Cruella Costume
“I’m Just Getting Started Darling”
-Cruella (2021)
The Project
I was looking for a challenge and wanted to try my hand at making a costume. I had recently watched Cruella(2022) and loved the outfits in it, and decided to make one of them, specifically the dress from the scene in which she gets on top of the Baronesses' car.
My Approach
I began by researching the dress and finding out how the crew went about it, and looking at patterns and amounts of fabric I would need. One of the first things I realized was that if I didn't want to spend a small fortune on fabric I would need to shorten the length of the skirt.
Bumps in the road
I had to modify the top quite a bit after realizing I had underestimated the weight the jewelry would add and how it would balance and pull the top. I adapted the top by using mostly costume jewelry found at charity shops, allowing my budget (and my back) to not suffer greatly while also allowing for a larger deal of bedazzlement.
The Final Product
I used layering for the organza to achieve a wonderful gradient effect similar to that in the movie, as well as a lesser amount of jewelry to allow for comfort while retaining the inspiration. I used a skirt of mine for the pattern and had it button up the front to make it easier to wear.
Bumps in the road
A bump - or maybe a fold in the road - this certainly tested my sewing skills and machine!
Lessons Learned, Things to do differently
I learned quite a bit about underestimating the ease of a project, and also about perseverance. To finally complete the outfit I crafted over 500 individual bundles of organza for the skirt, and it took both an insane amount of time, but also patience.
