Request of Assistance!

[peach_jello]

Hmmkay, so. I have consulted the help of the best Inexpensive Yet Extravagent and Awesome costume-maker I know-- tobu_ishi, because I am insane.

Why am I insane, you ask?

I'm cosplaying Lucrezia Borgia, that's why.

See, my dearly beloved stick-roommate pyroh has sucked me into the lovely fandom of Cantarella. Many, manymanymany recommendations. The art is

Comments

[tobu_ishi]

Let's see...well, right off the bat, that dress is unusual enough that you're going to have to do some customization on whatever pattern you choose. With that said, it doesn't have to be especially difficult customization...

When picking a pattern to modify, you have to make sure all the basic elements of your intended design are there. In Lu's dress, you've got an underskirt, a gathered overskirt, a very full blouse/chemise with lots of sleeve volume to puff out between the assorted things worn over it, a fitted bodice with very thin straps, and some extra bits of sleeve (opera-glovelike cuffs around the forearms, and upper arm cuffs with long dangling sleeves). Also, a simple sort of cap or snood to wear over what I'm guessing is going to be a wig or hairpiece? (Unless you're going to grow yours out that long...)

For starters I'd recommend getting a pattern that has all those composite parts (except the sleeve extras, which you're very unlikely to find in a commercial pattern) and making some simple modifications to the overall shape. A quick search found me this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Gypsy-Dress-6-8-10-12-Pattern-Simplicity-9966_W0QQitemZ180049473169QQihZ008QQcategoryZ116690QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem I can look for some more if you like, but I think it's pretty close...if you worked with that one, I'd say to alter the shape of the bodice to six panels instead of eight (combining the middle two front and back) and recut the top and bottom to fit the shape of Lu's bodice, low in the front and with spreading petal-shaped panels over the hips, with ribbon straps instead of full shoulders...not too difficult, you can make a mockup in newspaper by tracing the original pattern pieces and trying different things in pencil over the trace marks until you get a good shape. Also hike the overskirt up differently, wear the blouse higher on the neck with a ribbon neckline sewn in to help keep the V shape and match the design, and sew some simple cuffs and dangling sleeves to button or velcro over the blouse, which you can then puff out around them to match Lu's. Beyond that, it would be all in the fabrics you choose and the decorations you sew on.

That's just one idea--if you need more, let me know! ^_^

[peach_jello]

Consider this just as a... "I've read this" reply comment. The work computers are retarded and I can't click on your link, but I'll check it out tomorrow when I'm conscious.