The New Dream, Revisited

“Rapunzel…you were my new dream.”

Holy cow, guys, remember this project? :-P

RapunzelDress, Part One

RapunzelDress, Part Two

I’ve done a lot of soul-searching since the last time I posted on this subject. In that time, I’d pretty much decided to let go of the Rapunzel Costume idea, as I can’t afford proper materials, have no place to wear it (can’t afford tickets to Festivals and such), and my sewing skills just aren’t up to the challenge of corsetry and working with slippery satin and/or taffeta. And I wasn’t sure I’d really be comfortable togged out as a Disney Princess and possibly getting mobbed by squealing munchkins, anyhow. :-P

Anton Argentos:

So ja, yet another dream sacrificed to grim Reality…. *melodramatic tragic pose*

Isabella:

*Pinches nose-bridge*

Bramblerose Cottonwool:

Ooh, I’m gonna cry! *Sob*

~*~The Pixie~*~

There, there, dear. *PatPat*

Gilbert Sherwyn:

We pretty much knew it would happen.

However…!

Sometimes, when I give up on a pet dream, the Lord turns around and gives it back to me. 

With a recent thrifting expedition, new inspiration has come. You might say the project has risen from the ashes, after a fashion.

Jason Windrider:

Did…did you just…?

Ember MacTavish:

Tehehe—*snort*

OK, yeah, bad pun. :-P

One of the local charity shops yielded this lovely poly "taffeta" party-frock, in what looks like the perfect sugarplum-purple for Rapunzel’s skirt and half-off, too!

Mind you, I generally don’t go for these dusty-lavender/mauvey colors (they tend to look drab and muddy, especially next to my other true-lavenders)…but this project is the exception. One of those “X-Y-Z” situations.*

The dress looks like it was originally strapless, and someone added these grape-purple straps later. Probably the color choice was to tie in the sash. Both are for the chop, as the color doesn’t blend with the main dress, IMHO.

Crummy interior shot :-P
Home-machine-stitching visible
at top of front bodice curve

 

My plan (Lord willing) is to take the skirt off the top and adjust the fit from there. Ideally, I’d love to get some self-colored (or slightly deeper) textured or printed fabric for a center panel, and a lighter, matching fabric for the new bodice.

 

And don’t worry; the old bodice won’t go to waste. I intent to try adn get a matching purse out of it!

I actually have my eye on some satin jacquard/brocade on Etsy at the mo’, which comes in both "Plum" and "Lavender" shades.

 

Looks paler than IRL,
but this stuff is hard to photograph
because SHINY

I also picked up "0.625 yard" (so…a little over half a yard? UGH, decimals) of flannel-backed satin in "Orchid" color, courtesy of Jo-Ann’s remnant bins. Haven’t decided whether to line the bodice with it (Lord willing I get the brocade), or make a blouse to go under the same.

As you can see, it’s a bit "bluer" than the dress/skirt, but I think it has enough pink to blend all right.

This pic closest to satin’s actual color

The biggest decision now is how to make the bodice. The movie costume looks like a corset or pair of stays (similar to Redthreaded’s Regency Stays pattern, sorta), worn over a separate blouse. But I may opt for a simplified princess-seam bodice and throw some zip-ties in the seams. In that instance, the blouse would just be a peasant-blouse made from some pink gauze from The Stash, with the purple puff-sleeves being attached to the bodice.

 …which wouldn’t be screen-accurate, but I think it’d be more attainable for my skill level.

 

So that’s the latest on this particular pet project. It’s on the backest of back burners (actually, I’m not sure it’s even on the stove), but at least I have some of the materials, and can work on it as I’m able.

Wish me luck!

Until next time, Gentle Readers,

God bless,

~R~

* “X-Y-Z” situation(s) = An instance when one departs from a preferential norm in favor of something one generally tends to dislike. Based on the statement, “I generally don’t like [X-Y-Z]…except when I do.”

~Tom’s Dictionary of Whacked-out Terms and Old Family Sayings

“Strange But Special” Fashion Feature | Provincial Belle

“Look, there she goes! That girl is strange but special;

A most peculiar ma’moiselle.

It’s a pity and a sin—

She doesn’t quite fit in—

But she really is a funny girl....

That Belle!”

It all started when I decided to take a square-dancing class at the local fairgrounds back in September. Peter, Mom, and I had taken the class a couple years ago—and actually graduated—but then took a year off due to scheduling issues and what-not.

