The Polonaise I am making is influenced by a number of fashion plates. This is in keeping with the clothing making of the time. Fashion plates from a specific year may demonstrate specific trends, but gowns made in that year are often more like composites from the past few years. It makes sense. When a [...]
Archive for the ‘Victorian Costume’ Category
Influences 1872-1876
Posted in Fashion History, Victorian Costume on April 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Polonaise: A brief genealogy
Posted in Fashion History, Victorian Costume, tagged Fashion History, Polonaise, Victorian Costuming, Victorian Fashion, Victorian Polonaise on March 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Victorian world saw an explosion of advancement, growth, and manufacturing. Factories were raising from the gentile fields of Europe, and America was stalking and pouncing on the power of steam and mechanization with a covetous hunger. From all the clank and soot arose new millionaires, all eager to establish themselves in society and ensure [...]
What Giselle can teach us about Historical Costuming
Posted in Fashion History, Victorian Costume, tagged 1840s, Ballet, Giselle, Historical Costuming on November 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
First, this post is about the ballet, Giselle, not the supermodel. Second, I can’t believe I forgot to mention Giselle in the context of the 1840s!
Let me start by saying that I love Giselle. It’s a beautiful ballet. But, I love Giselle the same way I love foie gras: it’s something of a forbidden pleasure, [...]
Static of the 1840s: What were they thinking?
Posted in Fashion History, Victorian Costume, tagged 1840s, Fashion History, Historical Costuming, Lola Montez, Victorian, Victorian Costuming, Victorian Dress on November 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
After consuming a significant number of books on scientific advances in the 1840s, I wonder why, in such a highly charged atmosphere of innovation and energy, their clothes and hairstyles were so dreadful.As much as I enjoy championing the champion-less, I would take up the cause of this decade begrudgingly, and only out of a [...]
Inspiration in Olive, Part II
Posted in Antique Victorian Dress, Victorian Costume, tagged Antique Dress, Bodice, Boning, Bustle, Victorian, Victorian Costume, Victorian Costuming on November 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Bodice Interior
The bodice is interlined with gold-colored silk with a slight herringbone pattern. The exterior seams are piped with olive satin piping and interfaced in olive satin. The interior seams are finished off with gold whipstiching. A piece of wool tape is attached to the seam excess on the inside (see middle of bodice inside [...]
Inspiration in Olive, Part I
Posted in Fashion History, Victorian Costume, tagged 1870s, 1880s, Antique Dress, Bodice, Bustle, Costuming, Dress, Gown, Natural Form, Victorian Costume, Victorian Costuming on November 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
After examining my olive gown (see first post for background), I have concluded that she is a Natural Form gown going into the second bustle period and not a late bustle. That would put her at about 1884 to 1885. When you are young, objects seem larger, and I remembered a great deal of space [...]
1875 Costume Pictures
Posted in 1875 Ensemble, Historical Costume Photos, Victorian Costume, tagged Bustle, Gothic, Historical Costume Photos, Historical Costuming, Mount Hope Cemetery, reenactment, Victorian, Victorian Costume, Victorian Costume Photos, Victorian Costume Pictures, Victorian Costuming, Victorian Dress on October 31, 2008 | 4 Comments »
Here are the photos taken by Annette Dragon in Mount Hope Cemetery. I just selected a few. They were all so beautiful, it was hard to choose. My favorites were the ones of the gown in motion, particularly from behind.
Wearing an 1875 bustle gown in 2008
Posted in 1875 Ensemble, Victorian Costume, tagged Bustle, Corset, Costume, Costuming, Sewing, Victorian, Victorian Costuming on October 27, 2008 | 6 Comments »
I have photos of the dress being worn forth-coming and they are really amazing. Stay posted.
I have worn the ensemble in public twice for durations longer than 4 hours. I find myself explaining to my company that the dress is a dress, and can be worn, moved in, and sat in. I do not need [...]
Finished Gown
Posted in 1875 Ensemble, Victorian Costume, tagged Bustle, Costuming Costume, Victorian, Victorian Costume on October 25, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Here is the finished gown.
I trimmed with bodice neckline with some antique black lace taken from a turn-of-the-century gown. It closes in front with hooks and eyes, and I attached faked buttons which are period.
I put a costume choker on the mannequin. I might wear it.
What’s to Come
Posted in 1875 Ensemble, Victorian Costume, tagged Bodice, Bustle, Costume, Victorian Costuming on October 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The skirt is 99.5% done. All that remains to sew are the hooks to close the waistband and I need to sew two bows to the sides (last minute addition). