1770's The Ghost of Versailles
This is one of the costumes from the Opera The Ghost Of Versailles.
This is exceptionally dramatic and bold costume designed and constructed to be viewed from 100 or more metres aways. All fabrics were chosen for there transparent qualities, layered and dyed to exist within a monochromatic palette. The Concept behind this opulent lady is that met her fate in a clock tower the ghost is over run with spiders and webs. She has a very industrial hard metal aesthetic inspired by the beautiful machinery of the clock towers from the period.
These are some close up views of the art finishing details.This garment was built from the foundations up the Stomacher, Pannier's and bloomers where all involved an extensive amount of Fabric dying, manipulation and layering of textiles, painting and airbrushing, the textiles used where all of a transparent nature so the costume could be illuminated and glow like a ghost on the opera stage.
These are some close up views of the art finishing details. This is an image of how layered the transparent fabrics where and the stitching detail to create the cobwebbed ghostly effect.
These are some close up views of the art finishing details. This is a close of the Stomacher detail a common garment in the ladies dress of this period the 1770's this meant women could change the stomacher detail at the front to create different looking outfits. The robe is then pinned to the stomacher traditionally. An extensive amount of Fabric dying, manipulation and layering of textiles, painting and airbrushing was applied to this garment to achieve a bold and dramatic effect on the opera stage.
These are some close up views of the art finishing details. A lot of trimming in this period of the 1770's were flounces horizontally layed across this front skirt panel of the main dress fabric. I have involved a lot of silver and diamond like jewels to capture the light and elude to the industrial monochromatic style of the design and also to show this once opulent society ladies wealth. The Front Skirt has been airbrushed and all trims have been dyed to give the costume depth. Such dramatic art finishing is necessary with an audience so far away. The Front Skirt Panel has a pattern of cogs worked into the fabrics symbolic of of the clock tower this character was murdered.
This Is a close up detail of the head piece i made for the costume. Built up from a fosshape base and then crafted transparent thin plastic that would be illuminated when back lit. The large spider was fashioned out of an umbrella and bejewelled to sparkle in the light. This hair style was referenced from classic hairstyles from the period which where all similarly over bearing.
A close up of the spider head piece detail.