I’ve always enjoyed dancing, and in any case, it’s a fun way to get some exercise, and I figured it’d be good for my social development actually to get out of the house and *gasp* mingle with people.

(Kidding—kidding! I’m not that introverted...but I still haven’t quite outgrown my awkward stage, :-P so I figured this would help.)

Anyhoo, the Charlie Brown Squares have dances for regular members on Tuesday nights (which I’d love to attend...only Mom’s handbell choir meet at the same time, and I have to be in that at present, so... ☹) and classes for beginners on Thursday nights, which I’ve been loving! This year, the 31^st of October happened to be a Thursday, so the Charlies threw a costume party that night...and anyone who’s followed my blogging attempts for more than a couple years knows what a costume nerd I am....

Mind you, I don’t celebrate that particular “holiday,” nor do I endorse the more ghoulish/satanic/just-plain-icky side of it. I looked on this as an opportunity to (finally!) channel that side of my creativity. Which brings me to the point of this post....

Thanks to Peter for snapping this pic! <3

What I’m wearing:

Shoes: Black velvet flats (thrifted). Originally had bows of black lace hem-tape on the toes, which I removed. Might actually be carpet-slippers, but they do make nice dress-shoes! (However, they don’t have the best traction, so I have to be careful when wearing them to class!)

Stockings: Hand-me-down from Mom (??) Not screen-accurate, but warmer for the tiem of year...plus I don’t have any nylons, so....

Skirt: Thrifted (altered). I’d been looking for something in this GORGEOUS shade of blue for years, when by God’s grace I finally found this skirt at a local thrift shop sometime last year. All I had to do was shorten it from almost floor-length to this more practical tea-length.

Bodice/Vest: Thrifted/altered. Would you believe this was a scrub-top in another life?? Big thanks to my mother for helping me put in some darts and make new neck- and armhole facings! <3 I also added an invisible zipper in one side for easy on/off. The lace trim was a last-minute addition, to cover the holes left from the original neck insert stitching.

Blouse: Thrifted (altered). All I did to this pretty little frock was switch out the boring, pointy collar with this much more feminine one—hand-embroidered by yours truly. Not to brag, but I’m ridiculously proud of how smooth the little flowers turned out (usually my satin-stitching is a bit rubbish, LOL). 😊

Purse: Courtesy of CBS $1 trunk! One corner of the building we hold classes in has racks of costumes and a couple old trunks of accessories for sale. The moment I saw this cute eyelet purse, I knew I had to get it for my costume, it was more practical than making a apron that I’d only wear once. :-P I plan to wear it with my light-colored “normal” outfits, too—great for holing my class fee, cell phone, and whatever else I need to carry. 

 

Jewelry: Sterling ball ear-studs (Etsy) and “Little Rose” pendant on Fine Chain. Ideally, a book-locket would have been my first choice for jewelry with this outfit...but I couldn’t find one in time for the party, so I went with this pretty little pendant instead. Originally a gift for my mother several years ago (which she gave back to me recently because her style has changed), it’s set with what I think is a ruby, and is a nice little nod to the Enchanted Rose in the movie.

As for my hair (which you can’t see in the pix, sorry!), I wrapped it around a thin elastic headband after washing to give it some texture (tutorial here). The day of the party, I removed the headband, twisted the sides, and made a low ponytail, hiding the hair elastic with a pretty ribbon I had on hand (which I didn’t get a pic of, oops).

CU of back collar

It’s not screen-accurate by any means, save that the color is about spot-on with the costume in the 1991 cartoon (which my family saw on my 6^th birthday, in fact!). The most noticeable difference is that Belle’s bodice has one seam up the front and a square neckline, whereas mine has darts and a deep V neckline. However, the scrub-top I used already had the V-neck, plus darts and V-necks are more flattering on me anyhow. Also, Belle’s blouse has more of a rolled/smallish shawl-collar, whereas my collar is more of a Peter Pan-type (which will make it just about perfect if I ever decided to Disney-bound as Briar Rose...). Also, my blouse sleeves are long and sport modern buttoned cuffs, whereas Belle’s are bound and change length from just-below-elbow to around ¾-length throughout the movie. I may crop the sleeves down the road, but for now they work.

CU of front-left collar

And yes, my hair is the wrong color, LOL, but I can’t afford a wig, and I refuse to dye my hair (with my luck, the chemicals would probably make me lose what little I have left...but that’s another story...).

