Kathleen Laundy     Costume Designer
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  • About Me
  • Aggie Players Archive
  • Alumni Wall of Fame
  • Artists Memorials
  • Awesome Costumes
  • Blog
  • Cosplay
  • Costume Links
    • Education
    • Resources/Organizations
    • Ren Faires
    • Comic Cons
    • Designers
  • Courses Taught
    • DRAM 1342 Costuming
    • DRAM 1341 Makeup
    • DRAM 2331 Intro to Design
    • DRAM 1310 Theatre Appreciation (Online)
  • Current Season
    • Steel Magnolias
    • The Gods of Comedy
    • The Addams Family Musical
    • Die Fledermause
    • Love/Sick
  • Everything Else Links
    • Dramaturgy
    • Texas Theatres
    • Scenery/Lighting
    • Performance
    • Artists
    • Etsy Shops
    • Music
    • Life Hacks
    • Businesses
  • Makeup Links
  • Other Artistic Outlets
  • Presentations
  • Press
  • Production Archive
  • Professional Development
  • Reading List
  • Write to Me
  Kathleen Laundy     Costume Designer

Blog

Just me talking about costume-y kind of stuff

Ellen Terry's Lady Macbeth Gown

4/2/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture
John Singer Sargent painted Ellen Terry wearing this costume after he's seen her perform in it in 1888.  Until just recently, this is the only source available for what it looked like.  However, due to years of being worn and taken on tours, the dress was in desperate need of restoration.  In 2011, the National Trust spent 110,000 pounds doing just that. Textile conservator Zensie Tinker spent 5 years on the iconic dress and the results are amazing.​
Picture
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/smallhythe-place/features/the-beetle-wing-dress-at-smallhythe-place
The 'Beetle Wing Dress' worn by actress Ellen Terry (1847–1928) for her portrayal of Lady Macbeth in Henry Irving's production of Macbeth at the Lyceum Theatre, London in 1888 – 1889. The gown was designed by  Alice Laura Comyns-Carr and built by Ada Cort Nettleship. The dress consists of a knitted bodice, crochet sleeves and skirt lined with a plain-weave silk. The dress is embellished with green iridescent beetle-wing cases designed to shimmer under stage lighting. The costume is accessorised with a bejewelled heather coloured cloak, costume jewellery, a belt and a hanging scabbard and knife.
My version of this dress
When our family needed new costumes to wear to Sherwood Forest Faire, this dress was my inspiration for my costume, which you can read all about in the link to my blog.

Today I found another costume maker's blog It's all Frosting, where she recreated this gown to wear to Costume College in 2019 and I'd like to share her journey with you. I'm mostly doing this so I can find it later.

Part 1: Inspiration
Part 2: Supplies
Part 3: Patterning and Mockup
Part 4: Cutting
Part 5: Bodice and Construction
Part 6: Beetlewings
Part 7: More Beetlewings
Part 8: Skirt
Part 9: Sleeves
Part 10: Collar and Brooch
Part 11: Belt
Part 12: Wig Styling
Part 13: Crown
Part 14: Final Photos
Part 15: Final Thoughts
1 Comment
Sweta Parikh link
8/5/2022 03:55:23 am

Nice article! Thanks for sharing this informative post. Keep posting!

Reply



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