The Brass Hussy Giveaway

Check out this gorgeous jewelry by The Brass Hussy. It's so original and unique. I love it! They're having a giveaway right now, so hop on over to Grosgrain and submit your entry!

Meg's Makeover

I love the 1994 version of Little Women, starring Winona Ryder as Jo. The acting is excellent, the scenery is perfect, and - most importantly - the costumes are gorgeous. One particular gown caught my eye while watching, and subsequent viewings of the movie typically involved pausing and rewinding the scene in which the gown appears.

I'm talking about the light pink ball gown worn by Meg, after her friend dresses her up for a "coming out" party. The dress Meg plans to wear is a plain - but pretty - afternoon dress. She ends up wearing this gorgeous creation:

The bodice is off-the-shoulder, with lots of scrunched fabric and trim around the neckline:

Small, puffed sleeves are trimmed with lace and reach a little further down than halfway between the shoulder and the elbow. The dress includes a pointed waist. The skirt is not seen for very long, but I do know that the skirt appears to be worn over a bumroll. This can be identified by the way the upper part of the back of the skirt bumps out:

It also looks like the skirt might feature ribbon-like fabric strips ("petals" maybe?) that lay over the skirt, kind of like Christine's Think of Me gown from Phantom of the Opera, or Mrs. Lovett's Wedding Gown from Sweeney Todd.

The dress is accessorized with short, lace, fingerless gloves.

I may eventually recreate this beautiful ball gown, but for now, here are a few pattern suggestions:

TV442 looks like a great choice for the bodice. It's similarly trimmed, shaped, and pieced (check out the seams on the pattern and on Meg's gown - they're very similar). This pattern does not include the sleeves.

TV246 isn't exact at all, but would make a similar skirt for Meg's Ball Gown.

Simplicity 2881 might be a good choice for the skirt, as it includes the petals. It could also be used for the sleeves.

Simplicity 4479 may also work as a base for the gown. Unfortunately, this pattern is out of print. It does show up on some resale sites, though (try eBay).

Hair How-To - Alice Cullen from Twilight

A young woman posted this video on YouTube - it's an awesome how-to showing you how to style your hair to look like Alice Cullen in the movie, Twilight. I can't vouch for the accuracy (never seen the movie and am not planning to see it... ever), but it's a cute style!

"Simply Sewing" is Now "Ageless Apparel"

A big "thank you" to everyone who voted on Simply Sewing's new name!

Henceforth, this blog shall be known as Ageless Apparel.

Content and URL will remain the same, but with a new name, hopefully people will be able to better identify the focus of this blog.

Free Underbust Corset Pattern

Cathy, of The Crafty Cattery, found this underbust corset pattern. It's entirely free and the drafting instructions look extensive! Check out this page for the same process but real-life pictures instead of drawn diagrams. It would work GREAT for some of Mrs. Lovett's costumes in Sweeney Todd.

Vote on Simply Sewing's New Name

So, I've been considering my blog's title, and decided it needs a change. I would LOVE to have your opinion on the new name! So, here are my two ideas (click to enlarge):
 

Ageless Apparel - Fashion Design and Construction Through the Ages

  Timeless Tatters - Fashion Design and Construction Through the Ages

Please leave a comment to let me know which one you like best!

Socks!

Sorry, I just had to post this...

My mom bought me a three-pack of knee-high socks from Target (see the exact product here). I just had to get photos and share them with you all! I can't decide which pair I like the most...

I wore the pink striped ones to Cinderella rehearsal last night, as I mentioned in this post.

 I also found this box at Jo-Ann Fabrics on clearance for $5.57, down from the original price of $15! I'll use the box to keep all my theatre memory stuff - show programs, props I got to keep, pictures, etc.