We’ll just call this Belle’s Understudy, wot? ;-)

Nit-picking aside, I’m really rather pleased with how it turned out, over all. I do wish the zipper-seam hadn’t puckered so badly, but there’s really nothing I can do about that. And it’s under my arm, anyhow, to it’s not as noticeable as it would have been in front or back. I also wish the bodice was a bit sturdier, but making a full lining would have been a bit of a headache.

But I do love the color, and the fact that it’s comfortable, and that, by God’s grace, I was able to finish it a week before the party! Sole Deo gloria! 😊

The bodice and skirt being separate makes the outfit easier to wash, along with being more versatile for Real Life outfits. I already have one ready-made blouse, and fabric to make another, which blend beautifully with the skirt and vest, so that’ll give me some options when I don’t feel like being Belle. ;-)

As for the party itself, it was a blast! Most of the people there dressed up, and there were some really clever frocks there. It was really fun to see what other people had made or put together. (You’ll excuse me for not posting pix of them here; I don’t have these folks’ permission to do so.)

And personally, I found some of the calls ten times more fun in a skirt!

Anton Argentos:

And let’s not forget that you started off the first dance with a bang! XD

<_< Thank you for airing the family laundry. :-P

Erm, yes...the first dance of the evening, I was partnered with the seven-year-old cayenne* laddie and had to go under his arm at one point. I thought I’d be clever and squat while passing...and ended up landing flat on my fanny Like A Boss.™ Like I said, my shoes don’t have the best traction, and there was some kind of dust or powder on the floor that night, so...yeah. However, I wasn’t hurt (save my pride, LOL), and was able to laugh it off and carry on. I was more careful the rest of the time, however....

* Cayenne = A term used to describe a red-haired person. Inspired by the color of cayenne pepper; an alternative to the inaccurate “ginger” and derogatory-sounding “carrot-top.”

~Tom’s Dictionary of Whacked-out Terms and Old Family Sayings

Later that night, we held a costume contest, and everyone voted on the costumes according to different categories—Scariest, Coolest, Superstar, etc. I didn’t win anything, but the people who did totally deserved it.

My only complaints are that 1.) Two of my favorite classmates were unable to attend, and 2.) There was no big bowl of bite-sized candy bars (“trick-or-treat fodder”) like I’d hoped. Perhaps I can amend #2 next year, Lord willing I’m still with the class, and they throw a party next year....

My only regret is not getting a pic of the two adorable cayenne brothers (ages 9 or 10 and 7) in their Zorro and Ninja costumes. Aw well.

I’m so thankful and so glad I was able to attend this little party, even if it was on my least favorite day of the year, LOL. In spite of the stress and uncertainty that is sewing for me, it was wonderful finally to be able to fulfill that dream of attending an event In Costume. I really hope they throw another one next year, as I have several ideas already!

Bramblerose Cottonwool:

Beggin’ your pardon, m’lady, but don’t forget the Festival† come May. You’ll want to gussy up for that, I reckon, aye?

You can bet your last brass farthing I will! But that’s a post for another day (Lord willing I’m able to attend and get something made in time, that is.)

Until next time, Gentle Readers,

God bless,

~ℛ~

† My sweet little Halfling-lass is referring to the Square- and Round Dance Festival that’s part of Boatnik, a local celebration on Memorial Day Weekend. My family attended the year we all took the class together, and it was loads of fun! I really hope I can attend next year!

The New Dream: Take 2

“What if it’s not everything I always dreamed of?”

Y’know that Rapunzel-inspired Party Frock I posted about a while back?

Since then, the more I looked at my fabrics, the more I began to have serious doubts about the whole mixed-prints thing…especially once I realized I couldn’t embroider the skirt (well, I could, but it would have been too busy with the print), and I did so want to embroider it.

I did some more thinking and rather confused praying about it, afterwards getting a second opinion from Mom. The resolution I came to as a result is this: I’ve had this dream for nearly six years; it’s something close to my heart—something very special to me—I don’t want to botch it up. Mom encouraged me to get solid-colored fabrics for the skirt and sleeves because that’s what I really wanted, and we both knew I just wouldn’t be happy with the mixed prints. I’ve done this to myself so many times in the past—wanting to recreate a favorite movie costume (or a more modest version thereof *cough*), visualizing it in my mind, having a goal for how to make it…and then either cheated myself with incorrect fabrics and/or messed up the project out of impatience, or just given up entirely.

I don’t want to settle for “close enough” or “sorta inspired by” just because that’s what I could afford/find locally, when just a little more effort (and admittedly, a little more $$$) can bring me closer to my goal.

