I've decided to make another costume for my Carina. I like to alternate between commissions and something new, and it's been such a long time since I'd made anything that size, and Carina looked so beautiful in the Spring Goddess ensemble, that I have to make something more for her. When I was going through one of my "Velour" boxes, looking for the right fabrics for the Spring Goddess costume, I came across a beautiful piece of embossed magenta velour, which I though would make a beautiful "historical" gown - probably Italian Renaissance inspired. So this morning I had to find fabrics to go with it.
Each time I go looking for fabric, I get to revisit everything in that particular box. Years ago I saw how my sister looked for fabrics in a box - she'd turn the closed box upside-down, lift the main box up, leaving all the fabrics inside neatly piled up in the lid. Then she'd proceed to put everything back into the box. It's a great way to neatly see everything in a box without making a huge mess, and handling all the different fabrics each time helps with inspiration too - so many of the fabrics were purchased with specific costumes in mind. I went through several boxes: "Satins and Linings", "Warm Metallics", and "Warm Brocades". There were metallics and brocades for Elizabethan costumes, many beautiful brocades for Renaissance dresses, and several large pieces bought specifically for Rococo gowns. Buying fabric is like "buying a dream" - a vision of some spectacular costume to be made. The real test is to actually use the fabric to make what it was intended for, or harder still, use it for something else.
Each time I go looking for fabric, I get to revisit everything in that particular box. Years ago I saw how my sister looked for fabrics in a box - she'd turn the closed box upside-down, lift the main box up, leaving all the fabrics inside neatly piled up in the lid. Then she'd proceed to put everything back into the box. It's a great way to neatly see everything in a box without making a huge mess, and handling all the different fabrics each time helps with inspiration too - so many of the fabrics were purchased with specific costumes in mind. I went through several boxes: "Satins and Linings", "Warm Metallics", and "Warm Brocades". There were metallics and brocades for Elizabethan costumes, many beautiful brocades for Renaissance dresses, and several large pieces bought specifically for Rococo gowns. Buying fabric is like "buying a dream" - a vision of some spectacular costume to be made. The real test is to actually use the fabric to make what it was intended for, or harder still, use it for something else.
So, these fabrics are what I ended up choosing: the embossed magenta velour, a satin almost the exact same color, a lovely metallic brocade for the underskirt and sleeves, and a soft white satin for the sleeve puffs. Trims and embellishments will be chosen later.
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