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Description
This is a pretty hasty (meaning an hour or two each--I'm not what you'd call 'deft' costume rendering. It was inspired by the fabulous Merimask [link] and in particular her lovely Harlequin Romance mask [link] I thought the mask was charming and classic and wanted to design a masquerade ballgown around in, and this is what I came up with.

If I were making it (which I'm not, because I would Ruin It with my inept skills) I imagine the bodice in a very thick, sleek satin or silk pieced together (as opposed to painted or printed fabric--you see why I don't have the skills to actually produce this) and boned to keep everything smooth. The overskirt would have to be a lighter silk, something fine enough to be almost sheer but still have a sheen, to get the right drape, but the frontspiece and the train would both be heavier fabrics. The train, which you can't see all of here because I ran out of page, is meant to end in a point (as you can see in the rough sketch [link] ). The sleeves are sheer, and you can see that I changed my mind about the ribbons at the elbow--I made them green to pick up on the green in the mask, then I decided that I hated it and left them white in the second view. I think it actually detracts from the mask--takes away from the impact of that swish of green stem. The red ribbons that lie along the train are what's laced through the back--they widen at the tips. Obviously it's not a functioning corset back, if this were made it would have to have a concealed side zipper.

The black dots are pom-poms. Yes, pom-poms. Little fluffy balls. Before you dismiss me in disgust (pom-poms on a ballgown? What?) there is a reason. When I think of a traditional harlequin costume it always has pom-poms on it--it's the one constant other than the diamond pattern, in my mind, so I wanted to include them. And I think it makes it quirky.

And of course it must be worn with the mask [link] and of course you must have roses in your hair, and of course you must swish around breaking hearts.

Now we'll see if I can talk myself out of designing a male costume to go with the Knave of Hearts mask [link]

Pose references from the lovely [link] and [link]

Description
This is a pretty hasty (meaning an hour or two each--I'm not what you'd call 'deft' costume rendering. It was inspired by the fabulous Merimask [link] and in particular her lovely Harlequin Romance mask [link] I thought the mask was charming and classic and wanted to design a masquerade ballgown around in, and this is what I came up with.

If I were making it (which I'm not, because I would Ruin It with my inept skills) I imagine the bodice in a very thick, sleek satin or silk pieced together (as opposed to painted or printed fabric--you see why I don't have the skills to actually produce this) and boned to keep everything smooth. The overskirt would have to be a lighter silk, something fine enough to be almost sheer but still have a sheen, to get the right drape, but the frontspiece and the train would both be heavier fabrics. The train, which you can't see all of here because I ran out of page, is meant to end in a point (as you can see in the rough sketch [link] ). The sleeves are sheer, and you can see that I changed my mind about the ribbons at the elbow--I made them green to pick up on the green in the mask, then I decided that I hated it and left them white in the second view. I think it actually detracts from the mask--takes away from the impact of that swish of green stem. The red ribbons that lie along the train are what's laced through the back--they widen at the tips. Obviously it's not a functioning corset back, if this were made it would have to have a concealed side zipper.

The black dots are pom-poms. Yes, pom-poms. Little fluffy balls. Before you dismiss me in disgust (pom-poms on a ballgown? What?) there is a reason. When I think of a traditional harlequin costume it always has pom-poms on it--it's the one constant other than the diamond pattern, in my mind, so I wanted to include them. And I think it makes it quirky.

And of course it must be worn with the mask [link] and of course you must have roses in your hair, and of course you must swish around breaking hearts.

Now we'll see if I can talk myself out of designing a male costume to go with the Knave of Hearts mask [link]

Pose references from the lovely [link] and [link]