Corde

Corde – Star Wars

Made for: Dragoncon 2006

Background: I had to make this!

Journal Entries: Read more at my Corde tag

Related Costumes: Padme Loyalist Committee, Queen Amidala Post-Senate

: White Backdrop

: Halloween 2007

: Dragoncon 2006

: Dragoncon 2006

Patterns Used:
Simplicity 5840 (probably the robe), Simplicity 4213 (probably the underdress)

Robe:
The first order of business was to make a robe. I used a basic robe/tunic pattern for the shapes, altered for sleeves. The sleeves I cut as big bell sleeves, I may used one of the Simplicity elvish dress patterns as a basis for this. I lined the sleeves with white satin, and put in a velcro closure at the neck. Her robe had a pattern all over it, and I deciphered it as best I could and made two stamps to re-create the pattern all over the robe. I can tell you it took watching almost all of Monty Python’s Flying Circus to do, LOL. For the black designs on the front edge of the robe, I made appliques out of black suede and glued them on. After all that was done, I weathered the dress with dye, although I chickened out a bit towards the end and didn’t get it as dark as it should be. I’d like to go back and get it a little darker.

Underdress:

For the underdress, I already had a half-finished white dress in one of my fabric boxes – my first attempt at the 2004 Leia dress that I was unhappy with and started over. It just needed sleeves, so I made and added those, and it was done! It also got weathered. It closes at the neck with velcro.

Accessories:

The necklace and bracelets I made of black beads. Part of the necklace is a found piece – it was given to me by my grandmother so I’m not sure where it came from originally, but it’s got all of these great dangling tassels that help the whole thing look torn up. I just added another couple of beaded necklaces I made to it.

Wig:

The wig was my favourite part – I started with a brown wig, and made forms out of foam, covered them in brown fabric, and then in loose hair, and wired them into the wig. The center decoration was a cardboard tube, spray painted copper with some extra bits added on, wrapped in loose hair and also wired into the wig. Once those were in place, I wrapped the longer hair of the wig around it, teased it and sprayed it into place. I added some curls to the top, and it was done.

History:

This is one of my all time fav costumes, I really need to find a chance to wear it again!

In 2018 I made Queen Amidala’s Post-Senate gown which is almost the inverse of this costume and it’s really fun that I have both now!