My New Princess Costume!

I found this dress for $5 at the thrift store and I think it goes great with the crown I got from http://www.etsy.com/shop/Angamow What do you guys think? I plan on tweaking the dress a bit and adding a shimmery silver cape.







I wish the colors in the dress showed better, it's a really pretty purple flowery print on the outer layer and the under fabric is a pink satin. Any ideas on how I could princess it up would be helpful!

That's perfect Erica! What a find! I'm a costume designer for Halloween. We always "bling" up the princess dresses with shiny silver fancy trims, going along the seams and the necklines. Also, Sequin trims work well. You might get those rolls too, of cheap silver braid and run thin trim along the whole bottom. Possibly cover the straps with silver or sequin trim. Center of the empire seam in the front, add a big jewel in a finding. You can also sew some satin ribbons (1/4" or 1/8") to different spots along the empire seam (can be front only), cut them at different lengths (short to longer, beginning at center) and add jewels or small silk flowers to the ends of the ribbons. If you do flowers, brush the flower edges/tips in glue and sprinkle with silver glitter. Google "Toddler/girl princess costumes" in images and you'll see plenty of ideas for this kind of silhoette

TinafromNY wrote:That's perfect ERica! What a find! I'm a costume designer for Halloween. We always "bling" up the princess dresses with shiny silver fancy trims, going along the seams and the necklines. Also, Sequin trims work well. You might get those rolls too, of cheap silver braid and run thin trim along the whole bottom. Possibly color the straps with silver or sequin trim. Center of the umpire seam in the front, add a big jewel in a finding. Google "Toddler/girl princess costumes" in images and you'll see plenty of ideas for this kind of silhoette

I love ALL those ideas Tina! My chest is a bit to big for it to lol, any ideas on how to cover up a bit more? I will add a pic of me wearing it so you can see the areas I am unhappy with the fit. Wish I new a costume designer here. I have a friend that is a seamstress but she is uber expensive! I am trying to get this done for as cheap as possible.

Ok, please ignore my bed head lol I was up all night with my sick doggy. Here is a pic of how it fits, I can't get the zipper all the way up and had to lose the bra in order to not be exposed. Any thoughts on how to fill the back? I just dont think I will be able to find a good fabric match.

Erica - First..jsut want to say what a pretty face you have! Here's a pic of what we do on a lot of princess necklines, especially Disney Princess types. You can do this yourself if you know even the most basic hand sewing, you don't need a machine. Get some "Sparkle" tulle, make sure it's sparkle. There are different stiffnesses, the softer, the better this will work (any fabric store has sparkle tulle). Cut long strips (you many have to seam a few strips together for the length but maybe not. If you do seam them, make sure you gather the seam area, so it doesn't show. This should go all the way around the dress, not just on the front or it'll look weird. Hand gather at equal intervals, maybe 4" intervals. Tack (by the gathers) to edge of dress. Put a nice flower or jewell in the front center over the gathering. If you want, you can even put a flower and a jewel at EVERY gathered spot (this will look really nice). At the center back, just turn the edges under, gather together and tack. This edge gives the dress a princessy airy feel, but will still really cover you up a little. You'll love the look. Would love to see another picture when the dress is all blinged up and finished!!

Awe thank you Tina, that was really sweet. First, I have to find someone that can do it for me at a reasonable cost because my sewing abilities are very limited Any thoughts on the back? Like I said...the zipper only goes up about 1/2 way due to my chest. Is there a way to open it up a bit? I cant really just cut the rest of the zipper out because it would leave the back very open. I do plan on adding this cape to it to though.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hooded-Long-Sateen-Capes-Silver-Black-58-Long-Handmade-New-Ships-Free-/110965368572?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D5012934840468756207%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D3%26sd%3D251214979486%26
Whoever I find to do the alterations I will be taking your ideas with me! I like jewels better than flowers...sparkles make me

PS - just saw what you said about the back not zipping all the way up. Depending on if it's just the very top the won't zip closed and if it's not too wide an area that is exposing skin- Try adding a contrasting soft bow with long trailing ends hanging down, that velcros on AFTER you zipper the dress far up as you can. Then bring that contrasting color into the dress a little on the front, with flowers or gens or trim etc. Of course that's not the professional way to cover an edge that can't be zipped, but it's a cheap, fast, easy way to do it. Should be good enough just for gigs. Otherwise taking out a zipper and adding width is a big job (I do pattermaking and can sew any garment, so I know...trust me, do it the easy way lol)

Oh, I was typing that while you were typing yours, lol. I didn't realize it only zips 1/2 way. But if you're weating a cape and the cape doesn't ever come off, but covers it, I'd just leave it. The alterations it would take to take out the zipper and add more fabric and re zipper it are a lot. It won't be cheap at a dressmaker unless they work CHEAP. Just letting you know!

