Planning for the Vampire Masquerade Ball

I had dreamed of returning to Venice’s Carnevale for my 50th birthday — I’d gone for my 40th birthday and wanted to bookend the decade in an even more spectacular style. Alas, I’m spending this birthday in the middle of a divorce and having just moved to a new house, which used up all my time and, more importantly, all my money for any fabulous trip. I’m pretty devastated about it all for multiple reasons, and missing Venice is grinding salt into my wounds.

So I needed an alternative, and Portland’s Vampire’s Masquerade Ball in May 2019 fits the bill. It’s suitably extravagant yet nearby and thus less expensive for me. And and can still see a bunch of wonderful friends, different ones, including some I haven’t visited with in ages. Take that, crappy life events, I’ll show you!

I have three-ish months to make something, and while my sewing room is mostly still packed in boxes, I’ve unearthed the main fabrics I want to use. The key elements of this gown draws on what I wanted to make for Carnevale:

1. Use my wheel farthingale because I love the silhouette, it’s big & obnoxious
2. Mix a late 16th-c. bodice with 18th-c. elements that are more flattering
3. Split the skirt for more fabrics
4. MUST wear my giant drag tiara
5. That tiara looks best with a general 18th-c. hedgehog style wig
6. Colors will be purple & black with sparkle

The main fabric is a purple silk taffeta with black flocked stripe. I have a coordinating solid purple silk & black taffeta. I also found some pieces of the black embroidered lace fabric leftover from the Eugenie project. If there’s enough of the scalloped edges, that’d be great for sleeve ruffles. The embroidered net ground fabric could be good for the skirt swags. But I’ll have to measure carefully.

I do want to buy some trims — I’ve been scouring Ali Express & eBay for beaded / rhinestoned appliques & such to add to the stomacher & skirt accents. With these dark fabrics, I really want some bling to add depth & texture to the overall gown.

I’m also considering buying a high collar or ruff to wear with this, for expediency. I’ve got enough to make! Besides, it’s a nice-to-have but not essential to the costume.

A mask, however, is essential. This is a masked ball, but more importantly, I need something to cover up my glasses 😉 I don’t want to go blind to such an extravagant event & I can’t wear contacts. I have a lace mask that nicely disguises glasses, but I may commission a new one.

Well, it’s just a few bits & bobs right now. I’ve got more materials to gather & a lot of work to do!