For some reason, I fixated on this one Edward Gorey illustration and wanted to make the outfit. It’s big and shapeless and not directly connected to a specific historical period (unlike some Gorey drawings). It seems this drawing wasn’t part of a book or story, and according to one website, this drawing is part of a series of “early trials that were abandoned by Edward Gorey in favor of other images. These pieces were most likely created during the printmaking courses that Mr. Gorey attended at the local community college.”
Finally, I decided to make it for the Edwardian Ball 2026. I had a bolt of gothic flocked tulle that I’d bought years ago at Jo-Anns (RIP!). That made up the tiers, which I sewed to a simple white cotton base gown.
Most fun was the collar that stands up, almost covering the face. I made this like a 16th-c. ruff, tightly gathered into a neckband. Then I starched it with wheat starch, also in a 16th-c. manner. It looked appropriately silly.
I made a large hair bun like in the drawing, but when I tried it on the day of the ball, I didn’t like the look. So I pivoted and used a giant black rose hair pin for a similar effect. It was hard to get good pictures at the ball because of poor lighting, but I think the finished outfit is a good representation of Edward Gorey’s drawing.
Video shows how wacky this outfit is.