01/01/2026
The Wilted Tulip Costumes with Savannah and Summer
By Patty Blackburn
Savannah and Summer Cole were homeschooled by their mother, Lynnette, a highly skilled seamstress, who nurtured both their education and creativity. In 1989, the twins attended their first Renaissance Festival, wearing handmade costumes she designed. This was a meaningful early experience that reflected her talent and the close-knit upbringing they shared.
During their college years, they became more interested in costume design and with the use of the internet, they developed and mastered their sewing skills. By word of mouth, Savannah and Summer received orders for custom costumes from different time periods. They attended festivals and showcased their handmade designs such as the Middle Tennessee Highland Games and Celtic Festival. This is where they met many long time clients. The twins were also able to acquire more customers by selling clothing in their Etsy store. In 2017, they decided to go full time, and in 2018, The Wilted Tulip Costumes, became an official business.
The Charles Dickens Character’s costumes worn at Hometown Christmas, were made by Savannah and Summer and they have made several Santa suits, western attire, theatrical costumes, vintage doll clothing, dresses from the past, including a 1861 ball gown – made by hand. They are presently preparing costumes for a high school in Maryland, for a Sponge Bob production.
The twins always have ideas using out of the ordinary materials to make items out of. They show their creativity combining fashion with art, by making designs using shells, bones, plants, and even glass. Summer made an armor vest out of deer, goat, and cow bones that they collected when they were kids exploring on their farm. The entire outfit was made by Summer, including the shoes. It took 136 hours to make. Savannah has made dresses using live plants. All designs have to fit exactly as they envision the garment to look. They have also mastered the art of embroidery and crochet, as well as friendship quilts.
In 2022, Savannah set a goal to make an entire 1840s dress out of glass beads and wear it to the Dickens of a Christmas in Franklin, which they attend every year. After discovering that 2025 was the 40th anniversary of the festival, she wanted to wear this dress made of glass for this occasion. She learned how to bead weave – a technique where beads are woven together using thread to create a flat fabric. Savannah wanted this to be a solo project but in order to get the dress completed, Summer helped Savannah and the dress was completed on December 7, 2025, just in time for Savannah to wear this magnificent design on December 13. From start to finish, it took 2,273 hours to complete, 3,685 yards of lining, and 632,924 beads. The entire outfit weighs about 26 lbs.
Savannah was so glad she was able to wear it to the Dickens of a Christmas. The dress was in deed one of a kind and she could hear little girls tell their mothers to look at the princess. She felt like a celebrity. The time spent on the dress was worth every minute. The Glass Dress is on display at the Marshall County Art Guild, where they have been members since 2020. Many of their designs have been showcased in the window of the Art Guild and they also offer sewing lessons at this location.
The Cole twins realize that there is always something new to learn – even when sewing. One dream of theirs is to see their costumes worn in a movie. With such dedication, talent, and creativity, they are well on their way to achieving this dream.
https://www.themarshallcountypost.com/the-wilted-tulip-costumes-with-savannah-and-summer/
