Phoenix/Jean Grey finished! (Well, kinda. . .)

I'm not very good at this "dress diary" thing, I think because I'm impatient! When I sew, I do a marathon--and stopping to take pictures just isn't on the agenda! So here's the semi-finished version of my Phoenix/Jean Grey costume. I say semi-finished because I didn't get a chance to do my shirt to wear underneath (ran out of time) and the boning is causing a bit of a problem in the front where it buckles a bit. So it still needs a bit of work, but overall I was quite happy with it! The jacket pattern, believe it or not, is a Regency era spencer/pelisse--I used Jennie Chancey's Sense & Sensibility pattern and extended the turned-back collar and made the skirt paneled (pleated in the front, gathered across the back). The corset is from a Butterick pattern, with some modifications to the front seams, fake "hip pieces" sewn into the top layer, cutting off the top and adding two inches to the bottom. So here's a pic from the party I went to last night--ran into a Wolverine and couldn't resist taking a pic!

Pirates of the Caribbean: Gold Dress, The Home Stretch

Whew! Almost there--I need to attach the trim, and sew the underskirt, and this one is finally done! I'm pretty pleased with how this Simplicity pattern turned out--besides the lacing down the back and making different sleeves, I followed it almost exactly. It's not constructed like the movie version at all (but who has the time or patience for all that pleating in the back?) but it has the right look, I think. For someone who's trying to get as close to the movie version as possible, I would suggest narrowing the stomacher a bit.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Gold Dress Bodice Done

Here is the finished bodice, at long last! I just have to tack down the silk bias tape that faces the neck--but it has to be done by hand (blech!) so I'm taking a break for tonight. The sleeve turned out closer to the look of the original than I thought it would--you can't see it in this photo, but I pleated it in the back like the original appears to be. The trim is just pinned on so I could see how it would look. Now, I have to do the panniers so I know how to level the skirt as I attach it.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Gold Dress Progress

Here is the update on my progress on Elizabeth Swann's gold dress. The bodice is now nearly complete. Here are two pictures--one of the stomacher with its machine embroidery and hand beading (done while watching The Bachelor: Rome last night--why do I get sucked into stupid reality dating shows?) and the back of the bodice with the installed grommets. I'm using Simplicity's pattern 4092, and have made few changes to it. I changed the sleeves, and will be putting lace around the entire neck edge and around the bottom of the sleeves. I also installed grommets down the back for lacing, rather than a zipper. So if you're working on making this dress from this pattern and have any questions, don't hesitate to ask--I'm happy to share what I've done to modify it to be closer to the original.