She Asked Her Mom For A Sewing Machine...And The Rest Was Awesome History

♠ Posted by andrea in clothing,cosplay,creativity,princess,wow at 7:41 PM

If you grew up watching movies and TV shows featuring tons of princesses, fairies, and other cool ladies, you were likely not only enthralled with the characters, but also with the fantastical design of their costumes. Perhaps you raided your parents' closets looking for similar items so you could embody a character while you ran around the house or outside on Halloween. However, did you think costume envy and an appreciation of an awesome gown had to stop with childhood?
We beg to differ.
JoEllen Elam of Firefly Path has created intricate, one-of-a-kind gowns for clients over many years. We recently got to chat with her about her amazing creations and what inspires her to bring fantasy to life.
ViralNova: How did this all begin? Where did you find inspiration for these beautiful pieces?
JoEllen Elam: In 1999, I wanted to create costumes for my sister and me. I asked my mom to buy me a sewing machine so that I could create the fairy costumes I had in mind for us, and thankfully, she did!

Many of the commissions are inspired by characters from films and TV shows, but all are given a seriously fancy treatment.

Firefly Path/JoEllen Elam

This is Elam's take on a ball gown a human version of Princess Celestia from My Little Pony might wear. It's even got LEDs in the gauze wings for a magical glow.

Firefly Path/JoEllen Elam

Cersei Lannister's gown from Game of Thrones got a Firefly Path twist with some original detailing. The embroidery was designed specifically for the gown and even has real feathers in the birds' tails.

ViralNova: Did these costumes evolve over time? What did you make first?
JE: For sure! My very first costume was a simple A-line dress with an elastic band at the top and waist. With each costume I made, I was developing a new skill or some new technique that helped me make my next project even better than the last! Learning to sew was kind of like leveling up in a video game!

Firefly Path/JoEllen Elam

Elam has reworked a number of Disney princess costumes, making them even more opulent and gorgeous. This Princess Jasmine costume from Aladdin features enough jewels for a real princess, plus side slits for a little sexiness, making the costume more grown up.

Firefly Path/JoEllen Elam

This dress is modeled after the pink ball gown Ariel wears in Disney's The Little Mermaid. According to Elam, this dress only took two days to make. (Elam has help, of course.)

ViralNova: Who do you want to wear your pieces?
JE: Anyone with a love of fantasy and ornate gowns. Wearing these gowns is an escape from the everyday world, and I'm happy to create a gown for these people who need an escape.

Firefly Path/JoEllen Elam

This gown is a dressier take on the gown worn by Lady Almathea in The Last Unicorn (who is really a unicorn in human form). This was one of Elam's favorite characters growing up.

 

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