This costume was easily the most time consuming and detailed project I have ever taken on. From start to finish it took two months and almost two hundred and fifty hours of work. The costume is made from a variety of fabrics and materials in an attempt to the the textures to flow together beautifully while still looking unique.
I must admit that this costume isn’t entirely accurate to what you see in the movie, I changed certain things and slightly altered others. My focus was on making a costume I felt did the title of “Snow Queen” justice, more so then accurately recreating the one she wore.
The skirt is a silk chiffon with metallic threads of silver woven through, and it’s lined with powder blue peachskin. The bodice is two layers of kona cotton, with plastic boning sewn between them. The bodice was covered with canvas squares, cotton, paint and rhinestones in an attempt to create an accurate texture. Both the bodice and skirt lace up the back. The cape (or train) and undershirt are made from eleven yards of stretch mesh and embellished with over one hundred thousand rhinestones.
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I have written five the making of posts about this costume, which include a total of over five thousand words and a hundred photos of the process.
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The Making of Part One: The Skirt
The Making of Part Two: The Corset
The Making of Part Three: Drafting the Cape
The Making of Part Four: Embellishing the Cape
The Making of Part Five: The Undershirt & Other Things
I’ve also had two photoshoots in the costume – the first fits with the theme of the costume much better, but doesn’t show all the details of the costume. The second has more visible details, but the scenery isn’t as pretty.
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Elsa The Snow Queen In the Snow
Elsa The Snow Queen In the Sun
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Angela Clayton's Costumery & Creations 
Hi, there’s a wrong link by the “Second part” ^^
This is the craziest thing I’ve ever read and loved all of it! you’ve done an AMAZING job on it and loved reading through your process! The outcome is fantastic!
Absolutely amazing work! … I wish I lived closer to you – I’d *love* to give you a photo-shoot worth that brilliant cosplay. You deserve to have truly stunning pictures.
Found this via Buzzfeed… beautiful work! Hopefully you pursue a career in costume design; you’re incredibly talented.
This gown absolutely blows away anything I’ve seen, including the ‘official’ Disneyworld character costume.
I am in a pickle…i have no way of finding a costume of Elsa in her coronation dress, thats under fifteen hundred dollars. Would you consider ever making one and selling it?
I wouldn’t be apposed to it, but it would really depend on what you were willing to spend/time constraints/ how you want it made. The reason you are probably getting such high quotes is because of fabric costs, the cape alone would probably take twelve yards of wool which would run you $25 a yard.
If you are serious about it you can send me an email and we could talk about it!
Oh my heavens!! I am so seriosly impressed with ALL the work you put in this outfit!! It is utterly and completely BEAUTIFUL!! All the sparlkies…WOW!! I would have given up after only 100! Everything about this dress and whole ensemble makes me smile!! What a delight! I can’t wait to see more of your wonderful creations!
Blessings!
Gina
okay this is beyond epic and kind of awesome because i’m listening to this movie too love the Let it go song have that on my ipod and yeah thats a GORGEOUS dress you did such an awesome job looks like it was fun too
Angela, My daughter and I both agree that Disney would be HONORED to have you, as a designer within the ranks of their realm. We are completely amazed with the amazing details that you have created with this Elsa ensemble. In fact, sending your portfolio to the great designing houses in the world and in the couture bridal design world would be appropriate. I study many blogs and pictures when I am preparing to execute a clothing ensemble myself. Much kudos to you in your continued success. I will be following you, as long as your blog is available. Sincerely, Bonny Tew
This Elsa costume is the greatest that I have seen!! I am amazed by the detail that you put into this! I am looking to make an Elsa costume soon and I was wondering, if you don’t mind me asking, how much do you think you spent total on the materials and everything?
Thank you! I spent under two hundred dollars on the dress/cape/bodice and all. The shoes and wig were an additional $80 – so it’s definitely my most expensive costume yet!
This is a lovely dress! Thanks to your blog, I’ve been able to make adjustments to some patterns to create my own Elsa cosplay! I don’t want to bombard you, of course, but if you’d be alright with it I’d love to send you some pictures via Tumblr (or however you want) in case you were okay with giving tips or even just looking at it. I’m sixteen as well and an aspiring costume designer, so I love your blog!
Thank you a million times over! I am the mother of five children, I sew enough to make a pillow or simple curtain but by no means have I ever thought of doing anything like this. You inspired me! My 7 year old daughter (the baby) is totally fascinated with the movie frozen and had to be Elsa at our Girl Scout mother daughter princess tea party. Omg what was I going to do? People want way too much money for the Disney costume, which you can’t find in stores… And then I found you! Making several cost effective alternatives (glitter glue instead of stones, etc…). I was able to produce an Elsa costume for under $40. It is by no means to the caliber of your costumes, but for a 7 year old, it is perfect and apparently, I am now the best Mother in the whole world, all thanks to you! I just wanted you to know how your kindness, blogs and hard work have inspired a 43 year old woman and made a 7 year old’s dream come true. I wish you all the happiness you could ever desire, you deserve it!
