The Stitchin' Bitch: The Gold Belle Gown

Quick Overview

Materials

Dijon silk dupioni
Yellow/gold habotal
yellow canvas
yellow grosgrain ribbon

Total time: Around 1 month. I took long breaks

Drinks: Crabbies alcoholic gingerale, lots of hot chocolate

Noise: Smallville, House of Hades by Rick Riordan- for the skirt, Beauty and the Beast Musical soundtrack.

Overall, this was an interesting learning experience. I've never made something that I hadn't really designed myself. I'd always wanted to make a cosplay and Belle was as good as anywhere to start. I ended up wearing it to a halloween party with some of my good friends who were also Disney princesses. The process kind of sucked at times and I didn't quite get around to finishing a few seams. All around, the dress looks great from far away and is a bit messier close-up.

The texture difference between the bodice and the skirt is perfect. I can't understand why anyone wouldn't use a light/sheer material for the shoulders either. The gloves were sort of difficult to eat/drink with but in the end I still managed to get by. I owe so many thank-yous to my fairy god siblings who helped me through the process, in particular, Beth (dressed as Aurora, here) who I consulted probably every 10-20 minutes as I was working.

Putting on the dress for the first time was a bit of an experience in of itself. Whenever I'd dress up before I'd never really had a sense feeling like a princess, whether I was in a faire costume as nobility or even in my other halloween costumes as a kid. I think between having the control to indulge in my cosplay OCD as well as having undertaken the entire process myself, really helped. I really felt like a princess in this gown. I felt pretty and for a moment I felt a bit like I could have stolen the dress from the movie. Which is exactly what I wanted. In the end, this costume's filled me with a strange sense of pride and I'm glad my first cosplay was this.