No, I am NOT going to spend upwards of $20 a yard for the “authentic” design printed on silk. That were obsession. I have, however, taken Mom’s advice and purchased three yards of solid orchid-purple cotton, and half a yard of lighter purple, from a couple of Etsy stores. And here they are:

L-R: Kona Cotton "Wisteria" (upper sleeves),
Printed Bodice Fabric,
Kona Cotton "Crocus" (skirt)

 (Pardon the wrinkles; I haven’t had time to iron them yet.)

So now I can embroider the skirt like I wanted, PTL! And I’ve decided to use the embroidery patternfrom the movie costume. I mean, come on, if I’m going to make a Rapunzel dress, I should go ahead and make a Rapunzel dress, wot? Plus it’s so cute and fun and, well, Rapunzel-y! This graphic (thumbs-up to whoever made it) gives a pretty good idea of how the embroidery is laid out, so hopefully I can correlate it with the actual patterns.

I’d still really like to have the front panel be printed, but this print doesn’t come in a deeper orchid-purple. Not sure I could successfully over-dye it, either, so I’ll probably just make the whole skirt out of the “Crocus” fabric.

Also kinda waffling on whether to go with the “all purple” color scheme like I originally planned, or to take that extra step and make pink lower sleeves, get pink piping and lacing, and add pink and blue to the embroidery. It looks great on Rapunzel, of course, and on little girls…but on me? Feels like it’d be a bit young, and I don’t want to look like a refugee from Disneyland (or and Easter egg, LOL).

Cue more thinking and praying….

And don’t worry about the swirly print; I love it too much in its own right to toss it. In fact, by God’s grace I discovered I can get a whole dress out of my 3 ½+ yards, with a little careful pattern placement. So hurrah! I get a purple Summer frock, too. :-D

I’ll admit, I was ready to give up on this project for a time, but God has brought me this far with it—providing for the materials—and confirmed it through Mom’s encouragement. I can only trust that He’ll guide me through to the end.

Until next time, Gentle Readers,

God bless,

~R~

The New Dream

[source]

“I’ve got a dream!”

(She’s got a dream!)

“I’ve got a dream!”

(She’s got a dream!)

Even before my family saw Disney’s Rapunzel, I’ve been fascinated with her pretty pinky-purple dress because, not only is Rapunzel the first Disney Princess to wear purple (my favorite color), but while watching the movie, I found myself thinking the style is something I’d design myself:

 

·        Small puff-sleeves (not poofy), with fitted lower sleeves—one of my favorite sleeve styles!

·        Sleeves are ¾-length—warmer than short sleeves, yet keep out of the way for hands-on tasks

·        Sweetheart neckline (so feminine! ’Though I’d have made it higher or filled in)

·        A-line skirt (fitted at the waist—no bulk!—flared at hem)

·        Mid-calf-length—long enough to be modest and elegant, short enough to keep out of the mud :-P

·        Subtle lace trim

·        EMBROIDERY!

I tried to make my own version of this frock a few years back…let’s just say I didn’t know what I was doing, and it didn’t turn out well. But the desire for a Rapunzel-inspired dress never really left, and this year it’s come back in full force. By God’s grace, I was able to buy the materials needed for this project this past month (what weren’t already in the Stash, that is). PTL! See, Grandma sent me some Green $tuff for my birthday this year, plus some extra to buy my “Snow Queen” jewelry set, so this was kind of a birthday present from her. :-)

I’ve decided, however, not to try and make a 110% screen-accurate reproduction. :-P Not only is that stressful and obsessive, but it can also be very expensive (and if you don’t believe me, just check out the prices of various fabric options for the fan-made “authentic” print on Spoonflower). So I’m aiming for an “inspired-by” version—made from fabrics that will still evoke the look of the movie costume, but be easier to care for than silks or satin [read: machine washable and –dryable].

Here are the materials for my frock:

Clockwise from top: Bodice fabric, piping, lower sleeve fabric (with embroidery floss, sewing thread, and zipper), skirt pattern, skirt/upper sleeve fabric

The color-scheme is admittedly a bit more purply than Rapunzel’s dress, and you’ll notice I got purple piping instead of opting for pink embroidery or binding. That’s because it looked better to my eye. A bit classier and less blatantly Disney Princess (which is why I’ll also be using lavender for the lower sleeves instead of pink). 

