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Rory’s Persephone
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Outline the story …
Persephone’s story is detailed in a 1866 poem by Algernon Charles Swinburne, “The Garden of Proserpine”. In the poem Persephone is said to be the Goddess of Spring, before becoming the wife of Hades, the God of the Underworld. I wanted to design a look for Persephone, using the flowing white drapery we have come to connect with the Grecian pantheon. The poem tells us that Persephone kept a garden in the underworld, she was able to keep growing plants even immersed in death. Springtime growth and the life symbolized in a garden, directly contrast her life in the underworld, surrounded by death. The bodice of the gown has embroidery and designs that show floral imagery; the designs looking almost “wheat-like,” to show this contrast against the blackness. I wanted her gown to reflect her soul, being slowly overcome by death and darkness. Her flowing white robes, symbolizing innocence, absorbing the blackness of the underworld. I wanted the black on the fabric to seem at though she was standing in the lake of lost souls and it was seeping slowly upward, as she gives in to the sorrow.
Outline the construction…
I used 15 yards of white silk chiffon for the skirt. I wanted long thin white flowing fabric. I cut the chiffon into squares, pulling them up at the center to create long line shapes. There were many hours of serging to insure that my chiffon would not unravel. I wanted to make the bodice look as though the appliqué was sitting on the skin without a backing. To achieve this, I used a thin mesh, matched to the skin, to create a "see-through" backing for the bodice (similar to wig-lace). I then attached a white "cape" to the edges of the bodice, creating the Greecian Godlike drapery on the back of the gown. I used black Rit Pro Dye to create the ombré effect. I wanted the black dye to look less smooth and more "thick." I created this effect by choosing not to rinse the dye out of the fabric after dying. This gave the black dye more of a "messy" look and less soft and even. It took 4 hours to dye the blackest part on the bottom of the gown. I used the same techniques for the cape.
I can totally see someone get married in this!
This dye is so effectful!
I love that we were both inspired by the character of Persephone and both have ombre dyed skirts but such different looks. Your dye came out beautifully and I love the skirt shape and layers
Gorgeous! And the dye work is flawless
This looks so cool! The black dye on the white fabric just add the right effect of death and sorrow slowly taking over – this is really well thought out and creative. I love the gown!
Looks great! Good luck Rory!
Beautiful! I love this take on Persephones tale. This ensemble is breathtaking.
This looks great! I really like the bodice and the black at the bottom of the dress.
Beautiful work with the dye! It’s a very effective technique to achieve the feeling you were looking for, and I love what you did with the mesh on the bodice, it looks very organic, well done!