Beauty and the Beast Belle’s Party Pantaloons

Hello sweet friends! A few weeks ago I had mentioned on both my YouTube and Instagram channels that this year’s Halloween costume extravaganza was going to be based on the live-action Provencial Belle and Gaston. While Disney did take a bit of creative license in the historical accuracy of the costumes I still felt it was a good idea to start with the undergarments first. So here is Beauty and the Beast Belle’s Party Pantaloons.

Beauty and the Beast Belle’s Party Pantaloons

In the live-action movie, Emma Watson plays the part of the heroine, Belle. In the opening sequence of the film, you see Belle’s pantaloons as she tucks her skirt up to skip over some stones in the water. Shockingly, pantaloons weren’t actually worn in the 18th-century. However, costume designer Jacqueline Durran did get the hand-blocked blue and white fabric right. This print was a popular design at the end of the century and going into the Regency period. 

You can see them a bit more closely in a Disney Movie Costumes display. 

The Challenge

Now of course there always has to be a challenge for the annual Halloween costume. (If you are a new reader: I create a costume each October for an incredible price.) Becoming Jane seems to be the overall fan favorite and was created from a tablecloth for under $10. 

This year my challenge is to make the costumes using ONLY supplies I already have in my home. I cannot buy ANYTHING!

So I started with the pantaloons. I used Butterick pattern B4570. It was purchased last year for $1 at an estate sale. It has not been in print for several years but can easily be found on Etsy and eBay. 

The pattern includes the dress, bonnet, apron, and pantaloons. 

I altered the pattern by gathering the fabric on the bottom portion of the leg and sewing up a simple cuff that fit my mid-calf. 

So you can see that the pantaloons are made from a floral fabric and not a hand-blocked print. It was the closest I could come to what I had on hand. I also did not have enough of the fabric so I had to piece it with another fabric. These are wild PARTY pantaloons! Smile.

The Chemise and Fischu

Next, came Belle’s chemise and fichu. A chemise (also called a shift or slip) was generally made of lightweight linen. The fichu is a triangular scarf. 

I had made a historically accurate Provencal Gal in 2018. You can read about 18th-century undergarments HERE and accessories (to include fichu’s) HERE.

You can see the sleeves of Belle’s chemise which indeed looks like it is made of linen. 

Her fichu is tucked into her neckline and also looks like fine linen or perhaps cotton voile or batiste. 

The fichu is a great beginner project. You don’t even need a pattern. It is simply an oversized square scarf cut in half in the diagonal. My scarf square was 22″ but you can make it smaller or larger to suit you. I machine hemmed mine in the essence of time but will probably go back and do a rolled hem in the future. 

The chemise was made using Simplicity 8579.

This chemise has actually been on my project to-do list for over a year. A good basic chemise in linen is worn under everything in historic costuming. So yes, for those who were wondering if I cheated, I did indeed have the pattern and linen in my sewing stash. 

I did alter the pattern by adding a drawstring neckline and gathered the sleeves to a small cuff to look more like Belle’s.

It Has Pockets

Lastly, I made a set of 18th-century pockets. If you aren’t familiar with pockets don’t worry I wrote a post about them! Typically they are worn underneath a woman’s exterior skirt (petticoat). But again creative license was used by Disney and Belle’s pockets are worn on top. 

GIVEAWAY

Feeling a bit like Goldilocks my first set of pockets were too small.

But you are in luck! I am giving the blue and white antique ticking pocket away on my historical fashion Instagram account. You have until Sunday to enter that GIVEAWAY!

I then enlarged the Burnley and Trowbridge pocket pattern just a smidge and it was just right. 

However, I didn’t have any fabric in a red stripe that would work. I was wondering if I would be forced to cheat and buy something. But then as I was folding the laundry a lightbulb came on!

A napkin can be transformed into a lovely pocket!

This Week’s Fashion Video

If you would like to see the finished pockets as well as watching me dance in my party pantaloons you will have to view this week’s video. 

I’ll see you on Sunday!

Laura

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