It’s going to take me a little longer to write up details on my dresses that I made to wear to Costume College this year. I’m still winding down all the administrative paperwork that goes along with being the Dean there and getting ready to pass on the crown to the 2019 Dean later this month. I definitely feel like they got their money’s worth out of me doing this. But I felt the need to at least keep my friends who follow my blog up to date on what I made to wear this year. Since I was most happy with my Gala dress, I’m going to start with that one.
And of course, I had to have a collection of tiaras, all purchased from China on AliExpress and for the price we got, you could have a wardrobe of them.
Back
in November 2017 I began planning my dress for the Saturday night Gala, The
Royal Coronation Ball. I had originally planned on a recreation of a Russian
coronation or court dress, and I thought I was being original.
I began
working again in earnest on my dress and cut my full skirt from Truly Victorian’s
#455. I was also able to use the sleeves
from it but without the lower sleeve portion and I pulled them up above my
elbows to create the puff.
Once the
body was done, I began working on my overskirt. I used the same skirt pattern
but subtracted one panel for it to be open in the front, and then extended the
back to make a 4-foot train by tracing the hem on a Regency dress pattern I
had. I made the rosette with a strip of pleated fabric and curved it into a
yo-yo. It needed some bling in the center, and to cover the opening, so I
bought a large rhinestone button at JoAnn’s.
As you can
see by the photo of the overskirt, the bottom of my bodice extended below it.
That’s because I originally was making an 1890s bodice. When I wore it, I tucked
the top of my bodice under my skirt, and it worked fine. I would have liked to
attach the bodice to the skirt like they were at that time but with a front
opening, that wouldn’t work. I did however find some 1830s dresses that the
bodice was not attached so there you go.
Then I
started hunting around for some gold appliques or braid to go on my overskirt.
That took me about 2 months to finally decide and then of course what I chose
came from China, and takes 3-4 weeks to arrive. I bought 2 different samples
first to see if they would work, and then ordered 22 of the large gold ones. I
had laid them out on my overskirt to figure out how many but after I started
attaching them all, I ended up short 4 of them, so I sent in another frantic
order, which took another 3 weeks but it arrived the first week of July, which
gave me plenty of time to add them. While I was waiting, I went back to working
on my open robes to finish them because I couldn’t waste any more time at this
point.
These are
iron-on appliques and I’ve never done those before. I decided just to tack them
all on, but after trying the first one, which is about a foot long, I could
tell it would be messy. So, I tried the ironing. At first it only held for
about a few minutes. Then I ironed it on longer using a cloth. I did tack the
flowers but not all those leaves. That worked better but would still peel off
on the edges of the leaves. So finally, I found a video online of how to do
iron-on appliques, and held the iron on for 30 seconds. Much better. I still
tacked all the flowers on just in case. It would take me an hour to tack each branch,
so in total it probably took me 27 hours to tack them all on. And I had lots of
help and delays from Chloe.
At this
point I just needed to do the final touches, and make the sleeves. And then one
day the Heavens showed me what I was hoping for: final proof that this is the
dress I was meant to make. I found this painting of the royal wedding of Prince
Edward and Alexandra in Queen Victoria’s court.
There
was a lady in a purple overskirt on the left corner that I was trying to make!
She is likely the Princess Royal and much younger than me, but it was mine!
I made the
sleeves poofy by lining them in 4 layers of netting because at this point I
didn’t have any cotton organdy, which was on order. I cut out the lacy sleeve
cap with the same pattern but gathered it tighter so it was opening underneath.
I first thought of just using the lace but it didn’t have enough oomph. So that
went on top of the silk taffeta sleeves.
The taffeta sleeves were a bit longer than the photo but I tucked in the extra inside my sleeves and they held all by themselves, so no messing around anymore with those.
Now to add the bling, the fun part! I started with my headpiece. I had a local wig stylist, Wigs by Coni, make me an 1830s style wig, and because my tiara sits upright, she basted it to the topknot to hold it. Between those I laid my length of lace veil over my hair and pinned it in place. Then I added a group of three feathers, because of course, you have to have three feathers on a court dress. Notice that little pocket/purse/thingy hanging from Queen Victoria’s waist in this painting? It’s actually part of her sash but it gave me an idea to make a reticule for myself using my dress fabric and a rhinestone crown buckle in its center. And of course, now I can’t find my photo of that.
