However long you have been sewing or designing for there is always something new to learn. This year I've been on a mission to improve and expand on my skills sewing stretch fabrics and underwear. While I've been making gowns and corsets for many years, stretch fabrics and underwear (other than corsets) haven't featured regularly in my designs since back in the late 90s when I was making goth and cyber style designs.
When burlesque and circus performer Sian Brigid commissioned me to make her black costume (above, photo by Purvore Photography), consisting of an underbust corset, g-string, bra and gauntlets, she kindly agreed to be my guinea pig while I got back into the swing of sewing stretch fabrics and taught myself new underwear construction skills.
Sian was so happy with her costume that she immediately commissioned a second costume! This one was for her bubble act. My brief was that it had to be white, sparkly and ethereal. Together we designed an asymmetrical body cage, held together with white flower appliques and covered in clear and ab stones, a lace skirt that transformed from a halterneck dress, and a removable long lace cape with a hood for her entrance. I talk about all the details of the layers and how they transform in the video below and then keep scrolling for some detail photos of the outfit, and some incredible shoot photos by Eunie Kim Photography
You can buy the appliques and crystals that I used on this costume on my website - follow the links below! The white lace, lycra and elastic were from Spotlight.
Floral appliques. I used white.
Wing appliques. I used white.
Clear rhinestones. I used mainly ss20, ss16 and ss12 with a few ss30s
Ab rhinestones. I used mainly ss20, ss16 and ss12 with a few ss30s.
I put the rhinestones on with E6000 fabri-fuse and a wax pencil.
I LOVE both of my costumes so much 💖 it’s such a pleasure to be your guinea pig and I can’t wait to see what we do next!!