timetravelcostumes

I built this costume early in 2016. It's worn regularly by a cosplayer who appears at Fairy Princess Storytime (a children's event in Punta Gorda). The wings went through a few stages of remodeling. If you are interested in construction details (how I made this costume), read the dress diary.

Here are some adorable photos of Tink with my steampunk Regency character, the Fairy Tale Teller:

tink's dress diary

I chose Simplicity Pattern # 1876 for this costume because the skirt looks so much like leaves, or petals. To cosplay a tiny little fairy, I thought it was best to evoke images of dainty insects as much as possible.

To get the tiny "feathery" look on the fabric, I used two layers, flat-lining something called giraffe tulle over a cotton broadcloth. I had to baste every single seam by hand before assembling the pieces so it took longer than you might expect, but it was worth it:

The wings were more of a project than I had expected... originally, I created a transparent cover for a pair of wings I had on hand, but they never quite looked right, and it was hard to get a photo of them because whatever was in the background showed through loud and clear. So eventually we took a different pair of wings and spray painted them to match the dress - which worked quite well! I had to construct a special attachment for the back of the dress to make them stay upright when Tink is wearing them, but it is definitely worth it.