FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
The shreds of Addie LaRue’s Former Life
(click images to to enlarge)
Outline the story …
These undergarments were inspired by The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. The book begins in France in 1714, where we meet the adventurous Adaline. On the day she is to marry a man she cannot love, Addie makes a mistake: she makes a wish of a mysterious stranger, a god who comes at night. She becomes immortal, but she will be forgotten by everyone who ever knew her or who will ever meet her.
This set of undergarments are what I imagine Addie would have worn under her wedding dress. As she comes to terms with her fate, her dress eventually falls to pieces, and she’s left with little else. The stays feature a design of a night sky behind the bare branches of a dark tree. Addie likens herself to a tree, that “she would rather stand alone, allowed to grow beneath the open sky”. I wanted the motif of the independent (but barren) trees against a dark night sky to show that loneliness will be the price to pay for her freedom.
The pocket also features two bare trees and seven stars. The seven freckles on Addie’s face are constantly likened to a constellation and feature as a prominent motif in the book. I imagine her elderly neighbour Estelle made this pocket for her. As Addie comes to terms with her curse, the trappings of her old life disintegrate along with her memories. I imagine this pocket would be the last to go.
Outline the construction…
The stays were constructed using the American Duchess Simplicity 8162 pattern. They were created using layers of quilting cotton, cotton bias tape and zip ties. As a relatively new sewist (and a complete beginner at hand sewing), it was really challenging and exciting to make these. The boning channels were machine-stitched, but I hand-sewed on most of the bias binding by whip-stitching, which whittled my Netflix queue down appreciably!
The shift was my first attempt at pattern drafting and many new hand-sewing stitches. This first foray into drafting a pattern for my specific measurements was far from perfect, but it has sparked an interest to try again. I find it quite challenging to imagine 2D shapes coming to life on a 3D body, but I kept hearing that making shifts is a good first project for that. I also got to try my hand at hand-felling seams which became very soothing and addicting.
Lastly, the pocket was made from scraps of linen and leftover bias tape. The binding was all machine-stitched, but the embroidery was done by hand. I’d dabbled with some hoop art kits before, but this was the first time I’d tried freehand designs. Learning how to satin stitch was also important for the trunks of the trees. I think I had the strongest emotional connection to the pocket, as I could imagine this being lovingly stitched for Addie by someone who would soon forget she ever existed. Needless to say, I felt the heartbreak of the situation.
I love all the details you put in this and the fabric for the stays is gorgeous!! Such a beautiful outfit to match a wonderful book!
Thanks very much! I just finished it over the holiday break and thought it fit the theme beautifully.
Gorgeous!
Thank you!
I like the details. It’s really well done. I also love the blue stay
Thank you! I was happy with how the blue looked in photos as well.
This fabric is so pretty! And your embroidery is lovely, great job❤
Thanks! This was my first time with a lot of stitches and the first time not following a kit with stamped fabric, so I am glad it turned out ok!
The stays are gorgeous, and really like how you used the theme of the bare tree in both pieces!
Thank you very much ☺️
This looks truly magical. Worty of goddes.
The stay is beautiful, and the shift makes the look comoplete. The hand embroidery is such a nice touch.