Description
With the Snowberries gothic fantasy dress, I wanted to create something that could belong to an art nouveau illustration of a fairy tale, like those of Edmond Dulac. I used different materials with contrasting texture to bring to life the textures, and to portray the diaphanous quality of ice and the softness of a snow blanket. All with one of my signature corset bases and the back spiral lacing on hand-embroidered eyelets. The shaping of a corset, with a super smooth outer look. It also draws inspiration from Sleepy Hollow.
Since the photos were taken, the dress has been altered. I have added more chenille and some gold-leafed vines with a 3D effect on the shoulders, together with red berries and light pastel color accents on the fabrics. The mannequin photos show the dress in its updated version.
The dress
Although it feels super soft to the touch, the Snowberries gothic fantasy dress is built around a strong corset foundation. On top of it, there are more than 30 meters of hand-dyed cheesecloth forming the sleeves and skirt, which I also lined with a non-sheer fabric. The skirt lining has a slit starting just above the knee.
I covered the bodice in the softest cotton velvet. It closes at the back with hand-sewn eyelets and spiral lacing, giving the dress the structure of a corset without making it look like an undergarment.
The embellishment of the bodice itself is my favorite part. I crocheted an irregular black chenille cord and then applied it by hand. I also added ombré-dyed glass beads in red and yellow to create the snowberries.
The dress may look white in the photos, but it is not. I ombré-dyed dyed and hand-painted both the cheesecloth and the velvet to keep the colors consistent and give depth and realism to the snowy effect. In person, the Snowberries fantasy dress will look mostly white, but the colors and details are more visible than they appear in the photographs. Under different lighting, it can also read differently.
Measurements
In the photos I am wearing the Snowberries gothic fantasy dress myself, and it is also worn by a model with measurements close to mine. I will include both the measurements of the dress and those of the models.
Models’ bust measurements: 87–102 cm
Waist measurements: 68–82 cm
Height: 160–165 cm
The dress can fit a slightly taller person. You can also wear it with wider measurements by adding a tank top to cover the back gap. Slightly smaller measurements can work as well, and you can add padding to the bust area if needed.
The inside of the dress measures 66 cm at the waist and 84 cm at the bust.
Other information
The Snowberries gothic fantasy dress is ready to ship.
I only recommend dry cleaning for this garment.
The bottom hem of the dress is not hemmed. This is a feature, rather than a flaw: the gradual unraveling will make it look even more “true” to the snowy, slightly eerie feel of the costume. Please be careful and lift the skirt when walking on asphalt or rough surfaces.
This dress is part of the UNICUM series, which means only one of these dresses will ever exist and I will not make another one.
