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50's Dress Costume

 

50's Vintage Dress

rehearsal photo by Jason McCullough

Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Amateur theatre production September 2021. 
Murray Bridge Players and Singers



Bernadette wears a vintage full skirt dress when she and the boys head into Broken Hill for a night out. 
For this dress I chose a 1954 reproduction pattern by Vogue. 
Close fitting, low neckline bodice and cap sleeve, gathered in front of upper bodice, darted at waistline, flared skirt with release pleats at waistline seam, below mid calf length and front button closure
This pattern came in 12-18. I made the size 18 which is the largest size it goes to and I had to upsize it a bit in places.
My Pret'a'template sketch of the dress I wanted to make

Vogue reproduction pattern V2960 circa 1954



Final dress without additional petticoat

I made the dress in a printed voile and lined it with a blue cotton. I added a layered tulle underskirt for fullness to give it a 50’s look. 


The underskirt is made from strips of blue net gathered onto a yoke in tiers.

I added a zip in the back because this dress is a costume and needed to be easy to put on in a hurry.
I changed the neckline on the front and back because it is very wide and too low at the back for my purpose. 
I did make the bound buttonholes and was very happy with my effort but they don't actually function because I didn't bother to cut them as I had the zip, also the busy print I choose makes them invisible and rather pointless. I did it as a learning exercise for me even though I knew they wouldn't be visible. 

finished buttonholes with buttons attached

each button hole has its own facing.
the bound buttonholes disappear into the busy print
the buttonhole opening is hand stitched down before topstitching around the outside
centre back zip
the lining was added so the front button opening still works

This dress was made for a male actor playing the role of a transgender character. Fitting a male torso into a 1950's reproduction dress was challenging. Under the dress he wore a bra with padding built in.

Rehearsal photo by Jay Birdy Photography - 
Thong dress by Mari and costume on right by Trent - Drag Queen wigs by Trent

rehearsal photo by Jason McCullough

Rehearsal photo by Jay Birdy Photography
Rehearsal photo by Jay Birdy Photography
rehearsal photo by Jason McCullough


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