Crimson Peak - Lucille Sharpe's Drop of Blood dress

• Fabric: ~40 yards of Polyester Dupioni
• Time:3 months
• Origin: Crimson Peak - Lucille Sharpe - Drop of Blood Dress
• Location: Marqueen Hotel, The Old Consulate Inn
• Convention and Events: Pending!

A costume 5 years in the wish bucket - I had been wanting to make the Lucille Sharpe dress as soon as I saw the movie. But expectations, skills, time were not aligned until now. I had the total privilege to have invited so many talents to join me in this wonderful occasion. With me in frame is the gorgeous @the_sewlo_artist !! ❤️


When detailing out the design, I spent a few hours looking at all the movie references, what other cosplayers had done, and also extant designs. I have found a few really interesting interpretations as well as tutorials on how to make the crushed pleats. I had also reached out to pleaters to get quotes on pleating, which turned out to be way out of my price range and a logistical challenge.
So I found a poly dupioni fabric that didn’t fray very much on the straight grain, and have gorgeous drape. And because of the polyester content was able to hole the pleat shapes and be ironed with high heat. So I found a poly dupioni fabric that didn’t fray very much on the straight grain, and have gorgeous drape. And because of the polyester content was able to hole the pleat shapes and be ironed with high heat.

The tutorial of how I made the broomstick pleat is here -  if you are interested for your Victorian costumes! All I needed was a ruffler foot, a ton of setting adjustments (which I shared in the tutorial).


Enough of the back view, here is what the front looks like! I love the lighting on this narrow hallway. The sense of tight spacing and wrought iron are a reflection on Lucille‘s headspace - narrow and dark. I draped and re-draped the pattern and made three mock ups to get the top as desired. I wanted a fitted body with slim sleeves. The lace used for the sleeve opening and ruff collar is a freestanding lace embroidered by me after looking at many different option, (tutorial is fore coming).


In these professional shoots, out of frame talents are photographer @embracethedarkanddreary , Art Direction @atelierheidi and Assisted by @ah_que_la_maguita




And now the accessories and blings. AKA the Jewels of Lucille! I found the earrings at a flea market last week, the ring on Etsy, and the hair jewels are made with buttons, fire polished beads and metal toggles.

Of course, I would need a pretty Reticule bag to carry all my belongs. So I made a cute bag using the matching fabric. You can check out the Video on how I made it in the hoop here - 


While I waited for more professional photos of the red dress, my husband and I took a fun trip to the historic seaside town of Port Townsend for valentines day. We stayed at the Old Consulate for the weekend. It’s a beautifully decorated historic inn that we frequently stayed at when we visit, and this time I have a costume to go with! My husband took these photos and edited by me.