Whilst laying semi-awake on Sunday morning, I decided what I will be for Halloween next year: Jean Grey as Phoenix from X-Men: The Last Stand movie. No, not the comics, just the movie. See, I have an ulterior reason for this. When I first saw that yummy red costume, I thought, hey, that’s pretty much a Renaissance corset over a coat thingy. And on Sunday, I realized that here’s the way to get myself interested in making that blasted ren corset I need for my Elizabethan court gown. I’ll make the ren corset in red, use it as underwear for the court gown and outerwear for Phoenix!
A quick look thru web pix of the movie costume shows it’s not exactly a ren corset — it’s underbust and has some hip shaping — but it’s awfully close in overall shape. Flat front and conical. Works for me. Plus, unlike so many comics-in-movies costumes for females, it’s not all busty and slutty and gravity-defying. The actress has more or less average proportions, and the Phoenix costume isn’t overtly sexy. It conveys strength and mystery more than boobs. Which means it’ll actually be easier to create for me. And since the corset is worn over the coat, blouse, camisole, and pants, the fit is easier too. As an underpinning, I’ll wear the corset at the proper level, then as an outergarment, I can wear it a bit lower.
This all meant that I needed to rush off to the fabric store yesterday. Found 5.75 yards of red taffeta, which isn’t really enough, but it’s close. I need the fabric so I can start the corset asap. Being short, I can hopefully squeak the coat out of that yardage too, then I’ll have to find something else coordinating for the pants (which is fine, because who wants to wear taffeta pants anyway?). I already have black coutil for the corset, and I’ll just spray-baste a layer of the taffeta over that, plus use the taffeta for binding.