Start From the Legs Up! [Slow But Sure Progress]

I finally got around to starting Alice. I figured I'd start from the bottom up with this costume, at least with the smaller articles. I think it'll be easier if I work on the layers of clothing from the outside in. With the way I see it, if I work from the outside-in then I can accurately gauge how big other articles of clothing, like Alice's poofy coat, need to be sized in contrast to the rest of the costume ensemble.

Anyways, for a majority of the costume I will be sewing with a heavy material, a bottom weight vaguely tan-colored fabric. I chose this kind of fabric because it's very durable and helps give structure and rigidity to clothing. Alice's coat which I will ultimately make will be very difficult to recreate the poofy shape so I hope this kind of fabric will aid me. In addition to the bottomweight I've also bought red vinyl to make belts with. Vinyl is a kind of fake leather material, as real leather is a pain to work with in general, but vinyl gives the same effect the costume needs. The leg warmers are made of the bottom weight, vinyl for the belts, and some red cotton fabric for the lining inside.

Here is a shot of the leg warmers from the front.

Wonder how that bit of red fabric stays put so neatly under my shoe? It's actually staying put because of adhesive velcro...I used velcro so I can easily undo the leg warmers when I want to take them off.

And here is one from the side.

I've also bought very similar shoes that Alice's costume requires. I've taken the liberty to rip the bows off the front so they would be more accurate.

I'm not completely finished with them yet because I need to add some accessories like buckles to the belts, and also create and sew on the emblems that Alice wears on the front of her leg warmers. I will come back to these once I finally create the buckles and emblems. I am considering making them out of a material called "wonderflex" which bends and molds to whatever shape you want it when heated. It works miracles for accessories and prop work.