Copyright AriaAustin, 1999 - 2009, all rights reserved.
Copyright AriaAustin, 1999 - 2009, all rights reserved.
Wendy Darling's Gown
James Marie Barrie's story of the boy who wouldn't grow up is a bit more complex than the Disney version makes it out be. Nevertheless, at its heart, a boy who just would not grow upmeets the three Darling children in Victorian London. In the most popular tellings, Disney's and the popular modern stage version, he wishes for Wendy to be his mother.
Wendy was on the verge of young-womanhood, about to be moved from the nursery she shared with her brothers to her own adult room, during which time her grooming for adulthood, and eventually as a token in marriage, was to begin.
The night gown she wore in the Disney production
Wendy was on the verge of young-womanhood, about to be moved from the nursery she shared with her brothers to her own adult room, during which time her grooming for adulthood, and eventually as a token in marriage, was to begin.
The night gown she wore in the Disney production
was somewhat regency in style, high-waisted with short, puffed sleeves. Likely a cotton, as were almost all children's nightgowns in the Victorian era, it has a ribbon of a darker blue
around the raised waistline, and no visible sleeve bands of seams
for a closure.
Almost all reproductions I have seen of this gown, including the
ones at the Disney parks, make this gown from a shiny polyester
satin with a back-zipper (neither available in Wendy's childhood
time), with a regular scooped neckline.
My version of this gown is made of cotton, hand-dyed by me to
achieve as close to a blue as the stills available as possible. The
neckline is much wider, much closer to Wensy's gown. As you
can see in the still to the right, the neckline would go completely
off the shoulder if it weren't for the sleeves. The caps of the
sleeves are slightly tight to hold the gown up, with puffs and
hidden elastic throughout the rest. My gown closes in the back
with four or five (depending on gown size) buttons the same color as the ribbon. I will leave the length of the gown up to the client. My gown is fully-lined, also with cotton.
around the raised waistline, and no visible sleeve bands of seams
for a closure.
Almost all reproductions I have seen of this gown, including the
ones at the Disney parks, make this gown from a shiny polyester
satin with a back-zipper (neither available in Wendy's childhood
time), with a regular scooped neckline.
My version of this gown is made of cotton, hand-dyed by me to
achieve as close to a blue as the stills available as possible. The
neckline is much wider, much closer to Wensy's gown. As you
can see in the still to the right, the neckline would go completely
off the shoulder if it weren't for the sleeves. The caps of the
sleeves are slightly tight to hold the gown up, with puffs and
hidden elastic throughout the rest. My gown closes in the back
with four or five (depending on gown size) buttons the same color as the ribbon. I will leave the length of the gown up to the client. My gown is fully-lined, also with cotton.
You can see my completed version of the gown on the left. My dressforms down't have human shoulders, so had to be pinned for photographing, causing the neckline to appear lower than it will be when worn. The picture to the right shows the gown before hemming to the client's requested length. It can be floor-length, above-the-knee, or anything in between. The last photo below shows the bottom of the sleeve. As you can see there is no waistband. A hidden elastic casing is sewn inside. It can also be made of silk or any other fabric, and in any color you wish or pattern available.
