The Art of Clothes Readers Chose...

 For the first time The Art of Clothes readers have voted differently than the Academy and our winner is for best costume design is...

Jane Eyre

 I must confess this is the only movie of all the movies nominated that I have seen but I quite agree these costumes are stunning. Plus I love this era in costuming.
Well chosen!

The Academy Award Winner for Best Costume Design went to...

The Artist

I haven't seen this movie and I don't know anything about it, but the costumes do look neat.

Have any of you seen it? What did you think?

Elizabeth Swann Costume Studies Part 2 - Nightgown and Robe

The first time we meet the grown up Elizabeth Swann (played by Keira Knightley) she wakes up from dreaming about her childhood. She is wearing this lovely nightgown which she also wears when she gets kidnapped by Barbossa's crew.

You can see some of the back seams in this picture:

 Gorgeous sleeve detail:

The front looks as though it is full and then gathered together into an empire waist perhaps with some smocking? The fabric appears to be a lightweight linen (or cotton, but I doubt it) with a floral embroidered or woven in pattern.

Here in the back view we can see there are several seams, there are princess seams and also a seam at the waist on the side panels. The Nightgown buttons down the back.

Over her nightgown, Elizabeth wears an embroidered robe, known as a bedgown:

I couldn't find a good view of the back but here you can see how it is full in the back, possibly pleated.

You can see the bedgown is trimmed with green and cream trim around the neckline and runs all the way down the front of the robe on either side. Also notice the sleeves are gathered up almost to the elbow.

A little closer view:

Here is a picture of the shoes worn with this costume:

I'm not sure where to find a pattern that would work for the nightgown, it might be easiest to draft your own. The trickiest part would be the back with all those seams. You could try using a regency gown pattern for the back and just reshaping the back seams to look more like hers, or use parts of a medieval gown pattern as it does almost have princess seams in the back.
There are notes here on how to make a bedgown.

The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side

Whenever I make myself focus on one costume project, every other costume looks so much more interesting!

I'm dreaming about these...

{images source}

But focusing on this....

I guess it's not so bad after all. 

♥ Anna Kristine

Elizabeth Swann Costume Study Part 1 - Young Elizabeth

Elizabeth Swann is the first character we meet in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. She is a young girl who is fascinated by pirates and the sea and also the daughter of the Governor. She is well dressed in what appears could be a dress made of silk with a floral pattern on it.

Here in the front you can see the front seamlines curving down into a "V" at the waist. Her sleeves are trimmed with wide lace which was very fashionable in this period.

Back view: you can see how the seams fall on the back of the bodice and also notice the pleating of the skirt and the fit of the sleeves.

Here you can see the neckline of her dress it trimmed with fine lace and it looks like a blue ribbon.

In this photo you can see how the back overlaps, it looks like it may fasten with hooks and eyes, though I'm not positive. You can also see where the sleeve seam is, not underneath as most seams are now days.

After the ship crew rescues Will Turner, Elizabeth finds the pirate medallion which is just the beginning of the story.

Here you can see the details of the medallion:

Pattern ideas for this dress are J.P. Ryan's Robe a l'Anglaise pattern for adult size, also
McCall's 6139 which would need some adjusting on the seam placements and the neckline shape. This would not be a historically accurate pattern but it does come in children and adult sizes so that's nice if you are simply looking for a quick easy costume! There is also a pattern from Mill Farm for a girl's 18th century gown that can be found here. Sense and Sensibility Patterns has a Portrait Dress Pattern that comes in both adult and children's sizes that could be altered to work as well. You can also purchase a replica of the pirate medallion here.

Elizabeth Swann Costume Studies

Finally! I am starting a new costume study series on Elizabeth Swann's costumes in Pirates of the Caribbean! I am hoping to keep the studies regular, but with life, we'll see how it goes. I am hoping to start with Elizabeth when she is young and study every outfit she wears through At World's End. I might do some studies on the guys as well but we'll see!
I hope you enjoy!

♥ Anna Kristine

Concept Art

I know we don't think of cartoons as having costumes in them that often but just as much thought has to go into the costumes of an animated character as a live action film. They just don't involve sewing. ;) 

Here are a few concept drawings for Disney's new movie, Brave. 

I love this green dress! Look at those sleeves! Reminds me a little bit of Susan Pevensie's dress from The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

I'm so inspired right now. I need to work on my art more. Seriously. I need practice.

Blog Organization

I put up some pages under my blog header that now will take you directly to specific costume studies or my finished costume links...that should be a lot easier than trying to sift through everything trying to find a certain thing! I think it will especially help with the Robin Hood costume Studies since there are so many of them, now you can click on the specific character in whichever season you want to see. I also added what I'm currently working on and what I'm planning ahead for, just in case you are curious!
And in case you're wondering what happened to the Robin Hood costume studies...the site I was using for screen caps shut down so I am waiting until I can find another source or figure out how to do them myself before I can continue. I haven't forgotten! :) I also have another costume study in progress that I will start one of these days...but I don't want to get ahead of myself!
Off to do some organizing in my house now...
♥ Anna Kristine

February Project: Maid Marian Gown

For my February costume challenge I hope to finish my Maid Marian gown replica from the BBC series Robin Hood. I finished all the beading (at least that I am going to do for this particular project) and have some of it sewn together...but there is still a lot to do and figure out!

So I guess that means I will just have to watch lots of Robin Hood this month to stay inspired!

 What are you working on this month?