The Comtesse di Castiglione was a huge fan of photography and apparently spent gobs of money on costumes and photography. She composed her own shots and scene ideas, and I love being able to see her wearing the finished product compared against the extant gown residing in the LACMA. I’ve been asked to make a costume of the Countess for a photoshoot this summer. It won’t be an extremely intense or 100% accurate recreation (Poly over silk satin and velvet, for starters!) but it should be fun!
Update: I actually did finish this costume and was quite pleased with the overall outcome, especially the wig! It’s all packed up and in my closet. Unfortunately, the week before the photoshoot for it, my father died unexpected and things in my life tumbled out of control from there including several surprise health issues of my own, along with stress eating in the wake of the funeral. I likely need to adjust the waistline a wee bit or wait until I get some of those health issues under control again. :\ I’m hoping I’ll be able to photograph it soon.
Gown for the Comtesse di Castiglione
France, 1861-1867Costumes; principal attire (entire body)
Silk satin, velvet
Center back length: 109 in. (276.86 cm)
Purchased with funds provided by Rita and Ross Barrett, Costume Council Fund, and gift of Anna Bing Arnold (M.87.80.15)
Costume and Textiles
Curlers and boiling certainly did the trick! 
Gloria Sheu was kind enough to guide me through my first BIG wig build. Here’s the understructure. 🙂 
She’s honestly not as lopsided as she looks here. Part of it’s the angle and part of it is ‘squishable.’ 
Hair’s all swept up with nowhere to go!