…but then again, the movie dress is computer-generated silk brocade and –taffeta, so it shifts hues with the lighting. Sometimes it looks really pink…

[source]

…other times it’s more orchid/lilac…

“Eew, there’s a lizard on my lap!”
[source]

…and by moonlight, it’s almost a true lavender...

So I guess we could dub this dress “Rapunzel by Moonlight,” LOL
[source]

(and then there’s this odd little GIF, where her dress is almost periwinkle…???)

I’m going with this color scheme because it’s what I could find. Plus I look awful in really pinky-lavenders. :-P

~The Bodice~

I saw a print like this on Etsy and immediately thought of Rapunzel. Thankfully, the local fabric store had it in stock, so I didn’t have to pay shipping. Yayness! I’ll be using my drafted princess-seamed pattern, which is based—I think—on McCall’s 4107 (and heavily modified to fit my shape). This is probably one of the biggest differences between the movie costume and my dress. Rapunzel’s bodice is constructed more like a corset, with multiple seamlines and boning channels and stuff. There’s also an odd little buttoned bit in the back (someone suggested she wears a blouse under a corset). My bodice will have a high neckline in back with an invisible zipper, and I plan to dress it up with piping in the princess seams and decorative lacing. I’ll probably cut the sweetheart neckline in front about the same as the movie costume’s and wear a higher-necked sleeveless layering tee underneath it for modesty. (The reason: I like sweetheart necks, but they look awkward when cut up high enough to be modest. Laying Tees to the rescue!)

~The Skirt~

Originally, I was going to get a darker version of the bodice print for the center-front skirt panel, then use solid orchid-purple for the rest of the skirt. However, I couldn’t find the darker print locally and didn’t want to order online (color matching should be done in person as much as possible), so I decided to get two solids…unfortunately, the only matches I found for my bodice fabric were on a swatch card at Jo-Ann, and both colors had been discontinued. :-( Then the nice girl who waited on me mentioned a new fabric store in town, so Mom and I dropped by…and I found this:

The color was a perfect match, and just a little deeper than the bodice fabric. The print goes surprisingly well with it, too, even though they’re not a bit similar. It adds a bit of Gunne Sax pattern-mixing to the project, which is cool. :-D

The plan is to use Butterick B6179, View C, for the skirt, as it’s fairly close to the movie skirt. My only modification at this point (other than eliminating the waistband, of course) will be to cut the center-front panel on the fold instead of having that seam up the front.

~The Sleeves~

Ideally, I’d like to make the upper sleeves in the deeper print, using my drafted puff-sleeve pattern based (loosely) on another one, the number of which I don’t have right now….

And while I like the look of the ribbons on Rapunzel’s sleeves, mine has to double as a Real World party-frock, and nothing says “costume” more plainly than stripey sleeves for some reason.

~Trims and Embroidery~

[source]

Obviously, I’m not going to find the *exact* trims used in the movie costume. That’s OK, ’cos I’m not going for exact here. ^.^ I do, however, hope to add some subtle lace trim to the sleeve-edges and neckline, and possibly the hem of a new petticoat I have in the works. So a look through our Stash of vintage laces (some of which belonged to my grandmother and great-grandmother) is on order soon….

I’m omitting the lace on the bottom edge of the bodice because, unlike Rapunzel’s, my bodice will be sewn to the skirt instead of separate pieces. Plus it feels a bit excessive.

The embroidery on Rapunzel’s skirt is cute and fun, but I can’t figure out the pattern, and I’m not going to try, especially since this isn’t an exact replica. I’m thinking of this design, which I used for my cousin’s Russian(esque) peasant costume:

I’d work it in the variegated orchid-purple floss in the first materials picture, rather than in pinks and blues like in the movie. Seems like any embroidery on my frock needs to be a bit more subtle because the whole skirt will be printed, rather than just the front panel. I mayn’t even need embroidery on the skirt, so I may just do something on the sleeves. We’ll see when I get to that point.

I’m so happy to be one step closer to realizing a pet dream I’ve had for several years! It’s still a wee bit unreal that God has actually made it possible…proof—once again—that my little projects matter to Him, too. :-D Sole Deo Gloria!

