Update on the Historical Costume Inspiration Festival 2012...

Hi all! I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas!

I feel like my life has been turned upside down, but blessed beyond belief since I last wrote here! And I can't believe it's already after Christmas!

But, I have some rather sad news to relate. Due to being urgently called to work out of town for a couple of weeks (without internet access probably), I've decided that I will have to delay the 2012 Historical Costume Inspiration Festival, as I just won't have time this month to properly organize and care for such an event. However, don't stop planning and working on your projects, I plan to reschedule soon, and will let everyone know when!

Have a blessed New Year!

--Atlanta

Historical Costume Inspiration Festival 2012

Remember the Historical Costume Inspiration Festival last October? Are you ready to do it again??

Well - I'm excited to announce -Story of a Seamstress will again be hosting the festival in

January 2012.

 (The exact dates will be announced closer to time.)

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What to expect during the HCIF:

-An entire week celebrating historical costumes!

-Interviews with costumiers

-Fabulous giveaways

-The Costume Contest

-Great prizes

-Helpful Articles

-Visual inspiration galore

-'Meeting' talented seamstresses from all over the world!

You will be invited to share your historical costume sewing projects,enter the contest, and be able to view everyone else's lovely entries! Last year we had over 50 exquisite costume entries!

I will be posting several times each day during HCIF, with my own historical replica projects from the last year (I have so many to share!! Exciting!), as well as my interviews with famous seamstresses from the historical costuming world, and much more!

If you weren't involved in last year's Festival, then go back and relive the fun, read all about it, and enjoy the scrumptious costume inspiration!

There will be a few changes in the way the contest works, such as new categories and such, which I believe will be for the better! I've also got some pretty amazing prizes in the works for the winners! More details will be forthcoming! I wanted to go ahead and make the announcment to give everyone a chance to do their photoshoots before the weather turns cold.

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So, if you plan to be involved in HCIF, or even  if you just enjoy looking at everyone's entries, then I would be grateful if you would take one of the buttons below and place on your blog sidebar and link to this post.

Help me spread the word - the more the merrier! Thanks!! 

If you have any thoughs or critiques about the festival - I would be glad to hear them, as I am of course still planning all the details!

Are you as excited as I am? Can't wait, girls! I know it's going to be delightful!

Winners!

Now that the voting is over we have our winners chosen!

Congradulations....

  ...to Alexandra of Trims and Frills and Furbelows

with her 'Think of Me' Gown Reproduction

...to Elizabeth and Abigail

with their Fairytale Bodice

...and to Kelliie of A Maiden's Musings
wth her Retro Sailor Dress Photo Shoot

Again - each and every entry was so beautiful and well done! Thank you to all who entered and participated! I look forward to the next Historical Costume Inspiration Festival in August 2011!!!

Each winner please email me to claim your $10 Fabric.com gift certificate!

Finalists! - Historical Costume Inspiration Festival

It is here! Time to announce the finalists of the Historical Costume Inspiration Festival!

First - let me say that I had a very difficult time choosing the finalists!
 Every entry was so beautiful - each one deserved to win!
Thank you so much for making this event so wonderful with all the delightful entries!
I am very inspired. How about you??

Please take the time to click on each link to read the full story and see all the pictures before you vote on your favorite. (polls will be found in the left hand sidebar)

Now - the finalists (in no particular order)......


Best Reproductions:

1. The Wire Royals



The amount of work that must go into each of these pieces is breathtaking! I was awed by the closeness of the reproductions to the originals. So beautiful and royal - yet not overdone or gaudy. Absolutely lovely!

2. Handsewn White Regency Dress 

The attention to detail in the dress is truly impressive! The hand sewing - the careful placement of the diamond fabric pattern to replicate the moive - sleeve bands, back fastening, - just everything so meticulous and beautifully done! A gorgeous reproduction!

3. 'Think of Me' Dress 

Such a magical dress, and such a good representation of the original! I love how it looks all white from a distance, then when viewing the details one sees beautiful shades of sliver, gold, peach and blue. I think miniature reproductions must be harder than full size - such tiny detail work!

4. 1878 Jeanne Samary Evening Gown

Aren't those skirt poufs and ruchings just scrumptious? This is such an elegant dress, and follows the original inspiration so closely! What a beautiful piece.

Most Creative:

1. Fairytale Bodice 

This is just the most adorable thing! I love how they have taken very sketchy inspiration from animated princess movies, and then actually created a practical, versatile, and flattering garment to wear for both costume and everyday!

2. 1850s Child's Costume

You can't get much more creative than this! It's so neat how she used recycled items to create the darling accessories - and of course the dress itself is too cute for words!

3. Mandie's Sailor Blouse

It's great how this seamstress took something as obscure as a book cover and did such a lovely inspiration piece! It looks so comfy and fun to wear!

4. A Versatile Venetian Gown

I just love how the different sleeve treatments and bodice fastenings completely transform this regal ensemble to three distinct looks. Very creative - and a great thrifty use of a beautiful dress!

Best Photo Shoot:

1. The Retro Sailor Dress

What could be better than a delightful vintage dress in soft sepia photos? All the accessories are pefect to complete the period look! Altogether lovely.

2. Bella Wilfer Dress

Each one of these photos is a gem! The romantic country settings are the perfect compliment to the elegant yet fun blue Victorian dress! I love the pleated ruffle accents!

3. Sound of Music Bodice

Some lovely Maria inspiration! The back lacing on the bodice is so pretty, and the majestic hills and perfect lighting make for a very nice photo shoot!

4. The Anne Blouse

A classic, lovely blouse and  beautiful photographs! The sunshine glowing around the snow-white blouse and the pretty blond hair remind me very much of some scenes from the 'Anne books!' I love the sepia tones, too!

Well - there you have it! Please go vote for your favorite in each poll on the sidebar.

Polls will close next Saturday!

I had so much fun this week, and I hope you did too! Should we do it again next year??

One more day....

This has been such a wonderful week! I've so enjoyed seeing all the lovely costume posts!

The giveaways and the linky will be open for one more day! They will close tomorrow at midnight. So, after that I will choose the giveaway winners by random number, and announce them on Sunday or Monday.

I don't know how I am ever going to choose the three prize winners. All the entries are so beautiful!

I'm contemplating either choosing my top favorites in each category and then putting them up for you all to vote on, or choosing my top favorites and then picking finally by random number. Which would ya'll prefer?? Please let me know! :^)

Thank you so much to everyone who has participated! This has been such fun!

The Princess Bride Wedding Dress

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:

 Patterns of Fashion: The Cut and Construction of Clothes for Men and Women c.1560-1620 

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?