Sew Susan

Next up is Cinderella! It so happens that my little sister Becky is the same size as this production’s Cinderella, so I took the opportunity of her visit from NC to dress Becky up in two of Cindy’s looks. So convenient!

The first look is the opening look - cute blue blouse, cute corset style medium brown bodice with magical swirl embroidery you’ll see again (spoilers!), a dark brown skirt that I’m leaving unhemmed to let it weather and distress naturally, and a lighter brown subtly-patterned apron that I’ve intentionally distressed with hopes that it naturally distresses some more.

The second look I have ready to share is for act 2 when Cindy escapes the castle to go back into the woods incognito. She’s trying to look like her former poor, neglected self, but the castle has slightly nicer options for her. So her bodice and blouse are the same, but the skirt is nicer (you guys, this fabric Kate and Gwyn found is to DIE for). The contrast between the browns of the bodice and skirt wasn’t enough so I added a swag’d dark brown apron. It’s not done yet, hence all the pins helping keep the “effortlessly” draped look stay in place. It’ll eventually have straps like an apron to tie into a bow in the back.

Costuming for Californians from Virginia comes with certain challenges, so I try to make pieces adjustable by using corset lacing features and strategic elastic. I’m leaving the skirt unfinished enough at the waistline inside that my local seamstress helpers can adjust the elastic as needed. The blue bodice has exposed and generous seam allowances that can be let out a little if needed.

The very first costume piece I started working on for Imagination Theater - New’s production of Into the Woods was the Witch’s hag cloak. The base of this monster is a black hooded cloak with sleeves. I snipped and ripped and ruffled more than 100 yards of 3” strips to layer all over for this dark and moody camouflage effect.

My inspiration was Broadway Elphaba’s gown. Her gown doesn’t have a hood, so ours is instantly cooler. I ruffled and gathered a ton of tulle for the outside of the hood. The hood is supported with an arc of boning around the front. You’ll also see a clump of tulle at the front that has lines and lines of fishing wire encased. I originally thought that’d be enough to give the hood the lift and structure I wanted, but that was insanely time consuming and not as strong as needed. I’m curious to see how the lights catch the fishing line. The sleeves are shrouded with more tulle tubes, twisted around the base sleeves for a cook effect.

Our gown has lacing in the back for a better fit, adjustable so the actress can account for whatever they wear underneath. It closes with magnets down the front so they can rip it off in a cool quick reveal. It’s crazy heavy, so one might need a stage hand to grab the back of the shoulders to help or something. Grace shall demonstrate in the comments…