Make a Princess Costume

Whether for Halloween, a play, a musical production, or everyday play, a princess costume might be perfect for you or your kids! But what kind of princess accurately portrays the princess you are on the inside? Maybe you're a Disney princess at heart, or maybe you're a fairy princess. Whichever the case, with a little preparation and some simple costuming techniques, your fairy princess costume can be completed easily.

Steps

Preparing to Make the Costume

1. Decide on the kind of princess costume you want to make. There are many different kinds princesses for you to choose from, but before you start making your costume, you must decide which kind of princess costume you're going to make. You might consider as inspiration for your costume:
   • Disney princesses.
   • A fairy princess
   • A medieval princess
2. Look up patterns if making from scratch. Unless you have considerable skill working with fabric already, if you intend to make a more intricate costume using your sewing machine, you should look up patterns to help guide you through the process. Many of these are available free online, along with helpful sewing tips and suggestions.
3. Make a shopping list before heading to the craft store. Once you have decided on what kind of princess costume you'll be making, you should make a list of things you'll need to make it, especially if you plan on sewing the costume from scratch. Patterns will usually list materials you will need and tools you use; make a list of your own and take a trip to a local craft store to pick up anything you lack.
4. Take your measurements. You'll need to know what size to buy clothing in if you're re-purposing garments to make your costume. Should you decide to make a costume from scratch with a sewing machine, you'll need exact measurements to apportion out fabric for sleeves, bodice, etc.
   • You may want to check out how to take clothing measurements so that you get the right measurement the first time.

Making an Elsa-esque Costume from Frozen

1. Gather your materials. For this costume, you'll need to find a white or light blue singlet. This will form the base of your costume, and is a great option for young kids. The stretchy fabric of the singlet will allow children to move more freely, even while in costume. It's likely all of your materials can be purchased from a craft store, so be sure to bring your supply list:
   • Light blue or white singlet
   • Light blue or white skirt
   • Safety pins
   • Light blue or white see-through fabric
   • Plastic tiara (optional)
   • Fabric pens (optional)
   • Wig
   • Pink lipstick
   • Purple eyeshadow

1. Consider offsetting your colors. The snow and ice theme that Elsa uses in her costume can be imitated by using both blue and white in your costume. You may want a blue singlet and a white skirt, or the other way around.
2. Cut the fabric for your cape. In the movie Frozen, Elsa has a beautiful see-through cape that trails behind her wherever she goes. You can give this effect to your costume by cutting a length of your see-through fabric slightly narrower than waist width if you are attaching it to the waist, and flare it slightly toward the bottom.
   • A waist-cape is recommended for young children to prevent any accidents or choking while at play, but older children may want a full cape. You can do this by cutting your fabric a little narrower than shoulder width and flaring it toward the bottom.
3. Attach your cape. You may have to make some adjustments when you put the costume on for the first time, but your cape can be easily made by attaching your fabric with safety pins. Along the back half of the waist of your skirt, pin your see-through fabric.
   • For a full length cape, use your safety pins to attach your fabric along the back half of the neckline. You may want to use very small safety pins, which will hide more easily in the folds of your cape.
4. Try the costume on. Start with the singlet and then add the skirt to it. Make sure you have smoothly tucked the singlet into the skirt so that the top is smooth and regal. Check your cape for balance and length, too. You may need to shorten the length or fluff it along the neck or waist to give it more lift.
5. Add accessories worthy of a princess. But before you add a tiara to the costume, you might want to do a simple, yet cute, hairstyle. You might even want to take the singlet off and add some princess themed designs with fabric pens.
   • Your Elsa princes costume might benefit from some snowflakes drawn on it, or maybe a few snowmen.
   • A little glitter on this costume can give you the sparkling appearance of a snow princess.

Making a Fairy Princess Costume

1. Gather your materials. A fairy princess is a regal, natural creature, so you may want to include flower themed accents to your costume, like a floral necklace or flowery bracelets. These accents, along with the following list of necessaries, can be bought at your local craft store. For this costume you'll need:
   • Fabric tape
   • Lace (or other gauzy, light fabric)
   • Pipe cleaners
   • Safety pins
   • Scissors
   • T-shirt
   • Tiara (optional)
   • Tutu
   • Wings
2. Frill your shirt. Take your lace and cut it into thin strips. Then you should stretch it across the front of your shirt to give a gauzy, frilled look to it. Attach your lace by safety pinning it along the sides of the back of the shirt, but you shouldn't have to worry about stretching the lace all the way around the back. The wings of your costume should block the back of the costume from view.
3. Connect your wings to your shirt. Lay out your shirt and position on top. This will allow you to get a better image of how the wings will look. Once you have found a satisfactory position for your wings, you'll need to use your fabric tape to attach these if there are no straps. Simply tape your wings to the singlet at the narrow part at the center of the back of your costume. You may want to use your tape in an X pattern to attach your wings with greater stability.
   • Use fabric tape that matches the color of your shirt to make it less visible on the costume.
   • Depending on the construction of your wings, fabric tape might not be an option. If your wings don't hold, you may need to sew your wings to the shirt.
   • If you have difficulty finding pre-made wings, you can form lacey or gauzy fabric in the shape of wings and hold it in place with fabric tape.
   • You might use a short length of lace to fashion cute, tiny wings, or long flowing loops of lace to make majestic ones.
   • If you choose to create your wings with lace, any lace or gauzy fabric will do, but a stiffer fabric will be easier to style and tape to your singlet.
4. Cut your lace into strips for homemade lace wings. Cut your lace into two long strips. Lay your singlet on a flat, uncluttered space, and cross the strips of lace in an X shape. Leave extra lace for the top halves of your cut lace, and loop the ends of these back to the middle of the back where the strips of lace cross.
   • Use your tape to adhere lace and loop ends, creating two wing-like loops at the top, and trailing bottom lace that imitates the bottom portion of a fairy wing.
5. Make a fairy wand. You can use a single pipe cleaner for the handle of your fairy wand, or you could twist a few together to give the handle of the want a little more weight and substance. Take another pipe cleaner and bend it into the shape of a star so that both ends meet at the bottom concave part between the two bottom points. Then twist the ends of your star to the top portion of your wand handle to complete the wand.
   • Your costume might look great with a wand made from pipe cleaner that matches the color of your costume, or you may want to give this feature pop by choosing a contrast color instead.
6. Check your costume on its wearer. Check the height and stability of your wings. If the person wearing the costume is younger, you'll want the wings firmly attached so as not to be knocked off during play. Height is also an important factor; low wings might hide behind the back of the person wearing your costume. Take stock of your frills and make any adjustments you deem necessary.
7. Add finishing touches. You may want to use some body glitter to give the wearer of this costume look truly enchanting. You should try on any floral bracelets or necklaces you have that match or accent the color of your top and tutu. You should also check the look of your tiara - you may want some glitter there, too!

Tips

• For extra decoration, consider adding bows, ribbons, and other accents with a lace or gauze.
• Some fake jewelry can add an air the the extravagant to your princess costume.
• Glitter can give your fairy princess some fairy dust.

Related Articles

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References

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