve layers and bodice lining - stash scraps
TOTAL $61
Here are some photos of the final product.
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| THIS WAS ACTUALLY AT THE END, RETURNING TO THE HOTEL AT 2 A.M. |
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| Photo by Kelly Varner. With Joanne W. |
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| Photo by Kelly Varner. |
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| Photo by Debbie Boyd |
