ARWEN
MOURNING GOWN
RESEARCH
THE GOWN
According to ACS-LOTR Costumes Research
"Black velvet gown that is reminiscent of a human cotehardie mixed with elven
styles. Wider and deeper neckline than most. A curved "V" neck. It opens at
center with a triangle wedge if bright red fabric. A number if buttons run down
the front. Red sash belt, Wide elven sleeves....She also wears a long shear veil
of black silk chiffon, It is a long rounded rectangle that hang down to at least
mid-thigh in back...She is seen wearing a long, hooded dark cloak in the woods
in the tail of this scene. It appears to be velvet. Hood may be "Kilsdale" type"
According to various reports that fellow costumers had done on this dress upon
seeing the original, the dress is made of Midnight Blue Silk Velvet with the
trimmings some kind of Indian Bullion and Beaded Trimmings.
But since there is little chance of me getting the exact color for the Silk
Velvet here in Singapore, I had used 3m of Black Silk Velvet, bought at Arab
Street for SGD11/m (Original Price SGD15/m) for the sleeves and 6 yards of
Midnight Blue/Black Jersey Velvet, bought at People's Park Shopping Centre for
SGD9/yard (Original Price SGD12/y) for the body part of the dress. The
difference in type of fabrics used for the dress was due to the limited amount
of "cheap" Silk Velvet available in Singapore.
For the Red Insert and Base of the Trimmings (which was custom-made by my
seamstress with Gold Threads), I had used Red Cotton, while the Sash is made
from Red Silk Satin, gotten at SGD5/m, both bought from Arab Street. As for the
Lining of the dress, I used Dark Blue Silk Satin for the Sleeves and Delfino
Silky Deluxe Habutae for the body part of the dress.
Buttons are the same kind as used on the original gown and acquired from USA
with the help of Cat of Alleycatscratch LOTR Website.
Unfortunately, due to time constraint, the dress had to be tailor made by my
seamstress at the cost of SGD270, inclusive of the cost of making the Trimming
(Which was SGD70 on its own)
THE VEIL & CROWN
In the funeral scene, Arwen is also seen wearing a
Black Veil with the Crown of the Queen of Gondor. Silk Chiffon was used for the
original veil but siunce I haven't find the fabric in Singapore (yet!), I had
used Polyester Chiffon bought at SGD3.50/m from Arab Street. I simply had the
raw sides of the fabric sew using Rolled Seam.
I also bought a Black-Grey transition Polyester Chiffon from another store to
use as a more weathered look veil.
For the crown, I'm currently using Gold Vancard Sheet with the design created
suing 3D Paint and Paint Marker Pen, A few layers of Krylon and a layer of
Scotch Tape finish off the crown to make it more durable (and immune to my
regular sweating!)
Last updated on 30th June 2007.
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