FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
The Once and Future King’s Guinevere
Outline the story …
I was really inspired by the clothing descriptions in the Once and Future King by T. H. White and how vivid they were. I designed five characters from the book and then ended up creating the actual costume for Guinevere. I designed her costume loosely based on medieval clothing, but because her character is so well known in common culture I took a lot of liberties on fabric and sewing methods etc. I was inspired by the descriptions of her deep, clear blue eyes that are said to be fearless and startling. I wanted the dress to be both calming and powerful. This dress would be right after she became queen when she was young, naïve, and just beginning to enjoy life as Queen. The blue linen fabric reflects her natural beauty and the gold, velvet, and fur represent the wealth of her position.
Outline the construction…
This was the biggest project I had undertaken in which the entire dress was a drafting of my own pattern, and one that I was created from a rendering I had done. One of my goals for this project was to not just use what I had, but to challenge myself to create a 3-dimensional garment as close to the 2-D one as possible. There were certain things that were omitted, like the beading across the majority of the dress, but also things I may not have otherwise attempted like the beading on the chest. I had beaded jewelry pieces, but never directly onto fabric. In fact I make a beaded necklace and earrings in this design that helped to bring a little more color into the outfit. I used ties to lace up the sides and back of the dress, which worked but with the addition of the cape became quite heavy. With the embellished chest piece over the top of the dress it provided more support for the weight of the cape. Another challenge was the sleeves. They ended up sitting off the shoulder more than I had originally intended but it adds to Guinevere's image as a lover of Lancelot. I enjoyed the experimentation that came with this project and all the new materials and techniques I was challenged by. I also added a crown, rings and cross necklace that I did not make as accessories.
Smart combination of techniques. Wonderful colours.
A really beautiful gown, you matched your sketch very well! It suits and fits you perfectly! I love the colours and the beading.
Love the beads detail! Those colors are wonderful together♡
The beading is wonderful! The colors blend well together and the fit is quite nice.
The blue and gold colours go together very well and I love the design with the fur trim of the cloak! Well done for tackling all these new skills, and you made the necklace too! Lovely beading work!
I love your details, with the beading and fur trim. Just perfect.