Venetian Carnevale Harlequin Gown

For Venetian Carnevale 2020, I wanted some kind of harlequin outfit because that’s so iconically “carnevale.” But it had to be in my favorite gothic colors, and I couldn’t find any fabric remotely close to that. The obvious solution was to make my own, but wow, that sounded difficult! So I talked to my mom about it, and she said it sounded like strip-quilting and she could do it. Over Thanksgiving 2019, we talked about the idea, and she consulted with my stepdad (who has an engineering PhD). He did some kind of math stuff and figured out how much of this strip-quilting would be needed for the amount of yardage I wanted. Then she got started, making this a family project!

Now, I wasn’t going to make the whole outfit from harlequin fabric — my concept was a black 18th-c. dress with a harlequin petticoat and stomacher. Kind of a robe a l’anglaise or a round gown, very simple in shape, so the harlequin accents can shine. I had a fairly recent 18th-c. bodice drape that I could have used, but I wasn’t feeling confident about time since I was working on Leonard’s black and leopard-print outfit. So I hired Sarah to make the gown itself. Wise choice, because with a mere two fittings, it came out perfect! I just added deep lace sleeve ruffles, then ruffled silk trim topped with a heavy glass gem trim along the front, neckline, and sleeves.

By Christmas 2019, Mom had finished the harlequin fabric, making it from black, purple, and pink silks I’d given her. I attached the fabric to a plain black petticoat I made for the purpose, and turned the smaller section into a simple stomacher that could be pinned over the front of the gown.

In Italy on the trip, I found a fantastic purple and black harlequin mask at one of Antonia Sautter’s workshops and intended to wear this with the outfit. But I was running late as I was getting ready. I also hoped to wear the mask with this outfit at Portland’s Vampire Masquerade Ball, but 2020’s event was (wisely) canceled, so that’s shelved until the next event.

I only wore this outfit to La Fenice Opera in Venice on our final night of Carnevale 2020, and I really want to wear it again!