So I went to my first Comic Con- The Phoenix ComicCon (2014). I've always wanted to go to a Con but stuff keeps coming up and happening and I do this thing several days a week called "work" and it can interfere. I only went Saturday because the husband "wasn't sure" back in December that we'd be able to make it and made me wait to buy the tickets (Hey, guess what? Our Saturday passes bought in June 2014 cost as much as four day passes did in December 2013 so we saved $0 by waiting! Never again!)
I went as Snow White. Of course I had to go in costume. I already had a Snow White costume planned because I work part time as a face painter and there had been past requests for a Disney Princess painter. And seeing as how of all the princesses I probably look the most like Snow. Also, I already had this red bow headband . . .
I wanted to put a spin on my costume and do a 1950's style dress (I'm not sure everyone got that at the Con though) I choose vintage Simplicity 3780. Puffy sleeves, sweetheart neckline, full skirt- everything you need in a princess dress!
I also took loads of step by step pictures of how I did the red tear drop inserts on the sleeves. On my cell phone. Which I dropped while working at the Pima County Fair- and was subsequently stolen (if you don't turn a found cell phone in to Lost And Found, or leave it where it lies- you're stealing!).
I'd like point out that this dress has a very unusual sleeve design that requires the use of gussets under the arms. Several people said for continuities sake I use the baby blue satin. I went with the dark blue bodice velvet because it's stretchy (more arm mobility) and also, sweaty under arms (unavoidable in Phoenix in June) are more obvious on pastel satin and less so on dark velvet.
I had to re-work the neck line THREE times. The first time I was lazy and didn't use a stiff facing along the neck line but attempted to attach the trim (as seen on the grey dress) in yellow left over from the skirt. The second time I used a flimsy facing cut from the velvet. My used pattern actually had a facing cut from a stiff felt-like material tucked inside that the previous owner had cut- so I used it to line the neck, then added the velvet facing. So the neckline finally kept its shape! And finally, because after extensive research of other Snow White costumes I found on Google, I put white eyelet around the neck instead of the big stand-up collar. And I pleated one of the sleeves the wrong direction, but I really don't think anyone noticed.
I'm not to thrilled with the skirt. It was meant to be a three panel pleated thing and I was working with a pattern that was about 3 sizes too small. I had cut the bodice larger but because of the stretch in the velvet- I had to take it all back in (you can use a pattern that is a bit too small if you use stretch material!) The yellow glitter satin on the skirt was not stretchy. I cut all three pieces bigger and had plenty to work with on the skirt, but I really think it would have looked better if I'd cut 4 pieces in the original size because I have seams in weird, off places and seams should line up nice with other seams, it just looks better. Also I got a little food on the skirt at lunch and a water mark from leaning over the bathroom counter at the Con and I'm pretty sure that it has to be dry cleaned or all the glitter will wash off. And finally when you have a dark blue bodice and a pale yellow skirt- what color zipper do you use? I went with dark blue (because I had one and didn't have to run back to the store). I can't sew the hidden zippers. Snaps would have been another option but the fit was snug and snaps can pop open. Also, I should have cut the sleeves much bigger, I have "fat" arms and they're a pretty tight fit.
My petticoat I ordered directly from Malco Modes. Amazon is cheaper, but I couldn't order until the week before the Con and all the places on Amazon say that it takes 17-28 days just to ship and I couldn't wait that long. Malco had the best price (even with a 2 day shipping splurge I spent less then the local costume shops charge!), they had the lace trimmed, soft nylon type I wanted and I could pick the right length. Which happened to be the 26" Petites "Tea Length". I'm not very short but my skirt was just over 26" and everything else was either too long or too short. They have a great color selection too. The shipping invoices they sent were confusing and the item arrives a day later then expected- but it was still quick shipping! Ultimately, the petticoat was the most expensive part, it cost more then the fabric I used on the dress.
And finally, I made a necklace. I got the pendant at Hobby Lobby and added "S" and "W" charms. Coincidentally- my actual initials are "SW"
So, how was the Con? Crowded, overwhelming, and really fun! I got up at 5am so we could leave early and be in Phoenix by 8am, but our ride slept in. Then we decided to go get breakfast. Then my husband knocked a baby bird out of a tree and I wouldn't leave until (true to Snow White character) they found a tall enough ladder to put the bird back in its nest. So we were pretty late leaving.
I forgot my pain meds and spent most of the day reeling from pain in my left shoulder and hip, and I'm sorry to say I think it shows in the pictures. I'm not smile-y enough. Never leave the meds at home! (SMH) My false eye lashes started to come loose and had to be removed halfway though the day because I put them on so early- so that won't be happening again. The headband started to pinch after a few hours so I think I need to find a new sort of red bow. I also attempted to wear what I though was a "low" heel and didn't make it past the building where you pick up badges before I switched to my ugly flats- so I was stuck hauling heels around in my tote all day. I really need to get a good pair of flats for this costume next year.
I had lots of people ask for photos so I think my costume was a success. My camera is not working very well so I didn't take any myself. One little girl named Gracie in a Cinderella dress chased after me twice for photos and she was the cutest thing ever! Another woman told me Snow White is her favorite! The only picture I've managed to find was posted to Tumblr by Dani. So she's my favorite person from the Con for using social media and just being really sweet in general. My "annoyed" face is purely me trying to smile even though I'm hurting, I really did like taking pictures with people! I really did have fun! We went to the Bruce Campbell panel (my husbands favorite actor ever) and waited in line for the Nathan Fillion panel, but we were idiots and didn't get the hand stamp when we left Bruce's panel and everyone that went to the panel before Nathan's (the panel after Bruce) was actually camped out to see him and didn't leave so there was no room for the rest of us (and it was a HUGE line). We should have camped out too. But the best part was my husband saying that we will do all four days and get a hotel next year!
