• ♥
Jema Hewitt

Jema Hewitt

Costume Design, Bespoke Bridal Dresses & Author
  • Film & Theatre Costume
  • Bridalwear
  • Author
  • Exhibitions
  • About
  • Emporium
  • Events
  • News
  • Contact

You are browsing the Blog for Costume

Longitude-Punk’d

November 6, 2013 in Costume, Exhibitions, time and space

It was earlier this year that I was summoned mysteriously to Greenwich,London, along with seven other Steampunk artists including modelmaker Herr Doktor, multi media experience designer Yomi, author Robert Rankin and illustrator Dr Geoff|! 
Approaching the iconic date line, we were met with smiles, coffee and biscuits by the curators astronomers and organisers of the exhibiton who explained exactly what they wanted from us!
Now I can confirm I  have been asked to create four costume art pieces for The Royal Greenwich Observatories and National maritime museum! They are going to form part of a brand new steampunk exhibition about the 18th century competition to discover a reliable way of measuring longitude…
All the artists are very excited about their works and we shall be very busy over the winter months, tinkering in sheds, drawing in garrets and writing in coffee shops! 
If you’d like a chance to have one of your artworks displayed alongside ours in the museum, there is a great competition organised by the museum to create an extra artwork for the exhibition! find out all about it HERE!

2 Comments »

Layered lace blouse

September 1, 2013 in Costume, steampunk, tea

We started by draping a blouse toile on a mannequin, taking Edwardian pin tucks and high collars as a starting point. 

Because its a one off fitted costume piece the toile was actually in the real fabric, so once both sides matched no pattern was required, it just got sewn up as a base for all the lovely layered lace.
The laces are a wide variety of randomness, some very old stained pieces, some new little off cuts from other dresses, but all reused,recycled and hand stitched down. Some were even dyed with tea (hot water and teabag,no milk, obviously! Just dunk bright white natural fibres stuff in for a pretty off white vintage look…) 

The back is a big keyhole shape, I have a backless corset and thought it would be a good excuse to use it, with a cream latex rubber cowl neck. I blame the lovely Emma Brackenbury for re-introducing me to the awesome possibilities of latex cloth, I shall also be dipping lace into liquid latex, drying then attaching, to finish/blend all the textures together. 

No it’s not a very practical blouse, it won’t wash in a machine. But that’s not really an issue for a showpiece.
It has one classic Edwardian bishop sleeve in muslin, made from a traditional edwardian pattern and because I can’t resist the asymmetric, (and have option paralysis when it comes to sleeves,) the other is a broiderie anglaise Vivienne Westwood style twisted,pointed, tucked and pleated puff sleeve (ish) which I just made up as I went along. 

No Comments »

Latex and lace

August 29, 2013 in Costume, steampunk

I started with the corset/belt as there was some scrumptious Eau de Nil and gold striped taffeta hanging about the studio. I also wanted to show my placement student Laura, how adaptable the hip bucket corset pattern is…. 

So we just cut the pattern down from underbust to belt shape and sped onwards! 
This corset pattern is the Charles Bayer corset from my article for foundations revealed online magazine 

No Comments »

Afternoon tea on the moon

August 29, 2013 in Costume, space, steampunk, tea, weekend at the asylum

The annual dressmaking frenzy for “weekend at the asylum” has begun! As usual, my first attempt at a sketch, on the back of an envelope, is what will form the general shape of this outfit!

I’m aiming for slightly Edwardian, asymmetric, unusual juxtapositions and layers of fabrics, using scraps and off cuts to recycle and reform ordinary cotton calico into something amazing!
Do follow along as I post each new stage! You can also join me on Facebook at “Emilly ladybird” for more costume and Steampunk fun!

No Comments »

The Steampunk Gin Bustle

January 9, 2013 in Costume, Gin

Whilst thinking about cocktail cabinets and the dificulty of getting to the bar at a crowded soiree, I came up with the idea of a bustle that concealed a hidden drinks cabinet!

