CHRISTINE DAAÉ'S WARDROBE
I have fun making these collages, and some while ago I made a couple with Christine's costumes from Phantom. Yesterday I made some more, completing her wardrobe except the Maid/Serafimo one she wears in the mock opera "Il Muto" (I don't have the costume design for that one). I post them here so that those of you who don't know Phantom might understand the context for my favourite costumes a bit better, and so those who already love them can gush some more... The costumes were designed by late Maria Bjørnson.
As usual, click to enlarge the photos.
THE SLAVEGIRL
A corseted bodice of alternating red and green panels, with golden trims over the seams. There's a golden collar as well as a golden "crotch tiara" on the bodice, and glittering beads over the shoulders. There's also a rope skirt and a golden belt at the lower half. Accessories includes golden wristbands and a tiara. Christine and the dancers wears this in the first ensemble scene, the mock opera Hannibal, where they play slavegirls. Christine is here indisguisable from the other dancers, except often she does not wear pointe shoes.
THE ELISSA SKIRT
A big skirt is put on top the slavegirl costume, and Christine is transformed into the lead role. The skirt is a red or green base, with several heavily decorated tabs on top. A circle pattern on the tabs is common. The skirt has a draped apron and a false bodice continuing the stripes of the slavegirl bodice. There's also waterfall backdrapes, and most often a pleated hem with decorations. Main colours are red, green, gold and black. Christine wears this for her grand number Think of Me, as well as half of Angel of Music.
THE DRESSING GOWN
This is also put on top of the slavegirl costume, after the big skirt is removed. Only the golden collar can now be seen underneath. The dressing gown is a wrap-gown of fine silks, with ruffles in front bodice and around the skirt hem and opening. There are lace cuffs, and it's tied with a belt in the side waist. It usually has a train. On her feet Christine wears white silk pumps. This costume is worn in the dressing room, as well as in the first visit in the Phantom's lair.
THE ROOFTOP DRESS
An 18th century dress originally mimicking a Robe a la Française. Consisting of bodice and skirt, it has a decorated "stomacher" and "underskirt", with a glittering "overdress". The main fabric is usually heavy beaded and/or sequined, though fine glittering brocades is also used. The dress has lace engageants and lace at the neckline. At the rooftop Christine also wears a turquoise or pale blue cloak - the colour is meant to illude the moon shine. This dress is worn in the All I Ask of You number, as well as the end applause. She wears the dress because she's in a mock opera called Il Muto, set in the 18th century.
THE STAR PRINCESS
This costume is worn in the grand Masquerade scene at the beginning of act II. Christine is representing "The Star Princess", and wears a tulle-and-netting skirt of various pink shades studded with stars. The skirt usually has blue layers underneath. The blue and pink shades are echoed in the tabbed and corseted bodice, where the bottom is pink and the top is blue. The blue is further emphasized with blue ruffles in front bodice and over the arms, and there's also more stars here. On her feet she wears blue semi-high heeled boots, and she also wears a moon tiara and a star mask on stick. Around her neck she has a chain carrying her engagement ring, which the Phantom eventually rips off.
THE WISHING DRESS
This is the only personal dress we ever see Christine wears. It's made of a heavenly blue silk with floral and stripy pattern. Actually, this fabric is used in all productions worldwide, except a few dresses in the USA. The dress has an 1870s silhouette, and consists of a skirt with various drapings, as well as a bodice. The bodice has a faux vest in the front, and the elbow long sleeves has white lace engageants with blue silk cuffs on top. There's decorations on the collar and faux vest. There's also a big bow in the back. The skirt has blue main skirt with an apron, side drapes and waterfall backdrapes on top. In the graveyard Christine also wears a dark blue hooded cloak on top, as well as a red scarf - a memory from her youth. She wears this in Notes/Twisted Every Way, as well as Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again/Wandering Child.
THE AMINTA COSTUME
The Aminta costume is made of salmon silk with black embroidery on scalloped layers (originally black lace was used). The bodice has a mock stomacher in front, heavily decorated and with decorative lacing. The bodice has an A closing over the "stomacher", and the neck opening has fringes or some other deco. The sleeves are elbow long and has lace cuffs with salmon cuffs on top. The skirt goes a bit below the knee, and consists of several scalloped layers put on top of eachother, similar to a flamenco dress. It has a front opening, revealing a golden/black underskirt, and sometimes also a small apron. She also wears an embroidered black shawl, a black boots with semi-high heels, and sometimes a rose in her hair. Christine wears this in the mock opera Don Juan Triumphant, where she plays the character Aminta, to be seduced by Don Juan. It also has a brief appearance in Down Once More.
THE WEDDING DRESS
The wedding dress first appears in the first visit to the Phantom's lair, there on a mannequin. In the last scene of the show we see Christine wearing it. It consists of a bodice and skirt; the bodice is made of a silvery cream fabric with a pleated satin basque over the hips. There's a big bow in the back. The sleeves are elbow long, with lace engageants. The skirt is bell shaped, with diagonal lace deco on top. There are rich satin waterfall backdrapes. Christine also briefly wears a veil. All colours are kept in cream and metallic nuances, to make the dress appear aged and to avoid a ghastly white appearance on stage. This is worn for the Final Lair scene, and it's also the dress Christine wears at the curtain call.