A Beaded Robe de Style

I almost didn't make a new dress for the gala at Costume College this year. I had a very busy year costuming wise and thought that I wouldn't have time. But things went a little more quickly than I expected, and I realized I was going to end up with a week with no costuming plans right before Costume College. I had fallen in love with this robe de style ages before, when it was an eBay auction, and just as I was considering making it, more pictures came up on Pinterest. I really wanted to make it in green, and one day, after daily checking Renaissance Fabrics all of a sudden had green in stock. I had to make it then!


I made a few design changes from the original. After 2 hours of working on them, I decided I liked the dress better without sleeve caps. I think the silk net that I had was too lightweight to work correctly. I also left out the inserts of net at center front and back. I left off a beaded element at the center back because I liked the neckline more without it. I also decided against turning up the front hem to show the lining.

I'm wearing the dress over my envelope chemise and 1920s hoop. I didn't take pictures making it, but it's essentially the same as my first robe de style. I added guards so the straps wouldn't slip. Information about the beading can be found here.

These two pictures and the one with the gorgeous light below are by my friend Llyra Lee who's doing wonderful things with photography lately!


The dress is trimmed with 2mm, 5mm, and 6 mm rhinestones from Pretty Things Supplies, the steel beads are from Hanson Stone Vintage, the skirt lining is cream silk charmeuse from Dharma Trading, and the green taffeta is from Renaissance Fabrics. It's lined in lightweight cotton voile. My comb is from Pansy Belle Attic. My earrings are from Dames a la Mode. My shoes are t-strap ballroom shoes by Minitoo that I found on Amazon.

I waved my hair using a vintage Subpedo iron in front, and a vintage triple barrel iron in back. Both needed to be heated in a stove meant for non electric irons. It was a little intimidating, but I'm very happy with the results--especially for being rather new at using it!


One of my favorite parts of the evening was seeing Stephanie's interpretation of the same dress. I love what we approached the same and differently! Though you can't tell in the picture, her bow was made of black beads that sparkled beautifully.