Slasher U: Melyssa's Prom look, A Retrospective (Patreon)

*slams table* HOT TOPIC GOTH. HOT TOPIC GOTH

Okay, but what I really wanna talk about is Melyssa's Prom outfit.

I'm really, really, REALLY into Tudor era history (I am sorry. I started reading in 3rd grade and never stopped. Also I had to get back into it to write good Henry XVI for History High and now I'm stuck here.). I've been reading a fabulous book on day to day life in the full Tudor triplicate era and oh boy howdy I was TAKEN with the section on ruff creation, stiffening, and fashion usage. TAKEN. SMITTEN. RIGHT TO RUFF CITY. From the color symbolism of who's a slut based on what color ruff they wore, to the detailed who's cool and who's sloppy based on the tightness and stiffness of their wrist cuffs, I wanted it ALL.

And so I got to thinking about Melyssa's Prom outfit. When she's not in Hot Topic mall goth looks (my fave - Melyssa wears a LOT of Killstar and Lip Service, obvi), she's taken 15th and 16th century inspirations from both New England and the UK isles. Here, I did a gothified /Edwardian Ball inspired version of a classic Tudor gown mixed with a Jessica McClintock party dress, something I.... never thought I'd say, LMAO.

• Purse: Melyssa's purse is a deliberate 2000s era Paris Hilton tinypurse throwback with tons of visual seams (but in black with white detailing for Goth-sthetic Purposes).
• The straight down paneling of the stomacher (save for the keyhole) + the poof sleeves with piecut and embroidery (distinctly un-poofed through the piecut, v un-Tudor of me) + the neck ruff are all straight Tudor; the leafy dress plates are cribbed from general fantasy, and the bows, petticoat, and gloves are a mix of Gothic Lolita and a goth'd-up-in-color version of y2k party dresses.
• Big ups to Alice: Madness Returns for facilitating my obsession with gothic party dresses. :V
• RUFFS. The tighter and stiffer a ruff the better its quality. Do not laugh. (...Okay, you can laugh a little.) A black ruff with white outlining/piping on the outside would never have existed in Tudor England, what with ruffs being primarily white or pastel, but how COULD I do that our Melyssa?!
• Gold accents: Distinctively Tudor, but also very very very very much my favorite crutch. Mmm, gold accents. The Tudors would weave in actual gold threads in their garments and upholstery, both in patterns and for effects like the "dragonflies" effect of a network of overlaid thin gold thread with little clumps to create sparkles.