Jane Eyre 2011

I haven't seen it yet, but I'm sure loving pictures of the newest adaption of Jane Eyre. I'm going to watch it with a friend soon so I will most likely have more thoughts then. But for now I am enjoying the beautiful photos.

I love it when they take drab fabrics and make them into something so romantic and stunning with details.
I'm also excited because one of my favorite actors, Jamie Bell, is in it. Looking forward to seeing him in period costume again!
Have any of you seen it? What are your thoughts?

~Anna Kristine

You and the Academy Voted...

And you both agreed.
The award for best costume goes to...

The Young Victoria

The Young Victoria New Trailer

Here is the new trailer for The Young Victoria...it has a lot more footage. Goodness, I can hardly wait! This looks amazing! It gives me chills. :)

"Alice" Patterns

I was browsing around for some Alice looking patterns and although none of these are exactly like her dress in the film, they had a Alice like quality that I couldn't resist and could be easily used to make her dress or one inspired by hers.

This one can be bought HERE.

This one can be bought HERE.

This one can be bought HERE.

If your interested in the rick rack skirt outfit, check out my friend AnnaMae's blog, Confessions of a Costume Addict. She's working on replicating it! It's going to be amazing!

The Young Victoria US Release Date

Finally a date has been set. :) The Young Victoria is set to release in the US on November 13, 2009. I'm so excited and can hardly wait!

Lucy from Sweeney Todd

I just ran across these pictures on Costumers Guide and fell in love. :) I haven't seen Sweeney Todd (and don't really want to) but the costumes are pretty awesome.
This one stole my heart though:
I love the paleness of it and the fingerless gloves:

So beautiful....now I want to make one. Just add it to my already massive sewing project list I guess? ;)

Progress

Remember the Regency Project I started months ago? Well I finally pulled it out again and finished the bodice a couple weeks ago and finally last night attached the bodice to the skirt. So, here it is so far!

It was originally going to be a drawstring bodice but I decided last minute I didn't want it to be...what to do with all that extra fabric at the neckline then? Tucks! And I added embroidery:

I could have had it done by now if I hadn't been such a silly goose and decided to hand sew the entire thing. :P But I think the worst of it is over...it's nearly done, unless I decide to go crazy on the trim at the hem...which I just might!

But today I must set it aside and get back to my Civil War sewing. I've already got the bodice of a dress entirely cut out and partly sewn together...I just need to stick to it and it will be done in no time! I'm thinking of adding a scalloped epaulet at the top of the sleeve like the one on Meg' dress in Little women:

Isn't that pretty? :)

I've made a deal with myself that if I get the bodice finished today...maybe I can start a "Maid Marian" project this weekend. Oooh....I better get to sewing!

Plans

(yikes, I wrote this a few days ago and forgot to post it! Well, here it is anyway!)

I'm up to my elbows in Civil War sewing at the moment. I've almost finished hand sewing my chemise which I will be posting about soon and I'm getting ready to start a dress.

I've been watching clips of Cold Mountain on YouTube which has seriously got me in the mood for the sewing task ahead of me. I'm in love with the costumes in that film. :) (Though I still haven't plucked up the courage to watch the whole thing yet)

I can't stop staring at this dress:

I'm also plotting to make one of these:

So pretty and cozy looking. :) Would be spledid for reenacting in the rain, don't you think? But I'm already working on a cardigan so we'll see. :)

Alright...I'm off to sew some more. :)

Dreaming in the 1860's

I'm in such a mood to make a dress for myself. I haven't made a dress for myself in such a long time. I always sell all my dresses. *sigh* But I truly want to make something to keep.

So....I'm thinking of starting with a Civil War dress as I've sold all of mine and will need one if I go to a reenactment this summer. I'm going to start with the underpinnings, because this is wise. ;)

First step will be a chemise. I'm researching at the moment to see if cotton or linen is more accurate. I'm sort of hoping linen as it's so soft and lovely. :) But...it is more expensive. I just need to decide between these two chemises: (maybe I will just do both!)

Someday I hope to order the Silverado Corset Pattern. But for now I'm just going to use my Simplicity patterns.