The construction of the outfit is described in detail here and you can also see me talking about it in a video for TheMuseTV

The actual gown has been featured in a few different exhibitions and books now, and it is so much fun to wear, it always turns heads….
 It features a quite traditionally victorian cuirasse bodice pattern cut, unboned but worn over a steel boned corset, with a velvet front panel and sumptuous peacock patterned satin sleeves. The actual bar is made from buckram and is rigid enough to support cocktail shaker, hendricks gin bottle and is lit from above with white LED’s. 
The bustle swag is created from a piece of Saree fabric which drapes much like a venetian blind over the rigid bar structure. when a tassel is pulled the swag swishes apart and upwards like theatre curtains to reveal the bar!
It is quite heavy when the bar is fully stocked and also because it’s rigid (unlike most of my other costumes collapsable bustles) it’s not the greatest thing to sit down in!

1 Comment »

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside!

August 1, 2012 in Costume, Free Gifts

Today we have a lovely deepsea diving outfit, The steamrena mechanics outfit and some extra accessories for the Emilly Ladybird dress up doll for you to down load! Just click on the link to go to a high resolution version!

Emillys diving costume

When the weather is warm, Emilly and Mr Woppit like nothing more than to visit the seaside with a pair of binoculars and watch out for Kraken frolicking in the waves!

1 Comment »

Patriotic Panel

June 11, 2012 in Costume, Free Gifts

Another page of Emilly Ladybird dress up dolly fun, this week is a Patriotic ensemble to celebrate the Jubilee, and some other fun stuff.  This Steampunk Brittania dress was displayed in all it’s actual 3D glory at Kewbridge Steam Museums Exhibition!

After a little experimentation, I have also discovered that repositionable stickers are absolutely perfect for creating a changeable costume doll without the need for tabs! This one from Avery is excellent (despite the rather odd sounding name). You get 6 A4 sheets in a pack and it works in a normal inkjet printer.

You can get your high resolution version of the dresses here

2 Comments »

Paris Fashions Ahoy!

May 29, 2012 in Costume, Free Gifts

To celebrate the beautiful new look to my journal, I have a special treat, you can now download your very own Emilly Ladybird Dress up doll!

Drawn by Mr Kit Cox, you can mix and match all Emillys favourite costumes, including The Steampunk Absinthe Fairy, The Britannia Gown and even colour in or design your own.

You could print them out onto Magnetised paper and cut out with sharp scissors or simply cut out with extra tabs to fold round a cardboard Emilly.

There will be a few different pages appearing over the next few weeks!

To down load the high resolution versions just click here and here

No Comments »

Opening of the Exhibition at Bradford industrial museum

December 29, 2011 in Bradford Industrial Museum, Costume, Exhibitions, steampunk

Everything was finished and installed just in time for the opening! phew! There are some pictures from the opening on the exhibitions facebook page. If you get the chance do go and have a browse, it’s a fascinating museum and the special steampunk display will be in place till May 2012.

You also get the chance to view a specially made 3D film using special steampunk style viewing goggles and starring Me!

Theres also some great pictures from the promo photoshoot here

1 Comment »

The back of the outfit for Bradford so far…

December 4, 2011 in Costume, Exhibitions, Inspiration, steampunk


This shows the length of the skirt at the back over the cage. The mini cage is 6 sprung steel lengths, individually sprayed gold with car lacquer, taped together into hoops and suspended from two layers of brown petersham ribbon, sewn together to make holes for the hoops to slide through (they slide through before taping..)

The top hoop does not complete a full circle and it’s ends are held by the two front tapes. This is so you can get in and out easily, the top hoop is quite small!

No Comments »

  • Top

Recent Tweets

  • So here I am, in beautiful Los Angeles, just putting the finishing touches to my presentation for @CostumeCollege… https://t.co/1a9HOjMgBu 9 months ago

  • It's all getting very exciting! @DanGSells @tommacwriter https://t.co/2164dZZYLd 1 year ago

View more tweets



Jema Hewitt is proudly powered by WordPress. WordPress Themes X2 developed by ThemeKraft.