The De Vil Dior Gown

The De Vil Dior Gown

By Jacklyn Foss

This gown is inspired by an Edwardian velvet bodice from the Salisbury Museum collection and a costume by designer Jenny Beavan called the “Moth Dress”, for Disney’s live action adaptation of Cruella (2021). The intent is to combine modern and historical styles in one garment.

This original 1890’s-1910’s bodice has a base fabric of black velvet and is decorated with small silver beads and larger hexagon shaped beads. We tried to copy the beads and used black velvet fabric scraps. The bodice is a gorgeous V design with the beading, which is present on the second skirt of the gown connecting the two garments and repurposing it for a modern gown. 

The “Moth Dress” designed by Cruella De Vil in the film (she tries to be a fashion designer) was given the name due to the gold beading being moth cocoons stitched all over the gown. The moths hatch out and destroy the gown as well as the entire fashion collection. It has a stunning silhouette and visual impact in the film. 

This garment was created by starting with a pattern for the bodice by using cling wrap and duct tape, then drawing the pattern onto the duct tape on the mannequin and cutting the pattern out. A draping technique was used for the two skirts. The second skirt had interfacing underneath to create the bell shape.