The Broke Costumer: The Bluebird of Happiness Fancy Dress

For a local fashion show I put together, I chose Victorian Fancy Dress as my theme. Victorians loved costume parties too! The models were so creative in their choices, such as a chess game, pirate ship, marionette, photography, starry night, Anne Boleyn, duchess of desserts, and many, many more.

My choice was The Bluebird of Happiness. A few years ago, I had purchased 3 yards of Michael Miller fabric called "Bird on the Vine" for a sewing challenge. Unfortunately, the challenge was cancelled, and the fabric sat.

I liked the idea of an 18th century silhouette for my costume, and the shorter length that many fancy dress costumes seemed to have. Here are a few examples of shorter skirts.

Since I was not worried about being period correct, I chose a very easy pattern, Simplicity 4092. Instead of the back closure, I closed up the back seam, and moved the opening to the front right side of the bodice insert, which I closed with hooks and eyes. I made the yellow version, with a petticoat and overdress. For the bodice, I centered a bluebird near the center, and backed it with quilted fabric to give it body. The overdress was a pretty blue linen I bought from Val. She has the best fabric closet to shop in!

The first thing I made was the skirt. Since I only had 3 yards, I used it for the front and part of the side panels. I found a coordinating print in the same colors, and used it on the backside. To tie it together, I used the same coordinating print as the ruffle fabric. One top of the ruffle I made pleated grosgrain ribbon with tiny white trim on top. Once the polonaise was completed, it would cover the non-bluebird fabric in back. I cut about 8 inches from the bottom of the skirt.

I also cut 8 inches off of the overdress. For the trim around the neckline and down the front to the hem, I used scalloped pinking shears on contrasting fabric strips, pleated, and topped with blue grosgrain ribbon and white floral lace. The sleeves stopped just below the elbows, and I added two lace flounces, pinked fabric strips, and blue pleated grosgrain ribbon with tiny white trim on top.

Bows were added on the flounces, and finally, a little bluebird was glued on top. The overdress was pulled up a la polonaise. A bow and lace were added to the neckline.

The hat was a remake from another outfit. In an earlier post of mine a Polonaise from Georgian to Victorian I turned an 18th century outfit (purchased from Val) into a 19th century outfit. I still had the bergere hat from the original outfit. I removed the orange trim, and substituted blue trim to match the dress. Three bluebirds were added to the front. I have been trying to re-purpose what I can.

With the finished hem of the dress ending nine inches off the ground, I knew I had to decorate shoes to match. I purchased some white Victorian shoes with a slight Louis heel. I then pleated satin ribbon and hand sewed it around the shoe openings. I had to push the needle through the shoes with the back of a spoon. It took quite a while. I filled in the instep opening with lace, added organza ribbon ties and of course, more little birds.

As each model came out, I showed a slide in keeping with the theme of their costume. On my slide, I had fancy dress costumes with birds on it. Val, "Sunrise", read for me while I walked.

The costumes were all very special, so I want you to see them.