Could I just cut it out and sew the edges under and maybe add some elastic straps going across my back to make it more secure? Don't want to have any wardrobe malfunctions...lol. Or do you think that would look funky? I will post a pic of the back to so you can get a better idea of how open it is. I was unable to try it on before buying because the thrift store didn't have fitting rooms.

Ok, here is a pic of how open the back is...I have to wear a cape because of my tattoos. I will also have my hair down when I dress as a princess because I have a tattoo behind my ear that doesn't really go with the dress lol.

I love the idea of the tule trim!
Here is a way to cover this up at the back:
get a piece of fabric that matches to the color of your tule trim, or to the flowers you get to decorate it with. Preferrably some stretchy or crinkle fabric. Make sure it will loosely fill up the open back, and go under an inch or two. Hem the top of that triangle , attach it to one side and make a velcro fastening for the other side.
Get a nice ribbon to match both colors, dress and backfabric.
Attach little loops to the sides of the back , from the top of the zipper down to where you can zip it up. Do both sides.
Thread the ribbon through the loops and tie a nice bow in the middle of your back where the zip stops. That will hold your dress in place & create a flattering laced up back.

It may sound like a lot, but this actually requires very little sewing. If you can attach a button, you can do this.

it will look like this:


oh, you will need help to get in and out of this dress....

That would be very pretty Katrien!!

I just read you thought about cutting the zipper out and sewing the sides under, I don't think you need to do that, I would just leave the zip as is, it will keep the dress more solid, that zip edge will be merely like a fashion trim after you sew loops behind it. If your area is warm enough, you may get away with just the ribbon too, and leave out the extra fabric. oh, and one more tip: attach a tiny hook/loop at the top of the "end" of your zip, it will prevent the zipper of running down.

Oh wow mamakatrien, that is gorgeous! I am excited now, thank you...

Wonderful solutions! The dress looks beautiful on you and I love the colors. that is a suh-weet $5 find!

~doe~

While I love the gorgeous princess costume you will have when you are done tweaking it, I would hesitate to wear it for fear of getting face paint on it!

Miss Ronnie wrote:While I love the gorgeous princess costume you will have when you are done tweaking it, I would hesitate to wear it for fear of getting face paint on it!

After all these great ideas that everyone has given me for it I am starting to feel the same way. It was a cheap find though.

Just go for it Erica, if you get faceoaint on it , you will always be able to hide any stains by sewing glittery paillettes on it.

Or it will end up being a tie dye princess! I bought it just for face painting because I have been asked alot if I can come dressed up as a character. Seemed like mostly girl parties that have requested this so I thought this would be a great place to start... I never dress up any other time, I'm a bit of a tom boy I guess. I wear mostly jeans and band t-shirts. This will be an interesting change lol. I think I may curl my hair and wear it down because I have tattoos and my ears are gauged. I am also making some cyberlox (more my style ) The materials for them should arrive today! Any ideas for boy characters? Do any of you do a pirate or anything?

You will be a beautiful princess!! Maybe I could try being a pudgy old fairy..I have wings somewhere in my closet!!

Don't know what the washing instructions are, but I'll bet Fels Naptha could get any paint out that you get on it. I found a pair of jeans that had lots of pace paint spatters on the thigh areas and they have been washed numerous times - but I used Fels Naptha on them the other day and it all came out!

WOW! I am a thrift store junkie, and that is a find worthy of the record books!!

Such awesome ideas for tweaking it too!

I can't wait to get it fixed up! I may not even need the cape after all if I can get the back taken care of, I can always try to just cover my tattoos with paint/makeup. Not sure I will want to hide the back with a cape haha.

you will make a beautiful princess, I have been thinking of a costume, and while my gae is more queen than princess, lol, I thought maybe I can be a fairy, theres no age limit there is it? haha
so I rdered some wings from haloheaven before the sale ended, got 95 dollars worth of stuff for 59 dollars, and that includes a adorable valentines dress for my 6 year old! what a find that place is, thanks again Doe!