Halloween costume making

[tielan]

Am making a Halloween costume for a party being thrown by an American friend in Sydney (married an Aussie).

Picked out a 'Victorian Steampunk' dress - Simplicity 2172.

I started with a 'calico' or a test attempt in plain calico - which was a good thing, since I picked the wrong sizing. Apparently US size 12 is not the same as AU size 12.

Got that fixed, and now I'm having a difference of opinion about the sleeves:



On the right, a plain sleeve without the sleeve flange over the top. On the left, the sleeve flange. I'm not sure I want the flange - it's not like my shoulders need any more width (or the appearance of it). On the other hand, the plain sleeve looks...plain.

There'll be lace at the cuffs and around the collar - I skipped the contrast ruffle for the calico, since all I had was the calico fabric. I'm wondering if I can get lace for the collar. I'd rather like to make the stand-up collar in this Pirate Bridesmaid Costume.

I've also decided to shorten the sleeves as this costumer has over at steamfashion. The long sleeves are too long on me, and the size of the sleeves needs to be made smaller anyway.

So: sleeve flange or plain sleeve? Any other suggestions, comments, etc?

And while we're at costumes, a very cool link to an Offbeat Bride Wedding!

Team Awesome Wedding: San Diego Superhero Wedding

I'm not married, nor likely to be, but this would be SO MUCH FUN. And anyone I invite would totes have to come in fancy dress. Or possibly wear a mask (for my more staid sections of family).

Comments

[zillah975]

I like the sleeve with the flange! It doesn't add much width, just a bit of snap, you know? And the shorter sleeves is definitely a win. Have fun with it!

[tielan]

The general consensus seems to be that it adds snap. :)

I'll probably go with a shorter, less flare-y flange. But it's good to get opinions on it!

[beatrice_otter]

The sleeve without the flange ... seems a trifle too ordinary. Although, it's hard to tell how much of that is the calico it's made in, and the lack of lace. In the real fabrics, it might be a detail too much. Hard to say.

But it's gonna be awesome when done!

[tielan]

Thank you!

It's tricky. The calico was supposed to be mostly for fitting, but it's been a useful template of 'what can I do, what can't I do?'

[ladyjax]

I vote flange just to give it a little more kick.

[tielan]

Most people seem to think the sleeve flange is the thing, so I guess I'm going with that.

I'm definitely going to make it a little smaller though!

[copracat]

I was for voting against flange until I looked at the pattern illustration in your first link. Now I vote for the flange. It looks right. It gives the sense of a little cape.

[tielan]

Seems like the flanges have it!

[thothmes]

It does seem that the flange is winning the popular vote but if you wanted to deemphasize the shoulder, while still providing interest, you could instead consider a lace or braid attached to the bodice right where the sleeves join, and repeated on the seams that run down from the breasts on either side, perhaps a black lace or braid, to add interest without being to flashy and making extra emphasis unintentionally.

Or then you could just go with the flange, because it won the vote.

ETA: Ant icon love. My family would recognize me as the ant out-of-line. My kids used to joke that everyone should grab me and pull when we were about to pass a bookstore, so I wouldn't get sucked into its gravity.