So the surprise costume #1 was Queen Alyss Heart from “The Looking Glass Wars.”
SO glad to have it done!
From the beginning – here’s a little write up.
I started out with a champagne coloured taffeta – it originally had an empire waist but I decided it needed to be more fitted through there to work, so I added a panel in to lengthen it. It was the same pattern I used for Ozma, btw – just for Ozma I used nothing but the skirt LOL. I waffled for a LONG time on the sleeves. They look very full – similar to maybe Arwen sleeves or sleeves similar to what I did with Anne Boleyn – fitted on the upper arm and then very full on the lower arm. I decided to make it fitted and figure out the rest later.
For the ruffles I was originally going to do two layers – 1 layer of organza and one of chiffon. I made two like that before I realised it was not going to be cost effective, and I was going to use up all the organza that was supposed to have also been for Gaga. So I decided to switch to just one layer of chiffon – I cauterized the edges to finish them, though I know I messed a few places and I’m going to have to go back and get them later. I machine sewed them all on except for a few around the hips where it was just too hard to get into the machine.
I don’t know how much chiffon I ended up using. With Amidala it was easy to remember because everytime I went back I just bought another 10yds. This time I don’t know, I don’t remember because everytime I went back it was an odd amount. I ended up with about maybe a yard of made/dyed/finished ruffle I didn’t need.
Dying the stuff was fun, not really. I dyed them all and then wasn’t happy with the colour. It was TOO pink. I threw them in dye remover and lightened it down, then added a layer of tangerine in areas and was much happier.
The collar I made a little bigger than my reference, and also Heart shaped LOL… you can see the original look in this pic:
Last night I decided it was throwing the proportions off, so I shortened it down and it lost the heart shape unfortunately, but it looks more like the reference now. I had about 4 different kinds of red beads that I beaded the collar and the chest with. The “loopey bits” (I have no name for them) where a pain and were the last thing I did – clear tubes with dark pink chiffon threaded through. I handsewed them in place and hopefully they stay!
As for those sleeves I was talking about – I was going to add layers of the dyed chiffon (not the ruffled pieces!) to the sleeves at the elbow. When I pinned them on I just didn’t like them. This dress already has a LOT going on… and with all of that and the fullness of the dress, it just seemed like the sleeves needed to balance it out by being simple. I decided to dump the chiffon sleeves and just added some of the leftover ruffle to the edge. I think what I might do while wearing it is this – the dyed silk gauze coming from the collar (my fav part of the costume!) goes all the way to the floor in the back. I could wrap it loosely around my arms to create the effect from the reference pic without actually having the sleeves.
The wig was another adventure. It’s actually not a wig, it’s a hat. It is my hair hat.
Chase took a cast of my head, and I built off that. I built up the shape with foam – it was a little too tall originally, as you can see in the pic above. Once the glue dried I started covering it in a wig I picked up for super cheap in a cosworx sale.
I hated attaching the hair, it was not enjoyable. LOL. I also lost the shape a little with all the hair, but ah well. The tiara went much faster than the actual wig. I was pleased with that. I was kinda just doing what I wanted with it – the reference art is very soft and water-coloury so trying to get it exact would have been impossible. I COULD get it off the wig, but it’s made to all be one piece that I just left off and on my head.
So it’s finished. I’ve got little things I could nit-pick and go back and work on but I don’t have time – I still have other things I need to get finished, so I’m marking it all off my to-do list and worry about everything else later.