Arwen – Lord of the Rings (Chase Dress)

Made for: Halloween 2002

Background: I saw someone wearing a beautiful Chase dress at Dragoncon, and I really wanted one of my own.

Journal Entries: Read more at my Arwen Chase tag

Related Costumes: Arwen Blood Red Dress, Arwen Hope Gown, Arwen Original Design

Patterns Used:
Simplicity 9891

Dress:

I found this blue suede on sale at the fabric store and bought it – once I got home and got to work on it I realised this is totally not the colour of the dress. That’s what I get for going off memory! But I went with it anyway (and from then on out carried references with me TO the fabric store!). I used the Simplicity LOTR-esque pattern as a base.

For the ties on the front I dyed some cording to match the underskirt. The lace overlays on the collar I dyed and attached. They’re not accurate, but then… well, by this point I was considering this “My” version of the chase dress instead of an accurate version, LOL. The sleeves are some poly chiffon we sewed in panels to create the sort of textured look hers have and they are attached to the dress.

Skirts/Pants:

I used a lighter blue suede for the underskirt – it closes with a hook-and-eye on a waistband. The pants were my Beatrix pants.

Belt Buckle:

My belt buckle my dad helped me make out of sheet metal with a craft foam backing, based on early drawings from the Alleycatscratch site of what they believed it looked like. It ended up not being accurate, but again by this point, I was considering this “my” Chase dress LOL

Accessories:

I already had the ears, pants and the boots – I made dark green boot covers for the boots. The necklace I bought. I never had her specific sword, so for photos I’d just carry whatever sword I felt like that day.

History:

I wore this at a handful of cons and actually won 1st place in the elves division at the LOTR costume contest Dragoncon 2003! I’ve always loved this costume even if it’s not screen accurate – it’s comfortable and fun to wear. I’ve always played around with the idea of remaking it one day…

2024 Photoshoot: In 2024 I shot 4 costumes from 2002 on the white backdrop and this was one of them! This one was actually in REALLY good shape, it just needed a good steaming. The only reason this one hadn’t been shot on the backdrop prior to this is that I did not think it fit anymore. I was so excited when I tried it on a few weeks ago and it fully zipped! My one conundrum was the hair – for the original, I used a pre-braided hairpiece I could just put on. Well I didn’t have that hairpiece anymore. I try to keep these old costumes true to the original build when I shoot them, so I was torn on what to do. In the end I used my Rogue as Ms Marvel wig (with the white stripe removed), braided. Turned out pretty decent, and I thought it was a good substitute considering that probably would’ve been my move if I’d worn this again soon after dcon 2003. (Also, I just used a random sword in the original pics, so I continued with a random sword in the new photos – at least it’s LOTR this time!)

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