Christine’s aria dress
From the Australian production of the musical Love Never Dies
Fun Facts
300+ hours of work spread over 10 months (including research, learning
new techniques and occasional swearing)
12 meters of silk dupioni
40 meters of organza
More than 200 organza petals on the train
200 Swarovski crystals
1.5 meters of rhinestone chain
8 pairs of earrings
Plus over 150 grams of seed beads
12 meters of silk dupioni
40 meters of organza
More than 200 organza petals on the train
200 Swarovski crystals
1.5 meters of rhinestone chain
8 pairs of earrings
Plus over 150 grams of seed beads
Corset
Made to an Edwardian pattern and altered to fit my shape.Single layer coutil, flat felled seams, spring steel boning.
Cotton lace trim. Hand embroidered flossing.
Toile inside
Toile outside
Busk inserted, bust gores
Flat felled seams
Completed corset outer
Completed corset inner (waist tape, boning channels visible)
Completed corset worn (front)
Completed corset worn (back)
Made from cotton with lace trim.
Socks were commissioned from a specialty Victorian sock maker in the UK who uses a period accurate Victorian/Edwardian pattern.
Socks were commissioned from a specialty Victorian sock maker in the UK who uses a period accurate Victorian/Edwardian pattern.
Shoes
Photos of the shoes from the production were kindly provided
to me by Steppin’ Out in Sydney, the company who made the originals. While I
wasn’t able to procure the blocks and materials to create the shoes from
scratch, I did manage to alter a pair of pre-existing shoes and cover them to
match as closely as possible.
Originals (photo thanks to Steppin’ Out)
Shoes as purchased
During covering process
Completed shoes
Skirt
Original from the Hamburg production
Toile
Planning organza layout
Planning petal layout
Completed skirt top
Completed skirt front
Skirt front with belt
Bodice
Bodice is made from silk dupioni with cotton drill inner and
lining. Spiral steel boning. Bodice was draped over a dress form and adjusted
over the corset on my body before the final bodice pieces were cut. Inner,
lining and outer are whip stitched together by hand.
Beaded trim was also made from a combination of Czech beads and Swarovski crystals. Each strand of beads is individually knotted to prevent breakage disasters!
Beaded trim was also made from a combination of Czech beads and Swarovski crystals. Each strand of beads is individually knotted to prevent breakage disasters!
Toile worn
Creating the beaded trim
Inner layer front and back
During a fitting, before beaded motif was added
Prior to addition of organza wings and final sleeve adjustment. Beading was removed and re-done.
Final bodice front
Belt train
Draped and cut from silk with pleated organza “petals” in
three shades hand sewn. Fully lined.
Original Australian production train
Australian production front
Draped toile
Pleated organza petals cut and finished with heat
Beginning to place petals
Final placement of petals
Beginning to bead belt front
Belt front worn
Belt back worn
Wig
Back of hair from original Australian production
Top/side of hair from original Australian production
Front of hair from original Australian production
Top/side of hair from original Australian production
Front of hair from original Australian production
Necklace
Made from strands of rhinestones and chopped up earrings.
Joined together with a combination of soldering and E6000 glue. Designed
slightly smaller to accommodate my bigger bust (and the resulting higher
neckline of my dress to keep my cleavage contained).
Original Australian production necklace
Necklace WIP
Final necklace worn