The inspiration:
Wedding dress from the movie 'The Princess Bride'.
The movie dress appears to be a semi sheer blue/silver floral brocade with a high waistline, lacing in front. Extra long slim sleeves with flowing oversleeves. Bodice appears to be decorated with some type of silver metallic lace. Cream/white sheer chemise accented with jewel trim.
My fabric - a vintage cream/silver brocade drapery in a scroll and diamond pattern. The moment I saw the fabric, the Princess Bride dress and the Ever After 'breathe' dress came to mind. The Princess Bride dress won.
I used a combination of several pattern to achieve the look of the dress.
Bodice:
Based on the Regency short stays from the Sense and Sensibility Underthings Pattern
Over sleeve:
by Janet Arnold - oversleeve pattern pg. 113
Under Sleeve:
based on Patterns of Fashion 1: 1660-1860
by Janet Arnold - Regency sleeve pattern pg. 48
Skirt:
based on skirt from Sense and Sensiblity Regency Gown Pattern
Inspiration Pictures:
The closest historical basis I could find for the dress were a few Italian Renassaince pieces, and some silhouettes from the late 13th c.
I thought about jumping off something for the photo shoot, but *ahem* decided against it.
The sleeves turned out perfect - the Tudor-era over sleeve pattern from the Janet Arnold book was just the right shape, length, and drape. I did have a little trouble during construction, though. The sleeve was so heavy that it was pulling the bodice down off the shoulders! But - after I added a drawstring at the neckline, that really helped to keep everything in place.
I also had a bit of a dilemma about how to work out the front lacing opening on the bodice with the ungathered skirt front. I finally decided to make the dress two pieces. Thus, the skirt is not attached to the front-opening bodice, it is back opening and attached to 'suspenders'. (I saw this method on a Regency dress in 19th C. Fashion in Detail) The bodice laces with cream ribbon through hand sewn eyelets.
In the movie, Buttercup's dress appears to have a semi-sheer chemise underneath. I decided to make mine out of two layers - one of muslin and one of sheer voile. That way I could get the look of the soft sheer, but not the immodest transparent-ness. :^) The trim on the chemise is a broken vintage pearl necklace that I hand-stitched into place.
The crown is a rhinestone tiarra that was leftover from the drama days.
Skirt is plain in front, at sides and back has large pleats facing the center back, and comes to a slight train at hem.
Yeah! Now I just need a place/event to wear the dress - and my 'true love' to show up, right?
22 comments:
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
I love it miss Atlanta!!
Meg
Ohhhh, that is soooooo beautiful, Atlanta!!! Actually, I like yours better than Buttercup's! Thank you for sharing the construction notes too.... I love how you borrowed from so many different patterns! I love doing that! ;-)
Oh oh OH!!! That dress is luscious! Wow, very, very impressive.
Delightful! I LOVE it! That movie is a favorite of mine. I'm continually amazed by how acurate your dresses and other outfits are! Do you sell them?
It's absolutely gorgeous! You did a fantastic job! I love Buttercup's costumes, they're so elegant! And I love the way you have your hair for the photos, so lovely!
God Bless,
Miss Laurie :)
Atlanta! That is simply amazingly beautiful! You did an awesome job and it looks so great on you! The fabric is just perfect. :D
Sublime! I love the fact that you put so much detail into this gown - there's nothing cheap and "costumish" about it. Truly of movie screen caliber. Love it!!
Oh, I love that movie, even though it is *ahem* a little cheesy. =)
Wow! The dress is gorgeous - you did a beautiful job!
Blessings,
~Annie~
Gorgeous! I like it better than Buttercup's! You did a great job. That movie has some great costumes, but yours is "inconceivable". :-)
Joanna
Love, love, love! There are so many amazing costume inspirations in that movie--I would love to have the red gown Buttercup wears when riding :)
Thanks for not risking life and limb with a jump, but the dress would have looked great mid-air!
That is so beautiful! You always amaze me with your dress/costume making skills. I would have no idea where to begin with such a detailed dress.
~Kristin
Thank you so much, everyone!!
Charity, yes I do sell some costumes in my Etsy store, but never the ones I make for myself. :^)
Joanna - ROFL!!!
How beautiful Atlanta,
It is truly lovely.
My sis to be ( getting married tomorrow ), and I made the Breathe Dress, from Ever After for her wedding dress. I promised her I would not post pics of it 'till after the wedding, oh well :)
~Rosie
That is absolutely gorgeous!!
Genevieve
You did a beautiful job! And I agree with Elinor, I like it better than Buttercup's!
Through Christ,
LH
Rosie - do let me know when you post pictures of the wedding dress, I'd love to see them!!
I love the fabric that you chose! It's very elegant!
So, so sweet! I'm so impressed with all the different patterns you combined!
Suddenly I've realised that I have some vintage brocade of my grandmothers that would also be perfect for this gown - someday when I have free time (not likely!)
This is such a beautiful reproduction! It's so lovely! Looks like it's fun to wear. : )
Oh wow you did a great. Will you make one for me. My prince found me 20 years ago. Yours will found you you to.
Always
Hartrose33
Lovely job.
Caytlin Sebo
Oh my gosh, this dress is beautiful and perfect! I wish I had your talent for sewing as my daughter would love this dress.
And ... your prince will show up when you're looking in another direction. Never fails!
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