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PART 1: EASY BALLGOWNS

WHAT IS A BALLGOWN?

BIG, DRAMATIC SKIRT
STRUCTURED AND FITTED BODICE (CORSET)

EX: THINK DISNEY PRINCESSES, BRIDGERTON, OR ANOTHER RPG CHARACTER.

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BALLGOWN BASICS

BODICE: IS DESIGNED TO FIT SNUGGLY AROUND THE TORSO AND CAN, IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES OFFER SUPPORT TO THE TORSO AS WELL. THE BODICE IS QUITE FLEXIBLE IN DESIGN. YOU CAN DO ALMOST ANYTHING FROM CHANGING THE NECKLINE TO ADDING SLEEVES.
SKIRT: HAS A LOT OF MOVEMENT AND FLEXIBILITY. CAN BE DONE AS A CIRCLE SKIRT AND CAN BE MADE OUT OF MANY MATERIALS.
POCKETS ARE OPTIONAL. (ARE THEY THOUGHT?????)

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TYPES OF BALLGOWNS

CLASSIC WAIST: THIS IS THE DESIGN OF MOST PRINCESS GOWNS AND ARE TYPICALLY A LARGE SKIRT THAT BEGINS AT THE NATURAL WAIST.

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EMPIRE WAIST

EMPIRE WAIST: THE WAISTLINE OF THE DREES IS RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE BUST INSTEAD OF AT THE WAIST. THINK REGENCY AND BRIDGERTON.

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BASQUE WAIST

THE WAIST LINE OF THIS BODICE DROPS TO A POINT IN THE FRONT. THIS ELONGATES THE TORSO AND GIVES THE ILLUSION OF A SMALLER WAIST.

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SCAR’S BEGINNERS HACKS

START WITH A SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE FABRIC LIKE BROADCLOTH OR MUSLIN. IT’S EASY TO SEW AND LESS SLIPPERY!
PETTICOATS ARE A MUST! A PETTICOAT OR A HOOP SKIRT WILL MAKE YOUR GOWN LOOK FULL AND FLOWY WITH ALMOST NO EFFORT.
IF YOU ARE HESITANT ABOUT MAKING A DRESS FROM SCRATCH, THRIFT AND OLD PROM DRESS AND EXPERIMENT WITH IT!
HORSEHAIR BRAID IN THE HEM OF THE DRESS ADDS EXTRA SWOOSH WITHOUT ADDING LAYERS.

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BALLGOWN PATTERNING

START WITH SIMPLE PATTERNS THAT ARE MARKED ‘EASY’ OR ‘BEGINNER’ INSTEAD OF TRYING TO DRAFT ONE BY HAND. COSTUME GOWNS ARE USUALLY PRETTY SIMPLE TO FOLLOW.
LOOK FOR BRANDS LIKE SIMPLICITY OR MCCALLS FOR THE EASIEST PATTERNS
ALL PATTERNS CAN BE MODIFIED TO FIT BETTER AND PROPERLY!

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SCAR’S BIG SECRET!!

THE BIGGER THE SKIRT, THE SMALLER THE WAIST LOOKS! ITS PURE OPTICAL ILLUSION!

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CORSET BASICS

WHAT IS A CORSET?

A CORSET IS A STRUCTURED CLOTHING THAT SHAPES THE BODY.

CORSETS ARE NOT SCARY!! AND THEY ARE QUITE COMFORTABLE WHEN WORN PROPERLY. A CORSET IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT TO THE TORSO AND THE GARMENT ITSELF.

CORSETS SHOULD NOT BE TOO TIGHT AND SHOULD NOT MAKE YOU FAINT!

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CORSET TYPES- OVERBUST

OVERBUST: THIS CORSET COVERS AND PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THE BUST AND IS THE MOST COMMON TO USE IN BALLGOWNS.

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UNDERBUST

AN UNDERBUST CORSET STOPS JUST UNDERNEATH THE BUST. IT IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE TORSO BUT NOT COMPRESS THE BUST.

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WASPIE

A WASPIE IS ESSENTIALLY JUST A CORSET BELT. IT IS DESIGNED TO SINCH THE WAIST AND IS ONLY A FEW INCHES IN HEIGHT.

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PORCELAIN CORSET

THIS CORSET IS NOT DESIGNED FOR SUPPORT. ITS MAIN PURPOSE IS TO BE A STATEMENT PIECE.

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ANATOMY OF A CORSET

CORSETS ARE TYPICALLY COMPRISED OF 2-3 LAYERS.
THE OUTER LAYER: THE LAYER THAT YOU WANT ON DISPLAY
THE STRENGTH LAYER: THIS LAYER GIVES THE CORSET ITS STRENGTH TO HOLD ITS SHAPE.
THE LINING LAYER: THIS IS THE LAYER THAT WILL BE AGAINST YOUR SKIN SO MAKE SURE ITS NOT ITCHY OR IRRITATING.
BONING- THIS HELPS TO GIVE THE CORSET STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT THE TORSO DURING WEAR.

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BONING

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF BONING THAT ARE USED IN CORSETS.

SPIRAL STEEL BONING: THIS BONING IS COMPRISED OF 2 OR MORE STEEL COILS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESSED TOGETHER AND THEN FLATTENED. IT PROVIDES MORE RIGIDITY AND IS IDEAL FOR LONG LASTING CORSETS. THIS BONING CANNOT BE MACHINE SEWN AND SHOULD BE USED WITHIN A BONING CHANNEL.
RIGILENE BONING/ PLASTIC BONING: THIS BONING IS MADE UP OF FINE, PLASTIC THREADS, SIMILAR TO FISHING LINE, AND THEY ARE SECURED TOGETHER USING FABRIC OR THREAD. THIS BONING CAN BE SEWN INTO THE GARMENT.

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CORSETS ARE A BLANK CANVAS

ONCE YOUR CORSET IS MADE, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH IT. ADD EMBROIDERY, EMBELLISHMENTS, BEADING, RHINESTONES, ETC.
USE RIBBON OR DOUBLE FOLD BIAS TAPE FOR YOU LACE UP. IT IS MORE DURABLE AND WILL PROLONG THE LIFE OF THE CORSET.

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SCAR’S CORSETING TIPS AND TRICKS

FIND A PATTERN THAT YOUB LIKE! SIMPLICITY AND MACCALLS HAVE GREAT ONES! ETSY DOES AS WELL!

NO FANCY FABRIC FIRST! START WITH COTTON, DENIM OR TWILL! GET THE PATTERN DOWN FIRST BEFRORE ATTEMPTING

TO SEW A FULL CORSET

YOU DON’T NEED TO USE STEEL BONING RIGHT AWAY! PLASTIC BONING OR ZIP TIES WORK JUST AS WELL.

LACING TIP: LACE THE CORSET LIKE A SHOELACE. STARTING AT THE TOP AND WORKING YOUR WAY DOWN. DO NOT TIGHTEN

IT RIGHT AWAY. ONLY TIGHTEN WHAT YOU NEED TO GET THE LACES THROUGH ALL THE LOOPS OR GROMMETS. THEN YOU CAN

TIGHTEN. THIS WILL GIVE YOU A MORE EVEN LACE UP AND A MORE COMFORTABLE FIT.

IF YOU’RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH HAVING SKIN SHOWING THROUGH THE LACES, ADD A MODESTY PANEL TO

REST AGAINST YOUR SKIN.

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