I am about to start altering the malevolent swan tomorrow; I think I know what I am doing with the skirt - but does anyone have any ideas for the top?

[KatyMac]

I bought a ballroom dress on ebay a while ago; it has swansdown/maribou feathers round the hem (I can't tell which) & has hung in the corner of my playroom ever since

I'm a bit afraid of it

I'm removing the underskirts and attaching them to a thick elastic waistband, then I am cutting off the horrid top (removing all the sequin decalls/applique to sell on ebay) and the washing the skit without getting the feathers wet (I think) but if they do get wet I am going to use a hairdryer to dry them

The skirt is pleated inset material name here, white slightly irredescent & I need a top

DD needs to top to cover her bra and I'm thinking black & white for the colour scheme

Any ideas?

bump - for today's crowd

Well the top came off easily enough

But the sequins wee all sewn on individually so no re-sale there

Now as it has one of those pointy at the front waists I need to measure the lengths of the underskirts so they ae all the same length on the new waistband

One of the 4 layers is the right length

How about buying a strappy vest in DDs size & using the salvages sequins to add a bit of glamour to it, or ribbon trim & a bit of the maribou, or something along those lines- that would be the easiest to do & you would then only need to attach the skirts to the top, rather than make a whole top & then attach :)

Maribou feather trim hand washes fine BTW I expect the others do too - I mean, birds get wet & don't shrink/fall apart don't they

would it not be easier to attach it to a leotard?

Or build it on a leotard?

I like that idea

cross posted

Maybe

Yes - x post - or great minds thinking alike - or something like that...

this is too big but I like the idea

I like this

Great idea :) - I forgot your DD does dance

Maybe edge a couple of layers of the skirt with red satin binding or sequins, or similar would tie it all in together nicely :)

I like this too

With a short full circle skirt for latin?

How about:

White leotard
Black & white harlequin satin to make sleeves & skirt
Then hotfix sheets in black & white covering the leotard in a check to make it really bling?

You've lost me completely Katy :)

I thought you wanted ideas on easy ways to make a top to use with the net skirt from your "Swan" dress

Yes but it has to be dual purpose so when I take the swan off it works as a latin dress too

My idea won't work because of the join between the leotard and the swan skirt

Like I did with the yellow/pink one that is on my profile; only now DD says she hates the latin skit on that one......sigh

I didn't mean to change the rule halfway through - DD gets so cross when I do that

It's all in my mind, but I'm several steps ahead there

Thats okay - I think my Fibro brain just met your head on & I got very & thought I was misreading the OP

If its dual purpose then I'd recommend keeping it as 2 Skirts & one separate Leotard - maybe with 2 pin on motifs to match the skirts :)

How about in a minidress with the long ballroom skirt underneath?

I guess I need to do something like this?

Nearly finished the second underskirt!

This would be so much faster if I had a sewing room & didn't have to clear away all the time

How about a cross over leotard like this with a ruched skirt like this

Made in shiny black lycra with white jewel encrusted lapels for latin & the long white pleated skirt for ballroom?

hi KatyMac - I think you are very brave!!!

So as you don't need to limit choice of the tops, all DD's dresses (and most of her friends' dresses) have cups sewn in, instead of bra - means you can have thinner straps and not as limiting for the tops. Not sure if that helps?

She would rather wear a bra; so I'm not arguing - I'd rather she was happy

The green worked out fine....I'm not brave I'm daft!