How to Make a Vampiress Dress

Create your own vampiress dress.

Whether you're dressing up for a Halloween party or the premier of a horror movie, a vampiress dress can be a spooky but elegant costume. These "undead" divas feed on human blood and look good while doing it. For your costume, buy a vampire-inspired dress and customize it with your personal flair. You can add a corset, create cascading sleeves and fray the hem of the skirt to ramp up the vampiress style.

Things You'll Need

• Long-sleeve dress
• Fabric
• Needle
• Thread
• Ribbon
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Select a dress that will become the base of your costume. Search thrift stores, costume shops and retail outlets for a dress ideally made with velvet or lace. It should have long sleeves and a full-length skirt. Choose a gown in black, red or any other dark and mysterious color.

2. Make a corset for your dress to add to the gothic look. Start with a piece of fabric that matches the mood of the dress, such as a lace material in a coordinating color. Cut the fabric into a rectangular shape that's an inch longer than the widest part of your torso and extends from your frib cage to your hips. Hem all four sides. Poke matching holes along either side of the garment where it will meet. String a piece of ribbon through the holes like you're lacing a shoe and tie the ends in a bow at top.

3. Make flowing sleeves for your vampiress dress. Use a pair of scissors to snip the sleeves from the shoulder seam to the elbow crease. Let the sleeves hang open in a cascade reminiscent of Medieval times.

4. Rip the bottom of the gown to create a weathered vampire look. Cut small snips into the bottom of the gown and then use your hands to rip the fabric apart. These tears should be various lengths. Just make sure that they don't go so high up the dress that they show your undergarments.

Tips & Warnings

• Add accessories to the outfit to create a complete the vampiress costume. Wear black boots or high heels with fishnet stockings. Buy or make a pair of lace gloves. Wear a necklace with lots of dark jewels or chains. Don a black wig, brighten your lips with red lipstick and don't forget to wear a pair of fake fangs to complete the look.

References

• Halloween Costumes: How to Make Your Own Halloween Vampire Costume
• Halloween Party Stuff: Female Vampire Halloween Costume: Make Your Own