This week I finished designing the outfits and moved on to colour.
Vivienne
Vivienne is part of the more elusive rich black Victorians so I really wanted to capture that allure and regality she has in her designs. Looking at my ref pearls and lace ruffles are the fashion of choice and I tried to capture that in my first design. I also really love the look of a high collar on her and will be experimenting more with her designs. I wasn’t sure if I wanted Vivienne’s dress to have a more fitted look or looser and relaxed feel so I tried out both and I quite liking the chest ruffles with a clinched waist.
I felt that the first dress I did worked for Vivienne the best. I added some jewellery and accents her and there to spruce up the design, also looking at how I wanted to the sleeves to bring the dress together. I really like this design as it has a slightly Edwardian style (hourglass and curvy) almost as if she’s ahead of the trends; as expected of Vivienne.
I actually found myself really liking the darker values for this dress, the cut of it has an almost witchy feel to it with looks great darker.
Oscar the Cat
For Oscar I made sure that I got the correct proportions and bone structure for a cat's body before I stylised it.
I started off with some really simple gestural shapes for the body just to get a feel of his character, I want Oscar to almost have a tiny lion feel to him so I really liked the last one.
I then made some tweaks to the body using Liquefy, especially on the last one which gives him a stocky/brave look, though I definitely preferred the pudge of the first 2 as it fits a spoilt house cat’s disposition a lot better.
Oscar’s final design has quite a regal and as he is a gentleman, I gave him a mini pocket watch as a collar.
I looked at some gradients ranging from warm to cool grey as I do like the thought of a grey cat with smoky coloured fur and bright eyes. I liked the look of the more neutral grey fur and looking at some reference for interesting fur patterns I used overlays to create these; the markings that look like the cat has a moustache which goes really well with the Victorian theme.
Colour Exploration
I'd gotten advice from my tutor suggesting that I should choose a profession for the father and then hint at it in his clothing but I wasn't sure what to choose. After considering for a while and looking at what jobs middle class people would have I decided to make him a scientist, but more specifically a biologist.
Due to Queen Victoria and more strict religious views there was generally a science vs. religion movement during the mid-end of the Victorian era. Some people thought that scientists was trying to play God and it was wonderfully controversial.
As for the Odell family people might think losing his son was punishment, or maybe the son didn't agree/want to go into that profession which helps me rationalise the strain in the father's design and general unkempt feeling. I also wanted to give him accessories that helped evidence that.
I also think that Bethany would be very interested in experimenting on organisms.
Morgan Colour Exploration
These rich colours are meant to show masculinity and how rich they are as they can afford well pigmented dyes, I've also listed what materials I'm going to make the clothes out, this'll help me later on.
Materials
Waistcoat: Gabardine with velvet lining, velvet back panel
Cravat: Silk
Trousers: Corduroy
Shoes: Leather
Dorethe
Dorethe has this warm, lively feel to her which I tried to convey in her outfit colours.
Materials
Top skirt: Velvet
Mid skirt, jacket: Serge
Collar, blouse, flowers: Organdy
Skirt and jacket lining: Satin backed with tarlatan
Necklace, Bracelet: Copper with rose quartz gemstones (copper for fertility and rose quartz for love and family)
I couldn't decid which colour I wanted for Dorethe's dress so I put my preferred one next to her husband and they matched well and looked quite charming together.
Twins Colours
Bethany and Eliza are quite dichotomous which crosses over into the colours they wear.
For Bethany I chose lighter more powdery colours including a rich gold which looked great with her hair. For Eliza I looked at deeper, darker and richer colours like dark reds, blues, and greens. She was the hardest to choose a colour for because I didn't want her to look frumpy, in the end I chose the dark olive green dress because how well it went with her eyes and deep auburn hair.
Bethany Materials
Cuffs, chest frills, upper skirt trims, roses: Organdy
Ribbons, bottom skirt, rose ribbons: Silk
Bodice, sleeves, top skirts: Serge
Rose gem: Moonstone
Necklace: Soft gold
Bird eyes: Moonstone
Eliza Materials
Ribbon, skirt, blouse: Velvet
Chest and arm lace: Organdy
Collar, chest ruffles, cuff, lining: Serge
Gems: Green aquamarine stones
The Odell Family (so far)
As it worked so well for the mother, when developing colours for the twins I made sure they looked complementary together as a family. Due to that they work great together.
