Being Lili

Several months ago, I set my mind toward the task of building attire for the popular Magic the Gathering character Liliana Vess. Due to many new adventures as well as much non-photogenic weather, it has taken me much longer than anticipated to share any results of my efforts. I have however recently made a journey to the gathering known as MegaCon and this seemed the perfect opportunity to showcase my work.
I believe when we last spoke of this project I was finishing up some hand work on the bodice as well as doing the final paint details on the sleeves. These small things took a bit longer than expected due to the delicate nature of the work, however I was able to finish the full thing by my deadline at the end of last October. Each one of Lili's over the shoulder sleeves is constructed of a slim triangle of purple costume satin that fastens to the rest of the bodice front and back with a series of small black hooks. The pieces are fully detachable, leaving the bodice able to be worn as a simple purple corset, or as part of the greater attire.
Each shoulder is hand painted with a delicate boarder design. These designs are largely drawn from my own fancy as none of the pictures available give a very clear idea of the patterning, however I really fell in love with the metallic finish of the paint against the purple of the material.

The corset is fully lined with an old gold lining material (reclaimed from a second hand pillow sham) and all of the edges were turned inward and top-stitched with metallic thread so that the whole piece had tiny hints of sparkle both from the hardware and from the stitching itself. The bodice attaches to the flowing skirt (discussed months ago) with several more hooks so that the garb may be disassembled at will and worn in any combination of pieces.

I am on the whole largely satisfied with the finished piece and how it really evolved from the images and sketches that I used to build it. I feel I would be remiss If i did not now include a few images of the full attire. First off here is an image that I used extensively when putting my ideas together depicting Liliana. The most exciting moments however of being Lili, were when I bumped into another young lady who was dressed as Elesh Norn (another character from the Magic the Gathering multiverse) and was able to take a picture with her, and the moment when a young man who was working one of the stands selling cards, actually pulled the Liliana of the Veil card out of it's case and protective wrapper (this is a 90+ dollar card pictured below) and handed her to me so that he could take a picture of us.

I have very much enjoyed the experience of making this piece from start to finish and then enjoying wearing the results. I can only hope that if you too share my love of garb and and the feel of well made attire, that you will understand the feeling. At the moment, I am already deep into my next project. Although it is in the beginning 'hopes and dreams stages', I can spoil that it involves quite a bit of lace and the color orange!

Please to not fear that my long absences mean that there will not be more to come. The wheels of inspiration are ever turning. I do fear that until Sir Reginald and I are well and safely married there will be little time for my other amusements, however you have been lovely and patient with me to this point and I merely beg of you patience for a short while longer.
~Djinni