FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
Maria’s Smaug the Dragon
(click images to to enlarge)
Outline the story …
"The Hobbit" was the first Tolkien book I ever read. My uncle gave it to me for Christmas and since then I've been a fan of his writings. Now, since the start of 2020 (even before the pandemic), I had been watching different costubers and preparing myself to sew my first garment. When lockdown started, it was the perfect excuse and since I didn’t have much money and didn't want to ask my parents for some, I went to the thrift store and bought an old bedsheet, then I went on the internet and got a free pattern for an early 20th century skirt. That was the first thing I ever made. After that, I drafted my own pattern for a pair of 18th century stays. So my sewing journey started with me jumping head first into historical sewing.
The inspiration for this gown not only comes from the incredibly immersive and detailed work of J.R.R Tolkien, but also from many of Charles Worth's gowns and other such early 20th century ballgowns. I was inspired in part by contemporary illustrations of costumes, mainly by the way they adapt the fashionable silhouette of the time with the theme of the costume (ex: the champagne / wine bottle, or the wasp). The design itself came about fairly easily, I imagined Smaug the dragon, with his distinctive gemstone and gold armor and reinvented him in dress form. The skirt pattern is a corselet skirt from the early 1900s and the bodice is self-drafted.
Outline the construction…
As far as materials goes, I had only worked with recycled materials up to this point, so buying fabric was something totally foreign to me. Also I recently moved so I didn't know where I could go buy some. Add to that the pandemic, plus lockdown, when I finally got the fabric I got to work right away. The first thing I made was the skirt. I knew that I wanted at least one part of this project to be a garment that I could wear on a daily basis, so I decided to keep it plain. Next was the bodice. Making it was not too complicated, I followed a tutorial on how to draft patterns off of yourself without a dress form, and that really simplified things since I haven’t gathered the courage yet to dive into a taille pattern. The hardest part of the bodice was figuring out the gems and stones. At first, I wanted to buy some plastic gemstones from ALiExpress but later backed down because I wouldn’t have the certainty of them getting here on time, besides I don’t feel comfortable buying from them. So I went on a wild goose chase around my city trying to find something that remotely resembled what I needed, but I found nothing. That is when I decided to make them myself. The gold stones are made of homemade air-dry clay painted gold, and the gems are made of recycled plastic bottles backed with aluminum foil and recycled cardboard.
That is so cool, I love your take on it! And the fact that the gems are melted plastic is mind blowing, I would’ve never thought of it!
Your solution for the jewels is so clever and they look so good! And I love that you left his bare patch.
That tail!!! I could see this as a period fancy dress outfit, it’s lovely. I’m impressed with your handmade horde as well!
This is whole thing is amazing but I’m struck by how cool the bodice is.
One sees the wings and the tail an is impressed, but then there is this bodice – just wow.
WOW! This bodice is AMAZING! The wings were such a smart idea – I love how cohesive the whole outfit is. Great job!
I love the elegance of this! Very art deco, 20s or 30s glam vibe dragon. And it suits you so well- great modelling!
Wonderful outfit! So distinguish and elegant and Well done. The jeweldry bodice is so pretty, and it is so remarcable that all the materials are recycled.
Muy linda tu creación Belen.
Te va a ir muy bien en la vida , sigue así .
Un besito grande 😍😍😍
I really love de bodice, and I can imagine how hard must be doing the jewelry form scratch. You have apply your imagination on that.
Well done.
That tail! Such a pretty bodice with all those jewels. That’s a lot of work.
This is a wonderful interpretation of Smaug! I really like the colours and the fabric. And the tail and the wings and… well, everything!
Awesome! Fabulous work
You are the next Carolina Herrera
Great work!!!!
Having the ability to merge a story like that with a whole dress and makeup is a talent not many people have. Also using recycled materials is a whole commitment and narrative you don’t see often. We need more people like you, who work to seize their goals with all the effort and passion they can. Keep moving forward, don’t even think to look back, your goals are there go and get them.
Mucho éxito!!!!
I love this! It’s really very well done! Thank you!
Realmente es un diseño muy lindo, muy bien logrado, ha que recorrer la foto por parte para ver cada maravilloso detalle. La modelo y autora realza el traje con su facha y elegancia. Felicitaciones, eres principiante y con pocos recursos y materiales reciclados has logrado una pieza maestra!