Make Your Own Marie Antoinette Costume for Halloween

So, Madame, you have decided to be Marie Antoinette for Halloween? One route is the authentic custom gown. Here is a quick photo primer, created by A. Bender, of the many layers of an 18^th century women's costume. This illustrates the two keys to the classic Marie Antoinette silhouette: the tight fitting bodice and the panniers. If you're inspired by Kristin Dunst and devoted to having a historically authentic Marie Antoinette costume, you need stays, which can be quite comfortable if well fitted, but need to be custom made at some expense.

Here is offered a minimal-sewing frugal alternative: the do it yourself Marie Antoinette-inspired costume. Opt out of full stays or a corset. Instead, a minimizer bra, bustier or sports bra, while not authentic, will be much more comfortable. Panniers, or hoops, can be created from hula hoops! This costume is a bit of work, but won't break the bank like a $600 custom gown, $75 hoops and a $150 corset. Madame, your shopping list:

For the Panniers and Underskirt

Duct tape

2 cheap flexible hula hoops

2 yards wide satin ribbon

2 ½ yards of 45" wide lightweight fabric (for a 4 foot diameter hula hoop)

For the Dress

Low-cut full-length big skirted prom dress, or tight fitting scoop neck top and big skirt

4" to 6" wide white lace ruffle, 1 yard

1" wide white lace ruffle, 1 ½ yards

Needle& thread or hot glue gun

Satin ribbon

For the hair:

Bobby pins

Gel or hair spray

White hair color spray

2-4 clip on curls

Accessories

Additional ribbon, either in a color to match the dress, or in black

Filigree rhinestone brooch or pendant

Chandelier earrings

Minimizer bra or minimizer bustier

White stockings

Court pumps, white satin or brocade; or ballet flats

A beautiful fan and lacy shawl

Makeup

Pale foundation and powder

Liquid cheek stain

Berry shade lip stain

Black liquid eyeliner

First, the underpinnings. Traditionally, panniers hold the skirt out for that Marie Antoinette court dress silhouette. For a do-it-yourself approach, a hula hoop hoopskirt will work! Squash one of the hula hoops into an oval and duct tape across both the ends to hold the oval shape (See Panniers I picture). Make sure there is a space in the center large enough for you to fit into. Repeat with the second hoop, making sure the curves on the two hoops match. For a 5'6" to 5"10" woman connect the two hoops using 20"pieces of duct tape; apply a second piece of the duct tape on the inside to cover the sticky surface. You should end with one hoop hanging evenly about 18" from the other (See Panniers II picture). If you are shorter or taller make the hoops 16" or 20" apart.

For the next step, find a friend to help you; tie the ribbon around your waist and use more duct tape to suspend the top hoop from your ribbon waistband. The hoops should be parallel to the floor, with the top hoop just a few inches under waist level. (See Panniers III picture)

Cut the satin for the underskirt longways into two 2 ½ yard long x 22" pieces of fabric, with one finished long edge and one raw edge. Hot glue or duct tape the long raw edge of the fabric to the bottom hoop of the panniers, tucking the short raw edges in. Your underskirt/pannier combo is complete!

Now, the topper-- an old prom or bridesmaid's dress. Look in your favorite thrift store for something with a big scoop neck, and elbow or full length sleeves. It should be tight-fitting on top; with the biggest, longest skirt you can find. 80's ruffles and bows are good - inspired by the Amadeus craze!

Once you get your dress home, you're going to tart it up even more for that Marie Antoinette French baroque look. Either sew or use small dots of hot glue to apply the 1" lace to the neckline of the dress. If the dress has a back zipper, start from one edge of the zipper and fold ½ inch of the lace down to hide the raw edges. The wider 6" lace ruffle should be applied in a similar way to the sleeve cuffs to create big ruffles at the ends of your sleeves. You can add additional lace in a big V on the bust area if desired.

Put on the pannier/underskirt combo and then the dress over the top. Pick a point in the center front of the skirt and pull it up towards your waist 6-12" to create a draped effect, showing a bit of the underskirt. Use safety pins to secure it in place, pinning ONLY through the dress, and safety pin or hot glue a large ribbon bow to the top of the drape. Voilá, Madame!

Use a piece of the remaining lace and ribbon to make a matching hair ornament: take a 6-12" section of the remaining lace and gather it into a rosette shape; make a small ribbon bow and hot glue it in the center.

Now you're ready for the finishing touches. Pull longer hair into a loose updo with the bun towards the back top of your head. Shorter hair can be slicked back, but try to create a little "poof" in front. Clip 2-4 clip on curls to the nape of your neck. For a powdered look, liberally coat your 'do with white-colored spray on hair color. Last, use the bobby pins to clip the lace and ribbon rosette in place either on the top of your head, or at the back of your head covering the clip on curl attachments.

Makeup enhances the Marie Antoinette look. Apply an allover foundation in a pale color. Use a liquid blush or cheek stain to highlight the apples of your cheeks. It should look artificial, like a china doll. Set with pale colored powder. Apply berry lip stain to redden your lips. Use the black eyeliner to paint a small black dot on your cheek, and highlight the whiteness of your skin.

Complete your Marie Antoinette ensemble with a ribbon choker tied around the neck decorated with a beautiful pendant or brooch, glitzy earrings, elegant dancing shoes, lacy shawl and a flirty fan. Madame la Reine, you are très belle!

Claudia Solacini, "Biography of Marie Antoinette", ladyreading.net

Natasha Lawrence, "How to Use a Hula Hoop to Make a Skirt", ehow.com

Marie Antoinette official movie site, sonypictures.com

Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun, Queen Marie Antoinette of France, 1778