Journal | Kale Dragon

Feyre's Wedding Dress Costume Breakdown

Call me crazy but giant poofy gaudy ballgowns are totally my jam, and Feyre's wedding dress fits that bill perfectly. I'm not necessarily creating this dress at the current moment, but let's pretend that I have infinite time and money, this is how I would create the dress.

Live Action Inspiration Shots

LOOK AT THOSE SLEEVES. If ever there were a perfect gaudy sleeve the 80s gave it to us. I love having a live action piece to draw inspiration from because it gives me the proof that it has been done before and it can be done. Anyway on to the patterns.

Chemise and Corset

As always when making a new costume start from the inside and work your way out. For this project I am choosing to wear a corset, mainly to help support the giant skirt structure that will be necessary for the giant poofy skirt. (Also you can't tell me that Ianthe would not have forced Feyre into a tight laced steel contraption (Also also before anyone yells at me I am well aware that the Victorians did not actually tight lace on the regular))

I'm taking inspiration from Bella Mae Designs who made a gorgeous Cinderella dress with a giant poofy skirt. (Check out her channel here) She used an 1860s style corset, which I believe would work wonderfully for this dress.

Unlike Bella Mae I cannot draft my own corset so I would go with Laughing Moon Mercantile pattern 100 Ladies' Victorian Underwear. It includes both the chemise and corset (and drawers if I choose to make those).

Check out this pattern here

Skirt Structure

I'm probably going to have to design this one myself or work off of a tutorial. Most patterns are not the size I want but there are tons of tutorials. Like this one.

Petticoat's (Tulle Hell)

Tiered tulle skirt

Using this tutorial I'm going to make a multi layered tulle skirt and this is not just an excuse to use up all my white tulle.

I'm going to do things slightly different. First my base layer is going to be more of a circle or A-line in order to fit over the hoop skirt and my tulle strips are going to be layered, as in longest layer about 10" shortening to about 2 inches at the top creating hopefully a more feathered effect. Also the use of both flounces and frills will create an interesting look.

Cascasdes

Instead of a traditional overskirt I want to hang some cascades from the waist and have them primarily towards the back creating a bustle effect. I couldn't find a good pattern for cascades but Costume Kenz has a good explanation on their Glinda costume vlog. Actually I might do the entire skirt as a cascade who knows.

Bodice and Sleeves

This one is an easy find, I wanted a sweetheart neckline and I found one from KittyJberry that was no only a sweetheart neckline but it has puff sleeves. Yes I am going to be paying for the entire dress pattern but I'm familiar with her patterns and she has a youtube videos that walk you through the process.

Two red dresses with puff sleeves on the left, and sewing pattern diagrams labeled "Bodice Side" and "Bodice Front" on the right.

Check out this pattern here

Accessories

Wigs woohoo. Honestly I'm not that into wig styling so this map of beauty one would work perfectly. I may need to purchase an extra bun (or an extra wig to make the bun) to go in the back. All it would need is a few pearl strands going through and it would be perfect.

Check out this wig here

An that's the plan we'll see what comes next.

Black Powder War

(Temeraire 3)

Naomi Novik

Storygraph

Goodreads

Dates Read

Dec 18 - 21

2024

Listened to audio courtesy of PRH Audio

10 hrs 23 min

Blurb:

After their fateful adventure in China, Captain Will Laurence of His Majesty' s Aerial Corps and his extraordinary dragon, Temeraire, are waylaid by a mysterious envoy bearing urgent new orders from Britain. Three valuable dragon eggs have been purchased from the Ottoman Empire, and Laurence and Temeraire must detour to Istanbul to escort the precious cargo back to England. Time is of the essence if the eggs are to be borne home before hatching.

Yet disaster threatens the mission at every turn--thanks to the diabolical machinations of the Chinese dragon Lien, who blames Temeraire for her master's death and vows to ally herself with Napoleon and take vengeance. Then, faced with shattering betrayal in an unexpected place, Laurence, Temeraire, and their squad must launch a daring offensive. But what chance do they have against the massed forces of Bonaparte's implacable army?

Favorite Quote:

"When you are very hungry, my dear, it is hard for your ambitions to rise above your belly."

"You are kind enough not to say I told you so but I hear it nonetheless"

Pre Read Thoughts:

What we know

-Laurence and Temeraire are choosing to return to England

-Temeraire can read and write.

-China treats their dragons and women differently

Prologue

A funeral very foreboding

44%

I feel like were on some kind of epic DnD campaigns, so far they have traveled the desert, frozen mountains, picked up a rag tag group of feral dragons and finally landed in Istanbul were now there is a murder investigation of sorts.

There is something I don't understand though. Why is Emily the only girl on Temeraire's crew? If women have to be trained up in the core to harness the dragons that only prefer women. Wouldn't there be more women? I can see there being less women than men but there would have to be more than 1 per crew. Especially if they are trying to hatch and harness as many dragons as possible.

Finished

Wow this was an adventure. Definitely a journey with many side quests. I love how at the end the feral dragons joined him in Scotland and Temeraire is now 'parenting' a baby dragon that breathes fire. Can't wait to see what happens next.