It’ll probably be a while, realistically, before I do anything more with this project, as there are several other Real Life projects on a higher priority. But they’re none of them very difficult, so Lord willing, I may get to this dress sooner than I think. :-)

Until next time, Gentle Readers,

God bless,

~R~

30-day Middle-earth Challenge—Day Nine: Prettiest Dress

>EDIT< I just realized this is my "Eleventy-first" post!!! I was thinking of doing something special for Post #111, but it came up before I knew it. However, since the costumes are my favorite element of of Peter Jackson's Middle-earth, I think this post's topic qualifies as "something special." :-)
/EDIT

Another hard choice! Ngila Dickson (the head costume designer for LOTR) designed so many beautiful gowns for all the ladies in the movies, it’s hard to pick just one and say it’s the prettiest in all Middle-earth. However, once again, since I cheated on my last entry and featured five Best Costumes, I’ll have to be good and do just that.

I’m going to say…Éowyn’s “Victory” Gown. 

[source]

The pale-blue color is so becoming on her, giving her a softer, more feminine look than some of her brown-and-white (or grey-blue) ensembles. The gold threads in the brocade jacket, the elegant jacquard trim, and the tiny jewels down the front of the jacket, all pay tribute to Éowyn’s rank as a Daughter of Kings, a member of the House of Eorl.   

 

Composite (with better view of jewels)
made by someone here

The undergown (my term) is worn with a long, fur-edged blue coat at another point in the movies, which is kinda cool.

[source]

We don’t see much of this frock in the movie, which is a shame, but Maggie has some gorgeous pix from the behind-the-scenes DVD and screencaps and stuff. Take a look!

Until next time, Gentle Readers,

God bless,

~“Tom”~

 

30-day Middle-earth Challenge—Day Eight: Favorite Costume

Oh, how to choose? Probably my favorite part of the LOTR movies is the lovely costumes—each distinctly portraying the various races and cultures of Middle-earth. I’m afraid I’m going to have to cheat again, since I couldn’t choose just *one* fave among these:

Frodo’s “Opening/Green Shirt” Outfit

[source]
(Do you know how hard it is to find good pix of this one??)

To me, this costume’s simplicity represents the homespun, carefree life of a Hobbit-lad—a symbol of Frodo’s childhood, which, when we’re introduced to him at the beginning of FOTR, he’s leaving behind as he comes of age. It’s funny, but his shirt changes from a sort of sage-green to heather-grey, depending on which pictures you look at—kind of like the “Fellowship” cloaks. A subtle foretelling of Things to Come from the costume department, perhaps? (More likely a result of all the color-enhancing done BTS.)

Pippin’s “Party Vest” 

[source]
Reproduced by Cordelia Willis ('cos I couldn't find a pic of the real thing!)
No copyright infringement intended

This spiffy waistcoat, made up in emerald-green brocade, sports bright yellow tambour embroidery (although some say it’s couched cording) in a swirling pattern down the front—very festive, and perfect for celebrating Bilbo’s Eleventy-first Birthday. Interestingly, it’s the only waistcoat Pippin wears until near the end of ROTK (more on that later).

Merry’s “Fellowship” Outfit

Hobbits, according to Tolkien, favor green and yellow, and Merry has both colors in this costume, which he wears for most of the trilogy. I think my favorite part is his quilted waistcoat. Actually, yellow seems to be Merry’s signature color, since his “Party” vest and the one given to him near the end of ROTK are both yellow. I must admit to admiring his stylish Georgian-inspired frock-coat, too. Merry’s clothes in general are more elegant than the other Hobbits’, reflecting his status as one of the richer Hobbits in the Shire—a Brandybuck of Brandy Hall.

Pippin’s “Fellowship” Outfit 

One interesting thing about Pippin is that, for most of the trilogy, he doesn’t have a waistcoat/vest like the other Hobbits. In the books, he says he is still considered a boy by Hobbit standards (or words to that effect), so perhaps the wearing of a waistcoat is a kind of sign of manhood (Hobbithood?) among the Little Folk (the exception being his “Party” vest, of course, but that’s a special occasion). Pippin’s costume is a bit like Frodo’s “Opening” outfit in that it consists of trousers with suspenders and a shirt, but Pippin adds a jacket (shorter than Frodo’s and Merry’s elegant frock-coats) and his signature knitted scarf. My favorite part, though, is the embroidery down the front of his shirt! Kinda makes up for not having a waistcoat.

Sam’s “Prologue” Outfit

Sam wears this costume during Bilbo’s voice-over at the beginning of FOTR, while planting flowers. What makes it noticeable (in my mind, at least) is the checked shirt—most other Hobbits wear solid-colored or white shirts.

I have a thing for Hobbits, can you tell? ;-)

I leave the Elves and Men for tomorrow’s post...Lord willing I have time....

Until next time, Gentle Readers,

God bless,

~“Tom”~