"Folklore", "Into the Woods" Inspired Costume by Laura Hilton

Laura Hilton of @littlebonniebelle and Peony Patterns designer created this whimsical costume for Project Run & Play Season 28 - Week 2. Per Laura, "When I hear “into the woods” my first thought is always the musical.  I LOVE musicals and costuming.  I love how the art of design and sewing can help transform and tell a story.  So for my Into the Woods theme look I took inspiration from the Grimm brothers themselves.  This look is a little bit a girl who dreams of what it would be like to go to the festival and dance with a handsome prince, a girl who wanders on her way to granny, and a girl in a tower dreaming of adventure.​

This look begins with a classic collared shirt dress style in a dainty Liberty of London floral paired with Swiss lace edging from Farmhouse Fabrics.  I borrowed the sleeves from one of my favorite of my patterns, Peony Patterns Dahlia, and slightly redrafted the puff at the shoulder to be a little more exaggerated to add a touch of whimsy.  Then I gave the dress a very full double skirt to create a lovely fluffy base for the over dress.  Taking inspiration from a ballerina tutu, the over dress is made from a delicate embroidered baby blue Spanish cotton/nylon, also from Farmhouse Fabrics.  The ballet style over dress features vintage decorative hooks, bow tie shoulders, a very full skirt, and an elastic back. 

Since you must be prepared when venturing into the woods I also created the cozy cropped red wool swing coat with a pixie pointed hood and a vibrant red floral lining and large flower button, also from Farmhouse Fabrics.  I love the contrast for the red jacket over the soft blue of the ballet style over dress and how the many textures of this outfit come together to create one story.​"