Now I needed
jewelry. AliExpress had lots of inexpensive and pretty things to chose from
and I bought this necklace for $7, which ended up so long I had to have it
shortened for me. And then I found a drop pendant brooch on etsy, probably
purchased wholesale from AliExpress, but I only had to pay $5, and it was in
the US and I got it in 2 days.
I also
started making my sash and royal orders to go on it, from a few bits and bobs I
had, plus bits from Michaels. I used an English bobbie’s hat emblem I was given
while we were in England that said ER on it. Also found a tiny pendant with an even tinier
crest on it on eBay.
I began
making cream colored ribbon ones for myself, and to give to each of the past
Deans at Costume College during the Gala, each having their first initial in rhinestones.
I had a lot of fun making these. More on that in a bit. My friend Cindy made me
a family order using a photo of my husband on it for me to wear too. I ended up
with four ribbons on my sash, and one on the opposite side of my bodice. Later
in the evening I noticed the weight of them all was pulling my dress off my
shoulder.
I found a 3-inch
vintage rhinestone bar pin on etsy for $5 that looked similar to the one Queen
Victoria wears on her shoulder to hold her sash on. But when the time came to
dress, I couldn’t find it in my luggage. So, I just used a hidden straight pin.
On to Gala
night and walking the Red Carpet to dinner! I was really happy with how it all
came out. I’d love to have had a photo of the train trailing in the back but in
all the confusion you tend to forget the little things and I was just happy
that someone sent me this photo from the Red Carpet. I got a lot of questions
about my appliques on the train. They did end up looking pretty impressive.
During
dinner, I ran around finally having a few minutes to visit with my friends, Jennifer, Gina, and Mary, and later goofing off to show it was all for fun.
**9-11-18: I'm adding this photo that was taken in the photographer's studio that was just uploaded. At least now you can see my train.**
But then I had
to get back to work. Yes, the Dean still has to work during Costume College. I
walked into the middle of the floor and with the theme music from Masterpiece
Theatre playing, I called up all the past Deans who were attending.
We had 9 of us this year. I handed each of them their royal order I’d made,
which was a total surprise to each of them. Then I called up Shawn Crosby to
thank him for all the work he had done for us over the many years and tell him
how much all the Deans had appreciated him.
This is what
I wrote to him:
Shawn Crosby, all of these past
Deans are here with me tonight to thank you for the many MANY years you have
helped and volunteered for all the years we have been Deans at Costume College.
Your selflessness and generosity have been dependable to so many in so many
different ways. Those here who attend Costume College may never know what all you’ve
done in the background to help facilitate in making things work, and portraying
memorable characters at our events, like a pirate, or a snooty French maître‘d
at our teas, or setting up music in the different events. But know that WE notice it and cannot express to you
how much it’s appreciated.
Therefore, Shawn Crosby, PLEASE KNEEL.
There were
screams of approval coming from the whole room. His wife, Colleen (also a past
Dean), is right next to him in the dark dress. She and the President of CGW were
the only ones who knew I was going to do this.
I bestow upon you The Royal Order of Costume College
2018”. Arise, SIR Shawn Crosby!
Shawn surprised
us all, including himself, when he came dressed as a Jedi Knight from Star
Wars, as he portrays Obi-One Kenobi from the movies.
I had made
Shawn his own Royal Order of Costume College 2018, using a badge of the King’s
Hand from the tv series, Game of Thrones. I was pleased when he told me he wore
it the next few days.
The rest of
the evening was spent again running around seeing my friends and all the
wonderful dresses everyone wore that night. I was at sheer exhaustion when I went
to bed at 10:30pm. I think it was all the stress from the year, and excitement
of it finally happening, and throwing all my energy and enthusiasm into this
one evening. But what a way to end my year as Dean. And boy, am I going to be relieved
when I hand over the crown later this month.
~~~Val~~~
