Alice Kingsleigh

Alice Kingsleigh | Alice in Wonderland 2010

Made for : Oogie Boogie Bash 2024

Background : A costume that had been on my to-do list since the film came out in 2010. I’m glad I didn’t try to make it back then, it would have been well beyond my skill level.

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Things used :

Bella Mae Designs : Alice Blue Dress
Bella Mae Designs : Alice Embroidery Files
8m cerulean cotton sateen – Spotlight
6m light haze blue silk organza – Ali Express
scraps of dotted tulle
1m vintage Alice print cotton – Spotlight
5m stripped grey and white cotton – Spotlight
2m light blue taffeta – Arthur’s Emporium
30cm rolled elastic – Arthur’s Emporium
1m navy ribbon – Arthur’s Emporium
1m white satin lacing – Arthur’s Emporium
2m white loop lace – Spotlight
flower motifs – Spotlight
14 buttons – Arthur’s Emporium
hooks and bars
hooks and eyes
6 striped buttons – Arthur’s Emporium
leather boots
Wig – Ali Express

construction

Blouse: Initially I used the Bella Mae pattern and tried to scale it up 4 sizes to fit my measurements. This did not work. So I scraped that and ended up drafting the bodice myself from scratch. I did seven mock-ups before I was happy with the seams and fit.

The bodice consists of three layers of fabric, the lining which I used a vintage Alice in Wonderland cotton, then the cotton sateen and then the outer layer of blue silk. The bust seams and bottom edge contain a pipping made from the same cotton sateen.

Along the neckline, I cut some skin colored tulle and sewed on a bunch of flower motifs that I had to cut from a floral lace. A navy ribbon is threaded through the flowers.

The sleeves are made from a layer of polka dot tulle and blue silk. They have three pin tucks along the bottom and are gathered along the top edge. The hem is finished with elastic.

The bodice closes in the front using hook and eyes and faux buttons hide the closure on the top.

Skirt: The skirt was made using the Bella Maes pattern. I only had to scale it up to my size. It consists of two layers of the cotton sateen, one with a ruffled edge along the bottom. The top most layer is made from silk organza. I did change the length of the two tiers on this layer from the pattern to be a bit more accurate to the films dress.

I finished the silk layer with a rolled hem and added the embroidery files (also by Bella Mae) along the bottom edge. It was so much quicker than having to hand embroider it.

Petticoat: I tried to find a stripped taffeta everywhere but it didn’t seem to exist. Instead, I ended up settling for the grey and white stripped cotton. Looks wise, it was great but unfortunately it didn’t really have the stiffness I needed for the petticoat. Taking that in to consideration, I made only the top layer of the petticoat from the cotton, and the bottom tiers of the two under layers. The rest of the under layers were made from a blue poly taffeta that I had originally brought to make the dress from. It’s perfect because it helps create the stiff shape and you don’t actually see these layers.

I made the petticoat using the pattern by Bella Mae. I only had to make it a few sizes larger to fit me.

Gloves: The gloves are made from some left over dotted tulle that I used to make my Lucy Gray skirt. To get the stripes, I drew the lines on using an alcohol pen marker. I then cut the gloves in to rectangles that were big enough to cover my hands. I folded them in half and sewed down one side, leaving space open to put my thumb through. I then sewed buttons on at the wrist.

Boots: I found a pair of leather ankle boots at the secondhand store. Using leather paint in white and black, I painted them to more closely resemble the ones in the film.