B is for Briar Rose

I've always felt that Sleeping Beauty is the true masterpiece of all the old school Disney classics. The gorgeous gothic-inspired animation, Tchaikovsky's music, dark evil versus inspiring good...

All that being said, a friend of mine and some of her friends have been planning a group costume for Comic Con of the Three Good Fairies from Sleeping Beauty, and she asked if I would consider being their Briar Rose. I can't go to Comic Con this year, but I'm determined to make it for 2013, so there's a good chance this project will go forward in the future.

Aww, isn't she pretty?

I love Briar Rose's costume. I love it much more than Princess Aurora's gown, later in the movie, which was always too... pointy for my tastes (pink or blue).

What do I love about this costume?

(1) It looks comfortable.

(2) It comes in blessed solids (colors and textures).

(3) It's iconic.

The hardest aspect is the skirt. I never really noticed until I began working on this post how there are inverted pleats on the front and sides. I'd have to watch the movie to see if they're in the back too, but even if they were, I'd probably leave the back plain for my purposes.

I started browsing basic skirt patterns and was delighted to come upon this gem:

Pattern, Skirt and Blouse: Simplicity 2758

The "D" skirt has front pleating that's nigh on perfect for Briar Rose's skirt, and though the skirt isn't long enough, and there's still the sides  to consider, it could serve as a guide for how to do those pleats and make the skirt charmingly "screen accurate"

The best part? It comes with a blouse pattern that is just right for Briar Rose as well, including the gently ballooned sleeves. Her shirt doesn't button up in the front, but really I think that's because her shirt is animated and thereby not subject to the laws of physics. I suppose it could button up in the back, but that doesn't make sense either, considering the style of her collar.

Pattern, Corset: McCall's M4107

There are actually quite a lot of corset patterns out there, but this one I already have in my collection.

Fabric: Ah, the blessed easy part. Solid colors! Non-satin fabrics! I would probably get soft cottons for everything, and something with a nice flowy drape for the skirt.

 The last bits of costume would be Briar Rose's wrap, her headband, basket, and maybe a cute stuffed sidekick or two. My hair is actually about as long as hers, though darker, so I think I'd just be a brunette Briar Rose. If only real curls stayed as true and long-lasting as hers!

Speaking of realism, has anyone else found it a little bit hard to believe that the Three Good Fairies raised a baby in the woods with no one knowing and without magic for sixteen years and they never learned how to make clothes or crack an egg? As much as I love Sleeping Beauty, the writer in me has always been quite bothered by that bit. ;-)