FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
The Naiad Gown
(click images to to enlarge)
Other Credits
Photography by Matthew Harquail : www.mattharquail.co.uk
Outline the story …
The Raven has delivered the message and the Kelpies were hosting the ball, in their grand underwater palaces. All fae and unseelie persons were invited, invitations stretching as far as Greece and further, so the Naiads prepared for the revelry. Crafting a gown from the shine of sun on water and the deep cool stones of the spring floor, one stepped forth.
To attend the Ravens Ball in Scotland in 2021, which had an underwater theme, I wanted a gown that would look like clothes, not a costume, but clothes not from this place and time. Given that naiads are mostly represented in art without clothes, I thought basing the outfit on 1780s underwear would be appropriate but legal! I wanted materials that would flow and move, as water is never still and that would look elegant but otherworldly.
Outline the construction…
The shift layer is made of an iridescent green chiffon, in a basic square pattern, with the sleeves exaggerated to a point to give movement to the top half of the gown It is unfitted, apart from a drawstring at the neck and a small amount of elastic at the shoulder.
The stays and the petticoat are made from a wool and silk satin. It's a dream to work with, as the wool keeps it springy so it doesn't hold an accidental crease and negates the satin's need to slide around while sewing, but it has al the high-shine of satin which was so necessary for the project.
The stays are made to the Augusta Stays pattern from Scroop, fully boned with synthetic whalebone and then bound all around with silver faux leather. The stays needed quite a few fittings to tweak the proportions, and to make sure the removal of the straps didn't affect the shape too much. As I knew I would be dancing a cèilidh in it, I needed the stays to be supportive but able to cope with a lot of dancing.
The petticoat is 5m of fabric pleated down into two waist tapes of ribbon (the same ribbon used to lace the stays) with pocket slits, because every gown needs pockets.
The embellishments are all glass or stone, picked for their watery hues and designed to look like falling drops of water made into jewels.
Beautiful and ethereal!
Stunning photos!