Process of a cape

When Briar Rose dances with the Prince he's wearing a cape and they both use this as a prop in their dancing. I wanted to introduce some rose printed fabric but not for a whole dress as it would be too much, too busy a print, so instead I've used a pink and purple rose fabric to make a cape for Briar Rose to wear with her everyday dress.

Cutting out a pattern.

Altering the folds.

Checking the length.

Adding the ribbon for ties.

Finished.

Briar Rose

Briar Rose, Princess Aurora's hidden identity. She lives in a cottage in the woods and therefore she doesn't wear elaborate clothing so I used the same simple design as the Belle dress but with a few alterations. 

When she meets the Prince they dance together, it was important to have a full skirt on the dress so it swirls when he spins her around. To keep it simple I used a light purple linen fabric, purple a combination of the 'Make it blue, make it pink' colours, and linen in a thick enough fabric that the dress doesn't need a lining to keep the dress lighter.

It is less wonky when worn but still not perfect,
I'll there eventually!

Belle

Belle's everyday yellow rose dress

Following my theme of designing costumes for Disney Princesses in the 1950s this is the first dress I've made. I kept it simple with not much of a flair on the skirt because I designed this to be an everyday dress for the character of Belle while she's living in the castle.

In the tale of Beauty and the Beast there is a theme of a rose. When the last petal falls he will remain a beast forever. I've chosen a light yellow fabric with a recurring print of yellow roses. Yellow or gold being the classic colour of her dress she wears when she dines with the beast and they dance round the ball room, and roses covering the dress implying that while she is living in the castle the thought of the rose is hovering over everybody, even Belle a guest.

Lined top of the dress

Will never be able so sew a zip in perfectly.

Roses

Costumes for theatre would rarely have detailed embroidery on them simply because theatre costumes are built for study construction. They have to last for weeks or even months of being worn every day under bright lights and detailed embroidery would be lost on the stage, and would also fade and ware away over time.

However for TV and film costumes are caught on camera, more detailing can be seen as it's viewing in more high definition, closer up. So when presenting my designs and eventually made costumes I want to translate them onto portfolio sheets with sketches, photos of the made product, and how it could be evolved with more time.

All over stitching. 

Outlining 

Satin threads

Yellow and Gold

Yellow and Gold

More of a fifties flair

Briar Rose

Sleeping Beauty is almost two characters during the telling of her tale. Princess Aurora and Briar Rose. It's the princess that wears the big, elaborate dresses, whereas Briar Rose lives in a cottage in the woods most likely wearing clothes she made herself and so are probably of more simple construction.

Simple detailing

Bit more elaborate, using both of these fabrics
could make the dress a bit busy. 

Rose fabric for perhaps just the belt or cardigan

Make it Blue, Make it Pink.

Big skirt, floaty fabric.

Difference of colours, Make it Pink, Make it blue,
Purple's in the middle

1950s inspired

During this project I've been researching and referencing fairy tales that all originally happened hundreds of years ago. And so the costumes that the characters are dressed in on theatre, in films made about them are 9 times out of 10 set in the same era. I've been thinking that any costume I design could probably look like a copy of the hundreds of different designs that these characters have already worn.

Last year I had an intern ship at the Theatre Royal in Bath being wardrobe assistant for a production of Hansel and Gretel. Costume designer Phillippa Thomas set the play in 1920/30s dress and I say how with a few key items you can set the tone, the era of a production, and I thought I could do something similar for this my creative project.

The 1940s and 50s was a time with such a classic look of dress, Dior's 'New look' pretty much sums up the 1940s for female dress shapes, which is why I think that for my project I could imagine that I've been given the task of designing costumes for fairy tales being re told in the 1940/50s. To give me a look to go with, but to also make these designs a bit different.

First up Cinderella

Sticking with Cinderella's signature colour of blue

Floral's are always going to be a theme in this project