Regency Meet Rumpelstiltskin

"Round about, round about,

    Lo and behold!

  Reel away, reel away,

    Straw into gold!"

And round about the wheel went merrily; the work was quickly done, and the straw was all spun into gold.

~ Excerpt from Grimm's Fairy Tales translated by Marian Edwardes & 

Edgar Taylor, via Project Gutenburg

It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween everywhere you go...and it's time for another Halloween themed event!  With the 1848 ghost walk over and done with last Friday (costume still in progress, perhaps it could be used for next year's ghost walk), it's time to focus on the Trick or Treat event in the village this coming Sunday.  I've been signed up to do the face painting - this should be an adventure - and, of course I'll need a fun, child-friendly costume!

I've been mulling over several ideas...Rapunzel, Briar Rose, Little Red Riding Hood...and settled on the miller's daughter from Rumpelstiltskin!

Rumpelstiltskin spinning straw into gold.
An illustration from Paul O. Zelinsky's Rumpelstiltskin.
(Image via:  http://alvarson.tumblr.com/post/49049521047/fairytalemood-rumpelstiltskin-illustrated-by)

In the retold and illustrated version of the Grimm's classic fairy tale, Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky, the miller's daughter is painted in rich, vibrant orange fabrics.  And, I had recently started a pumpkin colored Regency-ish dress - so the idea clicked and stuck!  I've always been a huge fan of Zelinsky's work - his illustrations are just so brilliant and lively.  (In fact, I've had the greatest pleasure of meeting him a couple of times and own just about every one of his books - signed too!)

The poor miller's daughter.
An illustration from Paul O. Zelinsky's Rumpelstiltskin.
(Image via:  http://alvarson.tumblr.com/post/49049521047/fairytalemood-rumpelstiltskin-illustrated-by)

While I'm not actually planning on doing a recreation of Zelinsky's portrayal of the miller's daughter, I'm not intending to create a period piece either.  Instead, this will just be a fun, Regency meet Rumpelstiltskin, Halloween costume!

Dress Inspiration:  A work in progress, the bodice is about half-way to completion and the skirt panels are ready to be gathered and attached.  Make sure to take a look at Katherine's fabulous Orange 1820s Dress of Doom, those sleeves(!), at her blog, The Fashionable Past.

Portrait of Varvara S. Dolgorukaya, painted by Henri-François Riesener.
(Image via: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Varvara_Gagarina_Riesener.jpg)

Journal des Dames et des Modes, 1812.
(Image via: http://damesalamode.tumblr.com/post/12113743067/journal-des-dames-et-des-modes-1812-i-thought)

Dinner Dress from Jan. 1, 1825 World of Fashion.
(Image via: http://historicalsewing.com/a-gown-for-a-new-years-party)

Dress c.1823-1825.  McCord Museum.
(Image via: http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/scripts/large.php?accessnumber=M20555.1-2&Lang=1&imageID=301900) 

Accessory Inspiration:  It's going to be quite chilly, so for sure I'll need a chemisette!  Take a look at this stunning chemisette at Kleidung um 1800, one of my favorite costume blogs.

Chemisette c.1800-1820.  Snowshill Wade Costume Collection.
(Image via: http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1349950)

Collar c.1807.  The Metropolitan Museum of Arts.
(Image via: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/85338?rpp=60&pg=1&ao=on&ft=collar+1807&when=A.D.+1800-1900&pos=29)

Helpful Links Referenced: 

• Project Gutenberg EBook of Grimm's Fairy Tales, with the classic tale of Rumpelstiltskin:  http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2591/2591-h/2591-h.htm#link2H_4_0027
• Paul O. Zelinksky's website: http://www.paulozelinsky.com/index.html 
• More inspiration for this project can be found at my Halloween Regency pinterest board