First off... let me just say I love the forum layouts. I mean... talk about your win.
And now, to my topic.

Yes, I want to be Franziska. No... I don't really sew.
That being said... HELP?

Anyone have any suggestions on where I should start in on this vest, where I can find a pattern that will help me, a step-by=step guide? Haha, I'm so terribly lost...

Any help is very much appreciated.

I couldn't actually find anything when I searched, but try searching google for a guide on how to cosplay. It'll probably come up with a site detailing where you can get/how to make a costume. Good luck, and I can't wait to see the outcome! =]

The vest isn't very hard. You definitely will need bias tape to make the edging designs. I used a dress shirt pattern and modified the front into those points, and the whole thing fastens with snaps.

The more difficult part is the white blouse underneath (I made mine a single piece with the vest and sleeves attached to it). You need big puffed sleeves, probably stuffed with something to get the right amount of puff. And the bottoms of her sleeves that stick out will require some really heavy interfacing.

The biggest problems I had were the aqua buttons and the hair color. There simply isn't a wig that comes in a good light slate blue, so I ordered a gray one and had to custom dye it. If you look on cosplay.com's forums wig section there are some good tutorials there.

I suppose if you absolutely can't sew and don't want to learn, you could put together a costume modified from articles you find at a Goodwill or thrift store. You could probably hack up a black dress shirt or vest, and wear a white blouse underneath. But unless you make it yourself (or are REALLY lucky with secondhand store finds) it won't look exact. But you will be able to give the impression of the character at least!

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I bought a normal blouse, skirt, and vest, then edged the vest in bias tape. The buttons are white plastic, painted blue (I couldn't find blue ones in the right color). The hardest part if you do it this way is the brooch and bow. I made my brooch out of a large glass...thing and Sculpey clay. I stuff my sleeves with stuffing from an old pillow.

Hm... Her Waistcoat? If you're not a seamstress then I suggest finding a normal black wiastcoat around and modifying it. Yellow ribbon did the trick for me.
The diamonds you can use either clay (Apparently sculpey is good? -Can't buy it in England- ) or blue fabric?
The bow... Hm, Well my new bow I'm making is going to be glued into place a little, just so the butterfly bow stays. Don't be afraid to use glue on the cosplay accessories, it really can be an asset.

The blouse? Well you can normally find those anywhere, if you're lucky they may have bell sleeves already. If not, try sewing big strips of white on the ends of the sleeves, stuffing is good for making the shoulders puff up. :3
Again, try the above for the diamonds.

I hope it helps!