I love you elsa cape. You work is amazing. Great job. Would you consider making another cape?
Can you please make one for me
You inspired me sooooo much that I have decided to try to make my sis a costume. She is under 5, any ideas for me?
What material did you use for your mockups?
Do you make this dress to sell? How you sell? I’m really interested in buying the dress.
are you truly the ice queen? Locked up in her lonely tower? Is your only true man made by you? And he melts with any warmth?
but this beautiful coat color is not very good if acid had a lower but equally divine color and transparenteseria this beautiful 🙂
This is beautiful! I was just wondering- how much do you estimate the whole project cost? I recently created a Princess Anna dress (roughly cheap and turned out nice) and am now looking into Elsa dress- but I’m not sure I’m up for the challenge. More particularly the wig, cape, and bodice? Your costume is so phenomenal! Your many hours of work has proven great!
this is absolutely incredible. You have serious talent x
Can you make it for me if I want one? how much does it cost?
A mi nietita Francesca Mulieri le encanta Elsa , ella es reefeliz cantado su cancion,Fracesca tiene 6 años, y es muy hermosa , muy dulce y muy buena ,me gustaria que fuera tan buena como Elsa con su hermana…..Francesca me pide su traje…y voy hacer lo imposible por conseguirlo……
Hiya! I’m doing an Elsa Dress for my textiles GCSE and I really need a few patterns to help me, I really love how you made your dress but a few of the pattern pictures confused me.
I understand if this is asking too much but if you still have them could you maybe post pictures of them?
Sorry and thank you! xx
I think you’ve just saved my day. My daughter turns 5 in August and I cannot get the dress anywhere and decided to ask my friend to make it for me who is a professional seamstress. Your pictures show perfectly how to create the dress. You are very talented. Thank you so much. 🙂 x
Where did you get the wig? I’m looking for a nice-quality one like that one.
Angela this is the most amazing work. I take my hat off to you. Absolutely fantastic
Hi there! I’m in the process of making an Elsa dress for a cosplay wedding and am wondering what fabrics you used for the various parts of your dress? Thanks!!
If you read through the posts materials are mentioned throughout.
That is incredible! I want it!
This is a wonderful rendition of the dress. I am researching information for my next article and found this blog. You are definitely an inspiration to all young girls out there. Its good to see such talented individuals out there.
Quisiera si me mandas el dibujo de los moldes del vestidi de Frozen. Le quiero hacer a mi nena . Y no se nada de costura .
Hi I was wondering how much in total did this cosplay cost?
I AM BIGGEST Fan Frozen All time go I like snow queen and Princess Anna of Arendelle I like it so much because Hans Prince and Kristoff
Hi there. I just wanted to tell you that you did an exquisitely beautiful job, and the designs are far beyond what I could do. I just started on a sewing machine a year ago, and I have made small things like pillows, or little bags to store things in. before the sewing machine I had sewn many things by hand. you have completely inspired me to try something new. I am going to try something like this, but maybe for my little sister first. then, I will take on a project with more effort and skill. I honestly wanted to say thank you very truly for the inspiration, and that you beautifully made this dress.
Oh gosh, thank you so much for the kind words! That is fantastic, and I wish you the best of luck with your projects!!
Hi first i wana say i am a HUGE fan of your’e sewing creations! i realy like sewing to but recently i was loosing interest in it but when i saw your’e blog it realy made me want to get into sewing again i have to admit i’m not realy good at it but i love seeing the new stuff you make and you are such a inspiration to any one who has a love for sewing and beautiful job on your’e dress!
Do you make things on order? I would be interested in an elsa dress size 6 girls
Nice
I AM BIGGEST FAN IN THE WORLD GOT DISNEY FROZEN COLLETION AND T’SHIT I YOU ALL
YOU A BEST WORK DISNEY FROZEN DID WILL I WHEN TO SEE DISNEY FROZEN SING LONG VERY NICE AND JOIN MY SALF I TO GO BACK SEE AGAIN WITH MY FRIEND DENISE EVAN AND MATTHEW BOLDING
THANK YOUSO MUCH
thank you for this making of !
I have the project to sew 4 Frozen’s Costumes (Elsa, Anna, Olaf & Kristoff) for a costume party in february. Your Elsa will help me, for sure !
You say that this is your least favorite of all your costumes and that there are so many things that you wish you could fix. Have you considered maybe doing her dress from the short Frozen Fever?
I can only find iron on rhinestones in my price range. But I would prefer to glue them, can you glue the iron ones on to help them stay better?