Adler costume Completed

it took a while, but came out absolutely awesome! The client took photos at her event, and i swear some of them look like movie promo shots!

Enjoy!

-Mew

I am a big fan of the hidden pocket!

Sherlock Holmes "Adler" Undergarments

so the first part of this ensemble needed to be the base for the costume to rest on, and be supported. A corset to support and mold the bust, as well as give the bodice a smooth surface to lay on, and give the classic shape.

for the iconic victorian "butt-pouf" as some have called it (yes, it's a technical term, i say so), a bustle was needed. The costume isn't going to be very heavy, so steel wasn't needed (or desired, for the comfort of the client). I used rigeline (woven poly boning, not the plastic see-through stuff), and heavy slipper satin in black. The ruffles over the bustle help to soften the "hump" and hide the boning lines from the skirt. They also just look cool!

part of the bustle is a detachable pad, to give the 90 degree angle from the back to the top of the bump. The cage will form a "gumdrop" kind of domed shape, the pad will help it be more of a level table top. It can be removed to help work on later period styles, or for different costumes.

and lastly, the petticoat. This is basically just a slightly full/flared skirt, with two rows of ruffles at the hem to kick out the hem of the skirt. This helps fill space between the legs and the outer skirt of the gown, adding to the bell-like shape.

overall, came out great!

Sherlock Homes "Adler" pink victorian gown project.

hi!

been a while, but here's a project i just finished up, that i thought you may like to see!

here's the pictures of the gown on Rachel McAdams, there are very few pics around, so i only have these two:

and here's the sketch of the gown as i saw it:

The client that commissioned it turned out not to have all the underpinnings that would be needed, so we made those too! For this costume, she needed a flat-fronted base corset with a curved bust, a ruffled petticoat, and a cage bustle and removable bustle pad.

I ended up finding a heavy Slipper Satin in just the right shade of "holy crap-Pink" that worked out great. It's very shiny and had a nice stiff hand, to make a well-structured bustle skirt. But what a pain to work with! even with perfectly smooth seams and hours of pressing, it still photographed with ripples and wrinkles, driving me mad!

more updates soon, i have pictures to share!

d's renfaire costume for slo faire 2010

so here is d's sketch:

she has an all black gown of silk shantung, with slashes and puffs of white cotton and a white cotton partlet. I have decided not to make her a corset, but bone her bodice (she's still pretty small waisted and has about 2 oz. of fat on her entire body) and i don't think will cinch in any. the contrast on the bodice is black, and so is the overskirt, with a silver underskirt and bodice. ( i may reverse these two, so she doesn't match me too much). and a less decorated version of the attifet and net that i will have.

J's high class renfaire costume for slo 2010

So here is J's sketch:

On the doublet, hose, and detachable sleeves are decoration in this style:it's a pretty big undertaking, but D has promised to help with beading in exchange for her costume. BWAHAHAAA slave labor!

his is all done in black silk shantung twisted over silver iridescent taffeta with probably pearls or silver pearls (not sure which yet).

and i am going to torture him with a ruff, and a 'gay hat' as he put it, as well as puffy slops and breeches. but hey, i conceded the pirate boots.

and he will get a rapier, so beware the angry armed man in the gay hat!

so here is the sketch for my high-class costume for Slo Faire in july, 2010.

i have a bodice and detachable long sleeves, with a woven detail that will be black silk shantung woven with silver (either shantung or taffeta), and silver pearls. still not sure if the overskirt and rest of the bodice will be a brocade or a solid color. brocades are pushing the budget, but we'll see. I am also working on an attifet that i saw in the newest season of tudors, which i wish i had a copy of, with a net to cover the back, and a braided hairpiece to be at the bottom with a long tail. Then of course a new set of period undies, with a silk corset, white cotton chemise with silver lace trim, a silk partlet (probably in white), my butt-enhancer (bumroll) and a corded petticoat made from a stiff black taffeta that i got today. My last bit will be the standing elizabethan collar, which i haven't really a set idea for how to attach to the bodice, but it is the last thing to make, and may get left off if i run out of time.

funny notes: when i drew the sketch and showed hubby, he said "boobs too small" so i added in the boob lines. he said he was satisfied.

-still curious how i will get in and out of a car with the collar. i know it will be detachable, but not sure yet how.

The proposed Renfaire 2010 Costume project

so this is going to be my log for our (me, hubby and D) renfaire costumes for the 2010 season. I am pretty sure that i am being a little adventurous, and hope that i can get it all done in time! here's the prelim sketches, went and got the fabrics today, and a few trims. overall, there are three high class costumes, one peasant (d's) and two pirate costumes.

heh. we shall see!