Satin, lace, velvet, Swarovskis, and 150 yards of tulle!
This is a one of a kind custom gown and cape that I created for The Swedish Housewife, a performer and producer of magnificent stage shows. We have worked on quite a few costumes together, and it’s always a joyful process of extravagance and technical challenges. I use a combination of draping and flat pattern drafting to acheive my design goals, and am always trying new techniques. In this case, the tulle cape was an experiment that I wasn’t sure would fly. Instead, it turned out to be more dramatic than we had hoped.
Satin, lace, velvet, Swarovskis, and 150 yards of tulle!
The lower skirts -- one of Swarovski dotted lace, one turquoise satin, and two separate underskirts of gathered tulle and net. The lace hem was finished with the lace border applied to the circular skirt. The final ribbon of pink velvet is yet to be sewn in place.
The bows were candy pink silk velvet, this one interfaced with haircloth to hold it's perky shape. The huge bow on the lower skirt is interlined with muslin, for a softer look.
In this photo you can see the also pattern of the blue zircon and rose pink Swarovski crystals that covered the lace.
The side seam has not yet been finished in this photo. It was later pressed flat, and the seamm allowances catch-stitched to the interlining.
The beginnings of the tulle cape. Secret weapon? A ruffling attachment.
A little hat to match, sheer gloves, and Madame was magnificent.
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I had a very dear drag queen friend who would have absolutely adored this gown. And I say that will true respect and affection. Such costuming takes an exquisite eye to scale and drama in equal measures. And, by the way, most assumptions about drag queens are not reality based. My friend was a straight and very masculine man who loved women, fashion and drama. He would have been just as special a person had he been gay, but I wanted to bust the stereotype. He was a great entertainer and earned as much from his performance work as he did in his career as a health care professional. Sadly, he was lost in Katrina, and I'll have to say that life is much less colorful without him. Thanks for the happy memories of a life lived well and fully.
What a fantastic reminder that all those fabulous stage and screen costumes are designed and sewn(!) by people 'just like us'.
Thank you for sharing. I love the colors, and appreciate the encouragement to go outrageous!
Very Beautiful and eloquent
I had a very dear drag queen friend who would have absolutely adored this gown. And I say that will true respect and affection. Such costuming takes an exquisite eye to scale and drama in equal measures. And, by the way, most assumptions about drag queens are not reality based. My friend was a straight and very masculine man who loved women, fashion and drama. He would have been just as special a person had he been gay, but I wanted to bust the stereotype. He was a great entertainer and earned as much from his performance work as he did in his career as a health care professional. Sadly, he was lost in Katrina, and I'll have to say that life is much less colorful without him. Thanks for the happy memories of a life lived well and fully.
I hope you get to make many many more gowns to share with us. This is wonderful, how lucky she is to get to wear this!!!
What a fantastic reminder that all those fabulous stage and screen costumes are designed and sewn(!) by people 'just like us'.
Thank you for sharing. I love the colors, and appreciate the encouragement to go outrageous!
Kharmin
We need a featured article about this genius and more of his work!!!!!
Oh My! I LOVE IT! The design, the colors, the fabrics, the WORK! Truly F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!
I hope you keep on posting. Fabulous!
ok i want how to's for the tulle cape...lol the gown is awesome but im loving the cape lol