~My Elena Gown ~

                                             Spanish Ball Gown 1840’s

 I enjoy all the costumes in the Zorro movies, but my favorite has always been Elena’s red and black gown that she wears while dancing with Zorro.

 I had the opportunity to create crocheted lace while recovering from an ankle injury two summers ago and this dress was the perfect design to use it on .Although my fabrics are  slightly different due to budget I tried to get my gown as close to the original as possible. I’ve included lots of close up pictures and research photos of Elena’s gown.

Dress Description:

The Bodice –The bodice is made from a tapestry style fabric and it fully boned to give it a corset like appearance. In the front of the bodice the point and the neckline are all trimmed with piping of the same color. The scoop neckline is trimmed in gold and black lace that I gathered around the front The black and gold lace was very fun to make. I used a gold fabric paint stick and just started coloring! The center back laces with black grommets and cording that I laced up corset fashion.

The Skirt- The underskirt is tiered with four layers of cream-colored ruffles. Each ruffled tier is trimmed in crocheted black lace and handmade red ribbon roses. The overskirt is made from a black taffeta style fabric and is split in front to allow the underskirt to show.

The Petticoat-The petticoat…. I used 23 yards of netting and lots of lace to make this very full and perfect for dancing petticoat. Layers if cream lace make up the ruffles and the netting was carefully applied to give the correct fullness.

The Corset-Well I originally made this corset to be worn with the gown...,but alas that was not to be. I found that this style of bodice looked much better with a built in corset. So I still have the first corset and use it for Civil War styles and displays....It was a lot of fun to make and I was so pleased with how the embroidery looked.

  Many thank to threadsofelena.com for the movie stills and ideas 

Posted by Jocelyndixon at 21:29

I LOVE it!! I don't think it's me but I LOVE it!! You did an AWESOME job!! You are SOOOOO talented!!

How much did it cost to make the petticoat/corset? how much would you charge?

I am going to make a civil war ball gown and would like a corset and petticaot... but I need some info...

A+++++++++++

Love,
Jocelyn

Posted by Jocelyndixon at 21:36

Here is the dress I'm making:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Butterick-6693-Civil-War-Era-Ball-
Gown-Misses-6-10_W0QQitemZ190086302280QQih
Z009QQcategoryZ116690QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

I spaced it so make sure you got the whole code!!

Love,
Jocelyn

Posted by Jocelyndixon at 22:09

Yes, do email me about whatever! TTYL!!

Love,
Jocelyn

Posted by Rose at 01:49

Hello Brielle,
Thank you for the comment.
Your petticoat looks white in that picture. Very nice.
Rose

Posted by Faith1 at 17:49

Beautiful dress! It looks almost exactly like the one in the movie. Keep up the good work!

Posted by BetsyRoss at 12:15

My computer won't stop calling me BetsyRoss because we did something with Bekbins blog on it, so I'm Zeus. My mom wanted me to tell you that in 10 years it won't be Vera Wang it will be A.E.

Posted by Jocelyndixon at 22:52

My goat had her kids... Stop by soon!

Love,
Jocelyn

Ps. stop by SAMIAM's blog and look at her white Eowyn gown!!

Posted by LauraE67 at 11:56

Hi, this is Laura. Thank you for your comment. Do you sew? I LOVE to sew! I have made 2 costumes, and lots of everyday clothing. Sewing is fun! Do you like Little House? Comment back soon!
love,
Laura
P.S. If you do sew, what kind of sewing machine do you have?

Posted by BetsyRoss at 13:48

How did you get your corset to look so nice???? My mom and I made mine and it is definetely something just to shape you, not to see......

Posted by Faith1 at 13:52

Thanks for commenting on my blog!~Faith

Posted by DragonMaster12 at 14:51

Hey again, thanks for the comment. Yeah the two birds that died had broken rib bonrs and neck bones, so Feburary was your birthday huh? You're 17 now right? That's a nice age. Happy birthday anyway. Like your entry, the dress is pretty.

Heather

Posted by Jocelyndixon at 09:52

Just stopping in to see if you had anything new!
Thank you for your comment. I really am thankful for friends like you.

I'll email you soon...

Love,
Jocelyn

Posted by LauraE67 at 13:53

Hi Brielle,
I love sewing, too and in fact, today my sweing advisor (well I wouldn't call her that, she's a really good friend of mine) was going to come over to sew with me but she was busy. I have a BabyLock sewing machine that embroiders. The two costumes I have made were a Little House on the Prairie dress and a colonial dress, like the American Girl doll, Felicity. I can't sew as well as you do (as I have seen in your pictures) but my really good friend I was talking about (Diane is her name) says that by the time I am like 14, I will be sewing better than she can. I'm not so suer,but she's been sewing for a LONG time and she should know, and I trust her, too.
That's all for now.
Love,
Laura
P.S. what kind of embroidery machine does your grandma have? Also, I have a Pfaff serger.

Posted by DragonMaster12 at 14:58

Hello Brielle, so you have a twin brother? Lucky you I have no brothers. Well, did you get Ellen's dress pictures off the internet? It really is a pretty dress, thanks for the comment, I enjoy your visits to my kingdom. Oh and did my youtube thing on my entry work at all?

Posted by oneoffive at 11:10

Wow those dresses are amzing! Very pretty....~Ann~

Posted by ChristineDaae at 13:40

Hi! Great blog! I love all your pictures of costumes, but I especially lik this one of Elena's gown. I just watched the Zorro movies. I really like them. By the way I have seen the Horatio Hornblower movies and I can't wait to see what you come up with for those. Do you want to be friends?
-Christine

Posted by horses4ever23 at 10:49

wow, thats just so perty!!!!! :D haha, wish I had it. =P