High Fashion French Costume

costume_francePut on a fashion show in your no-sew couture.

You need:

  • Black Tulle
  • Metallic Pipe Cleaner
  • Black Pipe Cleaner
  • Pearl Beads
  • Crystal Rhinestones
  • Gem Glue
  • Round Paper Mache Frame Box
  • Narrow Headband
  • Black Electrical Tape
  • Candy Pop Stick
  • Black Acrylic Paint and Brush
  • Metallic Gold Paint Pen
  • Scissors
  • 1.5 Yards of 60″ Fabric (will make two skirts)
  • Tank Top

Instructions:

 french_hatTo make the hat: Remove the lid from the paper mache box. Set it aside for shoulder embellishment. Paint the box bottom black. Let dry. Use a gold paint marker to paint a 1/2″ border along the top edge of the box. Let dry. Glue rhinestones all around the gold band. Poke a hole in the middle of the bottom with the point of your scissors. Fold a gold pipe cleaner unevenly. String pearl beads along both sides leaving 1/2″ on both sides of the fold without any beads. Bend the tips down to hold beads in place. Turn the painted box upside down and poke the fold into the hole made in the bottom.

Wrap the headband in black electrical tape. Fold a black pipe cleaner in half. Twist it around the headband. Position the upside box over the pipe cleaner and string the black pipe cleaner ends through the fold of the metallic pipe cleaner that is up inside the box then poke the ends up through the hole in the box. This will secure the box firmly on to the headband. Cut a 1 yard piece of black tulle. Fan fold it to a 6″ piece. Bunch the ends together and wrap with the pipe cleaner ends sticking out of the box. Carefully shape the tulle to get the desired effect.

french_accessoryTo make the shoulder accessory: Remove the insert from the box lid. The insert will not be used for this project. Paint the lid gold. Let dry. Glue on rhinestones. Paint a candy pop stick gold. Let dry.

Wrap tulle loosely around shoulders four times. Cut. Pinch all layers of tulle together. Bringing the layers forward inside the finished shoulder accessory. Slide the painted pop stick over the lid then behind the pinched tulle and finally over the lid at the other side. (See photo)

To make a no-sew skirt: Cut fabric in half the long way.

sari1 sari2 sari3

Beginning at one end, tuck the edge of the fabric into the waistband of leggings. Fold a pleat in the fabric and tuck the next section in the waistband. Continue pleating and tucking all around the waist. (images 1 – 3 above)

Cut a contrasting piece of fabric 6″ wide to fit around your waist. Make little snips every inch on both ends 1/2″ from the edge. Use the final shoe lace to lace it closed around your waist.