I have so many ballet expenses this year that I just will not be able to afford ordering a Diana costume from Benefis, which is where I go to for costumes.

I have some time before I need the costume, and I thought about experimenting with making my own. I have no experience sewing with a machine, only by hand, and even then that experience is limited to pointe shoes and minor costume adjustments.

Still, I want to give it a shot -- worst case, it will be a fun project rather than a nice costume.

I like the idea of using this dress as a base: www.discountdance.com . . .

I like the shape of the skirt and how it tapers to be longer in the back and shorter in the front, but not overly so. I also like that the connection between the skirt and the leotard has a slight V-shape to it. I am a bit bothered that my dress won't have a proper bodice, because that is definitely too much for me to try to sew myself, but I figured I can make it look good with the right embellishments and whatnot.

I'd like the neckline to be a deep V neckline, like this neckline: benefisshop.com . . .
(Click to zoom in on the picture of just the bodice.)

This is what I was thinking:
1. Cut the neckline to the shape/depth I want it
2. Sew a nude-colored panel behind it from the inside (so that the deep-V is only visual)
3. Sequin (or some other kind of trim) the edges of the entire V neckline (to hopefully hide any stitches or messiness)

Do you think this will work? My main concern is cutting through the hem of the original neckline, and my hope is that it won't matter because I will have the sequin/trim doing on top of it anyway to hide it. But, maybe I'm just fantasizing and it won't be as simple as that.

Other than decorating the leotard portion, the other thing that bothers me is that the skirt is only one layer, whereas I would like a double-layered skirt. I don't think there is any way to alter that, though -- I feel like adding a skirt won't work out too well unless I have a bodice to go over and cover the stitching where they connect, and I don't have a bodice.

I would really appreciate any help I can get, especially regarding the neckline. It would save me a whole lot of money if I could make this work!

noachka wrote:

My main concern is cutting through the hem of the original neckline, and my hope is that it won't matter because I will have the sequin/trim doing on top of it anyway to hide it.

Unpick the original hemming first, and then cut the neckline you want.

Be careful around the straps though, because it looks like the hemming continues from the neckline up the straps. Maybe you should unpick the hem until half an inch before the straps, and then reinforce the area (connecting the strap) with tacking stitch before you cut the new neckline, re-hem it and finish it off properly.

*Disclaimer: I'm not an expert on dressmaking!

What she said would work or you could sew the nude colored peice over the top of it. Just use tiny whip stiches if you dont want to add trim

If I sewed the nude portion over it, wouldn't it be less neat because it would be higher up where the hem is?

Can I hand-stitch to re-hem it? I don't have a sewing machine and would rather not buy one just for this.

I think I might try it on an old leotard first, if I can find one I don't want to wear anymore.

no not if you mesured it out well with it flat and then sewed it over the original hem

I'm going to get some materials from Joann's today and give it a try!

I found some perfect decorations, apparently exactly the thing I needed is called a necklace yoke or collar:

www.angeltrim.com . . .

Isn't it beautiful? I think it will look great! Makes things so much easier on my part, too!

Now for decorating the skirt. Is it possible to turn it into a two-layer skirt without it looking messy?

I am roughly following the design of one of the Benefis costumes, which has two mirror appliques on the skirt itself. They are sequined swirls. benefisshop.com . . .

I would like to do that on my skirt too but am unsure of whether it would weigh it down too much or make it fall awkwardly. I would assume it would be alright if I used sequins, but not if I used rhinestones. Although, Benefis individually sews sequins; I would be using a sequin applique, and I am uncertain if that would make a difference in whether it works or not.

I could use a sequin trim for the skirt and try to make my own swirls, or just go it straight lines down the skirt -- or not decorate it at all.

Keeping in mind that I also intend to use sequin trim to line the place where the skirt attaches to the bodice, not only because it is an ideal place for decoration, but also to emphasize the slight v-cut of the attachment in the hopes the it adds to mimic the 'bodice look'.

What do you think?

Honestly, you could end up spending more on materials than just getting a premade costume. I would take a look on Ebay and other used costume places to try to find something that will require less alterations.

I think you've picked a very nice base, and love the neckline piece. Think it'll be beautiful.

As for the skirt, I like the swirls. I think they'd be easy to do with chaining sequins. It would also be really, really cheap! But first, do the neckline. It may be that it's enough. You could also add metallic thread trim. It may be easier to sew.

I think once you get the top the way you want, it'll be easier to see if anything is needed.

Good luck with this! And please post a pic of the final creation.

Thanks! You've got me really excited to order the base now, I'm so happy to hear that you think it'll look good. That's a good point, to start with the neckline and then see if that's enough on its own -- I'll do that for sure.

I went to Joann and found a metallic fabric paint and tried it -- I think it will work really well to decorate the skirt and be easier than sewing on sequins. It did look surprisingly nice when I played around with it.

Re: the metal trim -- I actually found some while at Joann and it was really nice. Well, it's gold trim in a cool pattern that I thought would look less tacky than just plain sequins (to line the place where the skirt and leotard attach.)

I will definitely post pictures!! I'm so excited now