Also...I read something about sewing in the Civil War and that there were sewing machines but that they were not used in household's until later. Thus, I'm thinking about sewing my chemise by hand. Because I'm just crazy like that. But I like hand sewing anyway. :)
In the past I've never put a ton of though into my wardrobe...I just put fabric and trims together I liked. But I'm going to take my time on this one. I think it would be fun to truly put together a character with this wardrobe. So, I'm thinking on that. :) I'm actually into being a farmer at the moment. I really love work dresses and aprons...much better than silks and taffeta's. Although they are very pretty. :) Maybe one day I'll do a fancier wardrobe.
Alright...I'm off to dream and will update when I have more plans. :)

The Young Victoria

My new obsession:

I've been watching the costumes for months getting excited about this one...especially excited seeing it has so many AMAZING actors in it. (I love Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, not to mention many others that play in this film) Just today I saw this trailer and now...I'm even more deeply in love.

I'm sure I will do many more posts about this...I just wanted to share the trailer real quick. :)
The release date for the US hasn't been announced as of yet, but it comes out in the UK next month if your lucky and live there.

Also check out the awesome website HERE. There's an awesome section on the costumes!

Noteworthy Underpinnings

(above corset & shift from the film "The Patriot")

I can't explain why I have so much interest in underpinnings. I just love chemise/shifts, corsets, panniers, hoops, etc. It may have something to do with underpinnings being the core of the costume. They define your shape and give you that feeling of what the women from that era felt like. So often in films the costume designers make sure that every single person is dressed right down to the stockings in accurate clothing, even extras, because it gives each person a sense of who they are portraying.

Here are a few of my favorite finds over time.

18th Century

(above photo from the film "Marie Antionette")

I love this 18th century shift in this Simplicity pattern. It reminds me of one that Kirsten Dunst wore in Marie Antoinette

(above photo of the stays worn by Keira Knightley in the film "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl")

Butterick Patterns has a lovely 18th Century underpinnings pattern. This one has the option of laces up the front or not. I'm using this pattern right now for my Elizabeth Swann corset and I'm liking it so far! :)

(above photo from the film "Pride and Prejudice")

Past Patterns has a new pattern I can't wait to try. Check out these Transitional Stays.

19th Century

I love this beautiful embroidered corset from the film "Gangs of New York".

(above corset worn by Cameron Diaz in the film "Gangs of New York")

I've heard wonderful reviews of the Silverado Corset from Laughing Moon Mercantile. It's on my "To Buy" list. :) Katherine made a beautiful corset from this pattern HERE.

*sigh* Now I'm inspired. Maybe I shall work on my Elizabeth Swann corset! :)

Nicole Kidman Costumes Over The Years

(Nicole Kidman in the 2008 film Australia)

I love Nicole Kidman. Not only that, I love looking at all the costume films she's been in over the years. I thought I'd list some here with a few pictures. One day I'll possibly do more in depth study on individual costumes and even show more pictures of costumes I'm not showing. I really can't wait to make some of these on day. But I'm trying to force myself to finish what I've already started before I get off on any more projects.


Alright, enough about that...here they are....

Far and Away (1992)

I love this film but I can't seem to find very many pictures of costumes. But I love the ruffle at the bottom of this dress:

The Portrait of a Lady (1996)

I haven't seen this film but I love this dress. I might do a more in depth study of it one day.

Moulin Rouge (2001)

This is one of my favorite dresses which I've already done a bit of planning to make. You may see bits of it in the future:

And how cute is this?

And I'm in love....IN LOVE with this grey suit:

Cold Mountain (2003)

Another of her films I haven't seen but I love the costumes in! I've heard many people say the costumes aren't that authentic...but they sure are lovely!

I don't really see anything wrong with this dress though, it looks right to me! Don't you love it?

I love this bonnet:

I really want to make this dress one day: (I love the criss-cross pattern on the sleeve and also on the hem of the skirt) I'm thinking the unauthentic part of this one is the sleeves. They aren't drop shoulder and I'm not sure they made them that tight fitting.

And then my favorite...which I decided last night I AM making one day soon.

Ooooh....I just love that embroidered trim.

The Golden Compass (2007)

I only saw half of this film but I'm so smitten with this coat:

Australia (2008)

Then my most recent favorite Nicole Kidman film, Australia:

This is so beautiful:

I love this dress:

I think she looks amazing in these 1940's skirts and blouses:

Droving:
Stunning:

There are so many more costumes from all of these films that I didn't list so that I wouldn't overwhelm you with the world's longest post. But these are a few I adore and I hope you enjoyed them.

Well, I'm off to make Christmas presents! Sorry I haven't posted about projects much lately. After Christmas I'll have a lot to show and tell! :)

In the meantime, don't forget to sign up for my GIVEAWAY if you haven't already.

Happy Christmas season!