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Arwen's Angel DressV2.1 - April, 2005
Wounded Frodo’s first sight of Arwen is in an almost angelic in a soft focus scene where she wear a silver white dress and is surrounded by light. Arwen implores Frodo “to come back to the light”. Very little of the dress is seen because the scene goes by so quickly. The scene is lit to give it an angelic, surrealistic quality. She rides towards the camera, the fabric flowing behind her. The lighting causes her to almost join with the horse, an angel arriving. She dismounts in a flow of fabric. Then she is moving forward and we see her as she reaches out a reach out towards the camera, an angelic vision in white. Index
A Tale of Two DressesThe Two Dress StoryThere are two dresses used in this scene. She rides up in the "Halo Cloak" and original dress. In re-shoots, she wears the scoop necked "Angel Dress" that we are more familiar with to approach Frodo. We have two versions of stories for why the dress and hair style appear to change
Outfit Differences
Detailed DescriptionHalo Cloak and Original DressHalo CloakThis wonderful cloak is what gives this outfit it's name, even if it should more correctly be called a shawl since there is no neckline. It is just a large triangle. It is made from a very soft long hair fiber that almost looks like long haired angora mixed with metallic fibers. The fabric is very shear. The shawl is very simple. It is a very long and wide. Looks to be a full width of fabric wide. Guess that it is 45" long but since it is crocheted fabric width would not matter. If on her shoulders, the shawl would fall to almost knee level. The width is twice that. The top edge very fine. The diagonal edges look to have some kind of a pattern on them. Since this is crocheted, it is assumed the edges are not turned under. The DVD description does say "hooded", but there is zero evidence of this. There are a few mis-statements in the commentary. Could this be one of them. Did she mean that the shall was wrapped around like a hood? Halo DressThe dress consists of two full length layers. It is unknown if they are attached. However, we know for certain that the Rose Dress is two layers so it is likely that this is two separate garments. Invisible zipper in back. She wore wide palazzo trousers, wide enough to appear to be a skirt. She would probably be wearing white leggings with the high white boots. The under dress is a silvery metallic silk that has been broomstick/crinkle pleated. There are no center or princess seams in front. This fabric is quite stretchy so will shape itself and mold to the body fairly easily. The neck is lightly scooped and not visible beneath the over dress. The long sleeves bell out widely. However, they are not nearly as elaborate as her other sleeves will get. The sleeves are fingertip length and look to be finished with either a serged hem, stretched to widen out the sleeve or it's actually turned under to hem because of how it ripples. The outer dress is a full length, round neck dress. The scoop is not very deep and is not decorated. In most shots the neckline is obscured by the halo cloak. The fabric is white wool woven with a silvery metal. It gives the feeling of lightness, but apparently not enough in the close ups.. It is 4 parts with no darts. It is assumed there is a zipper in the back. The front is joined from top of the neckline to below the end of the bust. The fabric pulls tight across the bust, shaping the dress. This line is accented in a beaded piping which runs from neckline down to the ground on both sides of the open outer dress. There does not appear to be any train, but we do not see the dress enough to know for sure. However, it is probably longer on the sides and back, but we're guessing. The outer dress's sleeves are unique. They are a one part wrap around, It is stitched closed from front shoulder to about 2 inches above the elbow bend. The sleeves descend almost to her knees. The beaded piping goes from the front shoulder down both sides of the split. The bottom edge looks to be square cut and edged also... but we do not get a clear view of this. CircletNarrow silver and circlet worn just above the brow. Point is down in center. It looks to be very 3-D, rather thick. Gets buried under her hair so cannot tell if it goes all the way around. Her hair is parted in the center. Angel Dress - FinalThe dress is worn by itself and consists of two full length layers. It is unknown if they are attached. However, we know for certain that the Rose Dress is two layers so it is likely that this is two separate garments. The under dress is a silverery metallic silk that has been broomstick/crinkle pleated. There are no center or princess seams. This fabric is quite stretchy so will shape itself and mold to the body fairly easily. The neck is scooped and not visible beneath the over dress. The sleeves would need to be set in. The long sleeves are rather narrow. Their width is no wider than what we seen on the Chase Dress. The sleeves are fingertip length and look to be finished with a narrow zig-zig hem. The edge has not been stretched out like on the halo underdress. We see no sign of any slits in the under dress. Given this fabric, the under dress is most likely just a tube, seams on the sides, almost all the fitting handed by the stretch in the fabric. If she takes only small elven steps, the side could be stitched all the way down, though for movement's sake it may be open from the knee down. The edge of the hem is probably finished in the same way as the sleeve, the narrow zig-zag. (For "reality" sake, this riding issues could be handed by making the crinkled underlayer a back zip, long sleeve jump suit with very wide legged trousers - almost split skirt style.) The outer dress is a full length, scooped neck dress. The scoop is deep but is not as wide as we will see on many of her other dresses. The fabric looks to be a mid-weight synthetic white and metallic silver mix knit. There is a tad bit of stretch in the fabric. It is 4 parts with no darts. There is a invisible zipper in the back. The front is joined from top of the neckline to below the center of the bust line. The fabric pulls tight across the bust shaping the dress. This line is accented in a beaded piping which runs from neckline down to the ground on both sides of the open outer dress. The back of the dress is split for riding. Unknown if the piping is in the back... However, based on when the dress was created (fairly early), they probably didn't spend the money on it. The dress does not have a normal train. It is the same length all the way around, about 3 feet longer than the ground. The edge is turned under with a narrow hem. The costume reference photos show how the fabric has been stressed and stretched out. The outer dresses low, scooped neckline is decorated with 2-3” wide trim. The neckline trim is very ornate and 3-dimential and glittery. The ornate, glittery medallions look like they're mounted on a white net with white scalloped edges. The neck edge of gown has the same row of silver bugle bead piping as the front and sleeve seams. The outer dress's sleeves are unique. They are set in. They are a one part wrap around, It is stitched closed from front shoulder to about 2 inches above the elbow bend. The sleeves descend almost to her knees. The beaded piping goes from the front shoulder down both sides of the split. The bottom edge looks to be square cut and edged also... but we do not get a clear view of this.
PhotographsHalo Dress and Cloak - Original Angel Dress
Angel Dress - Final
Photographs of Toys and Halloween
Making ItThis is a beautiful dress... however you also have to be careful at a few steps or you're going to mess it up
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This page was last updated 04/22/08
