Construction Details:

The skirts are actually a layer of five, and I intend to add a sixth, being a petticoat. But let's start from the inside out. First and foremost I bought a cheap hoop skirt off of Amazon, because I wasn't sure what the results of my ballgown attempt would be- in other words, I didn't want to make my own hoop skirt on my first go at any type of ballgown. I may make my own in the future though, because the reviews marked this one as not being the sturdiest of materials. But the steel boning is more than legit, so I can always recycle the pieces, and easily pattern my own hoop skirt!
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rnThe next two layers are two tulle "petticoats" to help hide the hoop lines, and also make the dress fluffy! They're each ten yards of stiff tulle, gathered and sewn to a satin yoke with drawstring waistband. The first layer is long and goes to the bottom of the hoop, and the second is actually a shorter layer constructed from the leftover yardage that was cut from the first layer. So in other words, all ten yards of tulle was used- none went to waste!
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rnThe next two layers are the skirts. The yellow satin lining is simply a four panel a-line skirt (almost a circle skirt but not quite), sewn to an elastic waistband, so that I did not have to install a distracting or fragile invisible zipper. It is shorter than I intended because I forgot to account for the space the tulle would take up, so I will remake this layer in the future. The top ruching is 8 yards of glitter organza. I chose organza because it is light and fluffy, yet sturdy, and doesn't show stains as much as some other fabrics. It has already gotten quite dirty, but it's hard to see. ;3 The scallops are a dark gold shade of Casa Collection chiffon, sewn into "tubes" and then hand stitched on at eight points. The pink roses on the dress are made by friend Anya Braddock (Crumpets Cosplay), and hand stitched on by me =)
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rnThe bodice is an interesting piece- it is actually altered from a "not so great" Disney costume pattern for adult women. It's not the most impressive looking sample on the pattern packet, but the flats seemed promising for easy conversion to a strapless bodice, so I went with it! It ended up working splendidly. I used David Tutera taffeta in Pineapple as the face and lining. Both sides are interfaced, and the lining is boned with plastic. Meant to use metal, but can NOT for the life of me find any cutters to cut through flat or spiral steel boning.
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rnThe face side of the bodice has parted seam allowances, top stitched at 1/8" from the seam on either side. I did this to downplay the seams, because if I had installed the boning channels on the face, the width of the channel lines would distract from the distinctive center front line that Belle's dress always has. So I downplayed the other seams, and emphasized the center front by piping the seam. The top and bottom hems of the bodice are also finished with piping.
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rnAs for the other details on the bodice, the center back buttons up with small shank buttons, and fabric loop closures that are slip stitched in. The loops were made out of the same material as the bodice. I really wanted a formal gown look, so I opted for the button up, instead of the lace up, as the pattern I used suggests. The sleeves I took a bit of inspiration from the Belle gown in Disneyland's Soundsational Parade. Mine are merely tapered scraps of my skirt fabric, which I narrow roll-hemmed, and pleated and stitched to a pretty light yellow elastic that also had pleated organza edges. I hand stitched that to the front of the bodice, and the rest simple hugs my arms. ^.^
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rnThe gloves are an interesting ordeal... I made my own in a fabric matching my bodice, but I did not favor the color, because of the shade resembling latex cleaning gloves. It did NOT look princess worthy. ;( I ordered some bridal gloves off Amazon in "Candle", but they came out more white... which makes me wonder, since they did have white, off white, and ivory... what most those gloves look like? Haha, anyways, I don't hate my "white" gloves, but maybe I'll want to add a slight pale yellow dye to them some day. I hemmed them to be a bit shorter, and subtly blinged them up by hand glueing 90 Swarovski crystals to them.
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rnI know that seems like a lot already, but I have more plans to add to the gown! I intend to make white lacy bloomers, and add a pretty white petticoat or slip of some sort. Perhaps add more bling and embellishments, and remake my yellow skirt lining. This is going to be one of those projects where I will continue to change and add things until I feel I have made it to the best of my ability! =D

Personal Thoughts:

Belle and Jasmine are among some of my favorite Disney princesses- as a little girl I remember dressing up as Belle for Halloween, and even going so far as to say yellow was my favorite color, even though it really wasn't, just because I loved her yellow dress so much! (Purple, blue, and pink are my favorites, for the record.) <br />rn<br />rnOut of all the ballgown-y princesses, Belle's dress has always been my favorite. It just has this angelic glowing feel to it, and despite the visual weight it can sometimes carry with all of the skirt ruching, it can be designed to still look like a light and fluffy cupcake! I've never felt more magical than when I wear this dress. I definitely am glad to have done it.<br />rn<br />rnWhat's most interesting to me is that this has been one of my dream cosplays for quite some time, yet I was always intimidated to work with so much fabric, and create a strapless bodice. However, as a learning experience and experiment, I decided to make one, and did it all in pieces. I started with the skirt ruching which was really all just math, as well as the skirts underneath. The bodice was from a pattern, and altered to fit me better. What I wasn't expecting was for it to come out pretty much exactly like I would have dreamed. It was surprisingly simple! I guess I was just scaring myself into thinking it would be far more difficult! :o

How was the wig colored?

none

Styling Notes

Trimmed some parts and hand sewed an Arda bun to the back

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