These are some my favorite costumes I’ve ever made. I almost regret selling them on eBay, except that I got a very good price and the money went towards the closing costs on our house. So a fair trade, really. The dressform photos below are from the eBay listing.
For the GBACG’s second Faerie Tale Masquerade Ball, I wanted something beautiful and gothic. I used the old Pegee of Williamsburg 1776 Ladies Dress pattern — I’d made this twice for my Constanze Mozart costume, so I’d already learned how to rework the pattern into something pretty. The big changes were making it lace up the back and boning the front extensively.
For his coat and waistcoat, I used the coordinating Pegee men’s patterns, but I added width to the coat’s sleeves (they were rather tight). I also exaggerated the cuffs and collar. I used the Eagle’s View American Shirt pattern. Probably used some generic costume pants pattern for his velveteen breeches, and I added big, fat, black satin bows at the knees.
Our outfits were made of purple changeable satin with a black undertone. My underskirt and his waistcoat coordinated with a blue and black tapestry brocade. Both outfits were trimmed in silver looped braid, plus my bodice had hematite beading (thanks to Mom!). I also used a bunch of purple velvet buttons on his coat and my bodice — I’d found these cheap at the Gunne Sax Outlet in San Francisco.
On my head, I wore a crown of purple and blue flowers. For him, I covered a cheap pirate bicorn hat in black satin and added a bunch of peacock feathers.
I didn’t need a petticoat or hoop under this gown because the satin was full and stiff enough to stand out quite nicely.
The bodice was accented in the center front with an overlay of black lace that had subtle purple highlights. The neckline and 3/4-length sleeves had deep ruffles made of this same lace. The bodice was unlined and had steel boning down the sides of the front “V” panel and down to the front point.
At tip of the bodice’s front point, silver trim ended with an elaborate silver, rhinestone, pearl, and hematite costume-jewelry brooch. The brooch could be taken off and worn elsewhere, but it was a perfect fit with this dress!
The square neckline’s corners were trimmed with purple velvet buttons, which were also at the back point of each sleeve, along with black ribbon streamers.
The bodice had eyelets to lace up the back, and there was a matching satin modesty placket behind the lacing. A pleated lace veil was pinned inside the back neckline, reminiscent of a sacque-back style. The veil was made of the same black with purple lace as used elsewhere in the dress.
