Dressing up for grown ups

What's Comic-Con but an excuse for wearing costumes in public? Like I need an excuse....

I was a latecomer to the Firefly franchise, but figured I've got the hair and sense of humour for Kaylee - seated left, here: (I wish I had the hair, figure, looks and wardrobe for Inara - standing right - but one must be realistic.)

So here's what we were going for:

and what we got:

And a couple of photos from the Comic-Con photographers

All the bits and pieces:The jacket was made by cutting and sewing together a cheongsam. This turned out not to be the easiest way to make a jacket! Still, it was (close to) the right colour.

The parasol was a plain white one, $6 on Gumtree, painted with poster paint, freehand. I should have been able to work out that there was a way of ensuring the design was even - look at the design when the umbrella is folded - left (even design), and right (going a bit wonky):

I didn't get hold of a pair of overalls like Kaylee wears but went with a khaki shirt and pants. Iron-on decals from Spotlight, and a bear face made from scraps of fur.

Obre silk maxi skirt

In Sydney in the new year I went to Tessuti Fabrics in Chatswood, as I am wont to do... and saw this on the remnant table:

Let's zoom in on that label:











I actually placed it back on the remnant table after picking it up - after all, what was a mother of 2 with few opportunities to dress up going to do with 2m of ombre silk? I then realised that I would regret it if I didn't buy it - especially at that price - so I bought it.

And wouldn't you know, my middle school son presented me with an invitation to a "semi formal" night out, so I sewed the fabric into a tube (the rolled hem foot got another workout - see right), gathered it onto an elastic waistband, and wore it out:

Completing the outfit with an vintage rhinestone ombre brooch I picked up on eBay years earlier, just in case....