A "Wench" Top!

Recently, a friend asked me to help costume her for a masquerade ball she was planning to attend.  Her inspiration was white/gold/silver, with a historical look. 

So one day we went to The Bins to get raw materials, and another day we kluged together a top for her.  I also whipped up a pair of white satin pantaloons, so--what with top and bottom--she wouldn't be naked!  But we didn't have time to really complete the costume, so she took the materials and finished the project with string and safety pins on the night of the ball.  I think she did fabulous, don't you?  

I'm tagging this post "Alteration" because nothing was made from scratch; everything was Franken-sewn together from pre-existing garments.

Eryn Rieple, ready for a ball!

Let me show you what part of this get-up I'm responsible for and what parts she is...

• The head-dress, bits of brittle old lace from a ruined wedding gown, is her work.  Looks like a Marie Antoinette wig, right? 

• The choker is hers, as well.  Tres cute!

 

• The bodice is my work.  Starting with a wedding dress bodice, I cut out the bust area, and put in foam cups covered in gold brocade (old tablecloth).  I removed the poofy sleeves from the original bodice (more on them later), and replaced them with straps from a different gown, which I shortened so the bodice would lift the bosom to a more 18th century height.  Finally I boned the front two seams.  I didn't close the back b/c I had no closures on hand, so she made do with her own hooks and eyes later. 
  
• The skirt is her own improvisation--well done!

 

• The shoes were not ideal, but they were what she had.  

Picture of Eryn Rieple, 2017.

She ended up not wearing the pirate pantaloons, but she loves the "wench" bodice.  Overall, it was a fun day's work for me, and inspiring, too!  I felt like I was in an episode of Project Runway. 

On Monday, October 16th, I'll tell you about a very similar, but more planned-out, project I did for myself, using the poofy sleeves which originally went with that wedding dress bodice. 

---

12/28/2017 - Update to add link to construction pics and above link to bustier.