Super Secret Costume Con 2009 costume

I suppose this is an excercise in being vague, but what the heck. I spent some time today working on this costume's concept and decided to go a bit more away from what it was and more in the Victorian direction. Which meant researching victorian outfits and patterns. Sadly, there is a distinct lack of Victorian patterns out there that are suitable for what I have in mind. The "Truely Victorian" pattern company has some nice patterns, but they run around $15/ pattern. It isn't that bad of a price considering the fact that it's a small, probably one person, business and they can't afford to charge less if they're going to survive. However, their patterns don't cover an entire outfit. They cover a single element of the costume. When you need everything from underwear on up, the price of the patterns adds up pretty darn quickly. If I bought everything I need from them, it'd cost me $84 without even getting into the 53ish yards of assorted types of fabric I'd need. Yes, that's right. 53 yards of fabric. Scary, isn't it, especially considered that if I'm lucky I'll average $10/yard. Considering 17 of that is velvet... yeah. I'm glad I'm starting on this early. This is going to get pricy.

So how to lower costs without sacrificing artist integrity?

(a) Draft my own patterns or adjust existing online patterns

Quite likely, this is what I'm going to end up having to do. I've got a couple bodice patterns here and here that while it'll take some serious readjustments and mixing of elements to work, are vaguely the proper shape. I'll need to get one of my Danish speaking friends to translate it for me though. >.> I'm sure a bit more looking around will produce similar finds or else I can finally pick up Corests and Crinolines or one of Janet Arnold's books that have patterns in them. The books are expensive though, and together may be more expensive than buying the patterns.

(b) Return to my original design that doesn't require quite so many Victorian patterns.

I still like the original idea, but it is tricky, and I'll have to draft everything except the bustle and train from scratch. It would mean buying fewer patterns, but doing a lot more drafting and draping to get the dress right.

(c) Abandon the more realistically Victorian style and take a different direction altogether that I haven't considered yet.

It's always a possibility, but I really am looking forward to making a ginormous bustle- something with a sillouette like this one.


Face it, while it probably looks silly to you, Dad and AnnaMarie, it'd just be so much fun to make! However, maybe someone at the guild will have some fun ideas this Saturday. Maybe something that keeps the colors and sillouette but changes the fabic and style? Something to ponder.

However, my VTers are coming over in about an hour and I should probably go eat dinner before they come. Seth's working late again tonight and won't be leaving the office until around 8 so I'm at loose ends for food. Then again, maybe I'll just munch on pocky until he gets home and then make that noodle skillet dish I've been meaning to make so he can have something real to eat instead of grabbing what he can on the way home.