Skip to main content

What are you doing New Year's Eve? Or, 1950's Belle

    One day in late October 2017, I found an audition on Facebook for performers for a NYE event. It was a dinner and show party. The event was described as very elegant, so I was intrigued. Long story short, I emailed for an appointment, auditioned, and got the gig.



    The party was Mid-Century themed,  I was delighted to discover. I love that period in fashion, and the songs fit my voice very well. I auditioned and they surprised me when they said that I sounded like young Judy Garland!  What a compliment! Anyway, they asked me to make a list of songs that I could do, so they could make the final song list. Taking their comments under consideration, I did put some Garland songs on the list. I had to add something Disney too, because I'm me. I ended up with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", "Some Day My Prince Will Come", and "The Trolley Song".


    

    Of course, I HAD to sew my own costume for the evening. I couldn't decide whether to go for a 1940's or 1950's look. There were many possible choices in the stash. A slinky, old Hollywood gown would have been fantastic. But in the end, I had to use a pattern I'd been itching to make for years. Vogue 1094. 


  

    I originally bought this pattern because the neckline reminded me of Belle's gold gown. (NOT yellow. I refuse to refer to it as yellow. Yellow is not pretty). And don’t even get me started on the atrocity that Emma Watson wears in the 2017 movie. “Yes, hello? 2010 called and it needs its mass produced prom dress back.”



    I bought the fabric online. It is a matte satin, so it's not too shiny (that makes it look cheap, in my opinion). I chose a beautiful deep gold. Yes, I will Disneybound at formal events. (Disneybounding is using the colors or elements of a certain Disney character in your outfit, but not going so far as an actual costume.) Several other performers and a guest or two recognized me as Belle, so that made me happy.


    Construction was fairly straightforward, until I tried it on and realized that I had a HUGE gap in the back between my shoulder blades. The waist and bust fit fine, but the upper back was ridiculous. So I made a tuck all the way down the back (1.5 inches deep at the top and tapering down to barely .25 of an inch). That worked well enough. So in the end, it just looks like a back seam. It has a full, long skirt that is just too fun to wear. I used horsehair braid on the hem of the lining. I will probably


    One of the other singers said she wanted to get me a tiara to wear! That made me laugh. I had a wonderful time performing that night, and guess what? I got to do it again the next year! More on that another time.


    Yours in hard work, creativity, and a dash of Pixie Dust


    Sarah





Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructing History RH017

This is review of RH017, 14th Century Kirtle or  Cotehardie. (Link to buy this patten at the end) I ordered it to make a new dress for the 2015 Medieval Fair of Norman. I had been playing a princess for many years, but decided on changing it up this year. I wanted to be a Bard, a poet/singer/general performer. Naturally, I could not wear the Princess gowns of years past.  It came in a timely fashion. I knew it had a booklet of historical notes, I didn't know it was going to come with a textbook! Seriously, this booklet is 15 pages long (including historical notes, bibliography, actual construction, and a section on period stiches) and is in an easy to digest format. The pattern is on regular paper, not the usual tissue paper, which I appreciated. I had trouble with setting the sleeves, but it was my own fault. I made it oversized purposefully to adjust down to my exact size, and didn't quite adjust the sleeves to match correctly the first time. My own fault. I will pos...
Post a Comment
Read more

1900's Set of Drawers-Unmentionables Through The Decades Project 4

Link to my associated YouTube video The first item I sewed for my 1900's project was a pair of drawers. To be precise, French Drawers. This is made from the Edwardian Undergarments pattern from Truly Victorian. I made the shaped hem version, and that worked well. Essentially, it is two wide, flared legs attached to a waistband. It swishes and flows quite nicely on the body, especially when made in a soft cotton. This year, I am trying to make due with what I have in my stash as much as possible. Since I have no experience in sewing for the Edwardian period and no event to wear such costumes, I didn't buy new fabric. White, very fine linen would have been more historically accurate, but I like colors! And I happened to have a soft green bed sheet set. Parts of it have seen better days, hence it being in the stash and not on the bed. But there was still plenty of good fabric left. There should be enough for the whole set of undergarments. As of this writing, I have fini...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bow-Tie Necklet

Are you, dear reader, in the mood for some winter accessories? Or, like me, are you already anxious for spring to arrive? The only good thing about winter is the cute accessories, I always say. I have a big canvas basket full of scarves, gloves, mittens, and hats. I have a black and also a purple peacoat. Plus my dramatic leopard print fleece cape, which I have previously discussed. Simply put, I don't like to be boring with my accessorizing. It is my only source of cheer and happiness when preparing for a cold winter's day. Ok, enough with the dramatics. On with the subject of today's blog. I knit this up several years ago. This is what the pattern calls a “Bow-Tie Necklet”. It is a scarf, but not in a traditional long rectangle shape. One end is pulled through a loop on the opposite side, forming a sort of bow tie. I have seen several examples in mid century photos of similar knit scarves that seem to have been made the same way. Of course, I forgot to save them/...
Post a Comment
Read more