Ascanio in Alba is an allegorical, mythological wedding opera. All that happens in it is that some people get married and EVERYONE sings about it. Silvia Silvia is the lady who gets married. In my image, I illustrated the happy celebration with all the fun characters from the play. In the end, Silvia’s bodice got lost in the motion blur and fit the model poorly, but the image turned out great!
Ascanio in Alba, Act 2 by Tyson Vick
However, the bodice itself is something special as well. Using a slashed silk technique I picked up from the book Fabricate by Susan Wasinger, I made a Renaissance style bodice with four layers of different colored silk, sewed channels, and slashed them up the center to only the bottom layer, and then frayed all the edges.
Vanessa Genieva Williams models the bodice.
I also used clasps for lace, rather than for closure, and leaving a beautiful bright red underlap for a splash of color. The idea for this bodice comes from the film “Virgin Territory” which had costumes designed by Roberto Cavalli, a popular fashion designer.
Bodices designed by Roberto Cavalli for “Virgin Territory”
In the following photos you will see Silvia’s bodice from different angles. While you can’t make it out from the pictures, the silk layer colors are white, ivory, pink and red.
The slashed silk bodice for Silvia.
The back of the bodice is just plain white silk.
Bodice back.
This is one of the funnest pieces I have ever made, and I would love to use this technique on another garment in the future.
Vanessa Genieva Williams models the slashed silk bodice.
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One Delightful Day 