Ice Princess


Ice Princess full view This is the full Ice Princess costume, which I first unveiled at Orycon in 1992; this photo was taken at Norwescon in 1993. The design is entirely mine, and I made most of it. This is the most elaborate costume I've ever done.

The headdress is a ring of buckram, picked up in the bridal department, then wrapped with ice blue satin ribbon. The snowflake sequins are glued on and centered with acrylic jewels (and yes, it is possible to find sequins that big). The veil is ice-blue organza, glued to the back of the ring; there are iridescent clear sead beads scattered across the veil. My hair, though not clearly visible, is twisted and tied back with strands of clear plastic icicle garland.

The gown is made of medium-weight white rayon velvet. It's the same basic concept as my Medieval Gown, but I accidentally bought a yard less material than I needed, so I had to buy more and stitch the pieces together across the shoulders. It's bordered with wide ice-blue satin ribbon which was glued on, and the neckline has blue and silver acrylic jewels glued to it, with large "crystallized" plastic icicles sewn at the bottom point of the neckline and along the top edges of the "sleeves." Iridescent white snowflake sequins are scattered all over the gown, with iridescent white seed beads in the centers. The sash is silver satin, sewn into a tube, with iridescent plastic icicles sewn at each end.

Under the gown is a bodysuit of white shimmer spandex. This was made for me by my aunt as it required more sewing skills than I possess. The neckline and cuffs are edged in silver bugle beads and silver snowflake sequins. Hidden under the gown are silver leggings and silver satin slippers.

The makeup is mostly theatrical products, as the "Great Freaky Mainstream Makeup Boom" had not hit yet (that wasn't until 1996). Foundation is a white "corrector" foundation, powdered with iridescent white mica powder. Eyeshadows are iridescent blue mica powder and silver Cover Girl shadow; eyes are lined with a bright blue theatrical grease pencil and finished with blue L'Oreal mascara. Lipstick is a blue theatrical brand topped with the iridescent blue powder and some clear gloss. On the nails is a Wet 'n' Wild ice blue polish with silver glitter (they don't make this shade anymore).

For jewelry I have a glittery white snowflake earring in the right ear, along with two crystal studs, one of which has a clear quartz shaft hung from it (I have three piercings in my right ear). The earring in the left ear is a plastic icicle hung from a crystal stud.

Nearly all of the elements of this costume were bought at Display and Costume Supply in Seattle. I can't recommend this store highly enough.



Copyright © 1997-2001 Elisabeth Van Every, except where noted. All rights reserved.


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