Finally at long last I get to do a Legend website. For me, Legend was the first movie to ever spark my interest in costuming, but I never pursued it until I saw Lord of The Rings. Now even though this wasn't my original idea (I had always thought I'd end up doing a fan site) it is a wonderful oppertunity to pay hommage to this monumental movie. Its also very exciting to be the first one (to my knowledge) to do a site solely devoted to the costumes. There have been very few fan reproductions and as of right now there are no sites deconstructing the costumes. So hopefully this will become a jumping off point for many loyal fans to finally make their own reproductions. Right now I am only doing Lili's two costumes, but if anyone would like me to add the others or just needs some tips and screen caps (even something like how to make Oona's wings) please e-mail me or post on the message board your request. I hope you enjoy and appreciate it from one fan to another.
Cillista
The Black Dress
Lili's Black dress is actually quite complicated. It has a standing collar which the director had been aiming for a cat-like appearance. So the collar gives it that hint of feline quality with it's extended points. The dress has basic body with a deep "v", side slit, attatched overskirt, and long "shoulder drapes".
The sash is attached at the right shoulder to the left hip and is heavily beaded. There are two decorative ornaments one at the shoulder and one at the hip. The hip ornamentation which is barely seen has tassels hanging from is, while the shoulder ornament has a few beaded tassels (looks similar to the earrings you can find in stores that have long silver rectangles dangling from them). The sash seems to be beaded in a paisley print. Note the wire mesh that is folded in half and pinned to her hair which is pulled back into a tight ballerina bun in the first few pictures. The wire head peice also has small jewls on it. The overskirt has beaded trim stripes running from top to the bottom hem. The sleeve drapes have the same silver trim running down them too diagonally. There are 4 stripes of the silver trim down the middle of her back along those lines are diagonal silver trim lines extending out similar to the lines of a Christmas tree.
Trim Detail
The dress is tightly fitted and the lower portion of the dress is basic "A" line. The overskirt is pleated in. In the second set of pictures under "Back of Dress" you can see when she throws up her arms just haw much fabric is actually pleated for the overskirt. The shoulder drapes come out from under the shoulder caps and extend to at least a foot more than floor length. The caps are slightly sheer with lines. The dancing black dress (before lili morphs) has both the corner of her overskirt and the middle of the sleeve drapes hanging from her wrists attached by a string (enabling her to dance). The drapes and the overskirt have scalloped edges making them appear tattered.
Dress Shape
Back of Dress
The standing collar is made of moire while the body is made of satin (although in some cases it almost looks like thin leather or pleather). As for the fabric of the overskirt and the sleeve drapes, they're made of habotai.
FaReferences for Fabric
The bottom of the dress has a high split or more likely and practical is simply orverlapped. The bottom hem is scalloped. The fabric is slit to create stripes that are in a broken zig-zag (to help keep some structure). At first I thought that the fabric was just satin ribbon sewn to a sheer fabric base, but it is not as evidence by the way the fabric lays and the stripes hang down when she stops dancing. You can also tell this when she faints and the "wind" blows them. In these pictures you can also see just how long the sleeve drapes are the one on her right shoulder (as viewed from the back) is draped and slung over her other arm so that it extends from one arm to the other behind her back.
Side View of Dress in Motion
The dress body is tightly fitted and in the deep "v" is sewed to a very thin skin colored fabric (the same material skaters use and can be bought at practically any sewing store). You can see the line in the second and third pictures. The rest of the pictures show that the standing collar is not actually fully attatched to the dress. The first picture is when she wakes up and hurries away from Lord Darkness. It shows the space between the standing collar and her chest. In the other pictures you can see the way that sometimes the light shows through from underneath that space. On the back of her collar in the fourth and fifth picture there is another space. The collar is probably detachable so that it is easier to get the dress on and off as well as making it washable, should it need to be. The collar is probably contructed with a base of cardboard or plastic with wire being crossed for support (see the fourth picture of the top row).
Dress Costruction
Publicity Photos etc.
Links to Sellers and Recreations: