Mannequin Photos | Portraits

ARWEN MOURNING GOWN REPLICA CONSTRUCTED BY KATHY S. (KAY DEE)

(See photos of the real Arwen costume worn by Liv Tyler)

FABRICS

Gown: Navy (313) Silk/Rayon velvet from Thai Silks
Lining Fabric: Navy (313) 8 mm Habotai silk from Thai Silks
Belt and Insert Fabric: Red (Scarlet 201) sueded charmeuse silk from Thai Silks

PATTERNS

I used some commercial patterns as a starting point only. I altered them and re-draped them to create new patterns .

Bodice Pattern: Simplicity 9103 - I had to take in the front center seam quite a bit. Plus some other alterations to side seams shoulders, armcycle, and neckline. For more details visit my Muslin Construction Page.

Skirt Pattern: McCall's 3109 (not sure if this is in print anymore) - it's a wedding gown with V front bodice and full
skirt similar to an umbrella shape. I had to slash the back pieces in half to accommodate my 45" fabric (it was designed for 60" fabric). For more details visit my Muslin Construction page.

Sleeves: A combination of McCall's 3663 (View B) and Simplicity 9891 reworked to create a new pattern. I believe that the sleeve on the new McCall's 4490 (View D) is actually very close to what I drafted (it would have saved me a lot of time!)

Belt/Sash: I drafted my own belt - the tails of the belt are 3" wide. After looking at the way the sash at FIDM was dressed on the mannequin, I believe that the sash used on the movie costume is actually wider at the waist and tapers to narrower tails where the sash is tied. The waist width of my belt is 4".

ARM BAND

Materials Used: Bullion embroidered sari (cut up), blue iris seed beads, gold silk ribbon, gold bullion

NECK TRIM

Materials Used: Bullion embroidered sari (cut up), blue iris seed beads, gold silk ribbon, gold bullion, Kreinick gold cord (chain stitch embroidered at V).

RED INSERT

Scarlet Red sueded silk from Thai Silks applied as a double layer facing to entire neckline.

BUTTONS

After months of searching I found the buttons that were used on the movie costume at Huschco Buttons (www.hushcobuttons.com). The buttons are 11 cm in diameter (the smaller of the two at Huschco). For an additional fee they are able to plate them in a gold color, and I antiqued them with Sophisticated Finishes Blackened Bronze (thanks to Maggie for the suggestion!).

HEM

The hem of the movie gown is actually a raw edge finished with a scalloped stitch. I was able to use the decorative stitch from my Viking Machine with some heavy weight Slovy place underneath the edge for stability. I tore away the Solvy when I was done.