18th Century Gryffindor Concept

I love Harry Potter. I love the books, the whole world imagined by J.K Rowling, and of course, the movies. Back in spring, I finally got to join Pottermore. Since I love to know trivia facts behind stuff I love, I find the concept to be great! As any other fan, I couldn't wait to get sorted; as I told you earlier this week, I already have a Hogwarts uniform, but it is Ravenclaw. Imagine my surprise when I was sorted into Gryffindor this time! I have never thought of myself as brave, a quality I associate with that house, and I am more of a book worm, but if the sorting hat choose that house for me now, it must be for a reason. Trust the hat!

This of course means I need a new uniform. Am I going to make a second screen accurate uniform to match my new house? Why would I when I can go a creative with a completely different type of uniform!

This idea is inspired by Lis' own Hufflepuff Steampunk Uniform: when she was sorted into Hufflepuff on Pottermore, she decided to go Steampunk instead of screen accurate.

After considering making a medieval uniform (after all, Hogwarts was founded around the 9th or 10th century), but in the end, the design I came up with is 18th century, inspired by this trio of Alchemists.

18th century Gryffindor Student concept

The concept is for a black polonaise, with a grey compère front and matching grey petticoat with ruffles. The dress is trimmed in burgundy red and gold, the household's colours and there is a Gryffindor patch on the left hand side of the bodice. For modesty's sake, students are required to wear a white scarf. Following the current trend, the witch's hat is a small tricorne worn atop the hairdo.

I don't know when I will get to this costume, but I felt it was time for me to sketch it out. So what do you think?

Queen of Hearts concept

Back in August of last year, when I was still floating on cloud nine after a great Masquerade with my daughter, and wondering what to make for Montreal ComicCon for my daughter and I, I decided some cartoon character (with less detail to their costumes) would be ideal. I have never been a great fan of the Queen of hearts, but I thought my daughter would look adorable as Alice in a light blue dress and white apron, so that is what I began planning for. While searching for photos to inspire me, I found this one of Terri Hatcher as the Queen of Hearts.

Terri Hatcher as the Queen of Hearts

This got me thinking that I did not necessarily have to go down the Disney road and do a perfect reproduction of the 1951 movie’s Character, but that I could in fact get creative and do a completely original concept.

Queen of Hearts, Alice in Wonderland (1951)

As we all know, I lost my job and the convention did not happen for me, but I still worked on a few concepts that I would like to share with you.

All of these concepts share the same gold and black chevron skirt and parti-coloured red and black open and trained overskirt trimmed with white fur, as well as a mini gold crown with four red heart-shaped gems around its circumference.

Concept 1

It consists of a parti-coloured red and black sweet heart bustier, laced in the back, with opposite parti-coloured open bolero jacket with white fur cuffs and white standing collar.

Concept 2

It consists of a parti-coloured red and black sweet heart bustier, laced in the back, with opposite parti-coloured bolero jacket with triple opposite colour frog closure at front and finger loops at each cuff. The white standing collar is separate from the jacket and is integrated with the necklace.

Concept 3

It consists of a parti-coloured red and black sweet heart long sleeved bodice, laced in the back, with detachable white standing collar, puff-and-slash sleeves and pleated and starched white cuffs.

Concept 4

It consists of a parti-coloured red and black sweet heart bustier, laced in the back, with opposite parti-coloured bolero jacket with metallic colour frog closure at front, at the under bust level, white standing collar, puff-and-slash sleeves and finger loops at each cuff

Fabrics I would wish to use are Dupioni silk for the skirt, satin for the collar, and velvet for everything black and red, though I could also use satin or Dupioni silk for the corseted bodice for more of a contrast with the bolero jacket.

In the hair department, I had looked at these two wig options:

Wig option 1

Wig option 2

The black curly wig I would use for some sort of an up-do, but I also like the more vampiric look of the second wig.

To be honest, my favourite concept in number 4. I like the bolero jacket over the laced bustier, and I also like the puff-and-slash sleeves. I really hope I can make it one of these days. And of course, I will have Alice with me.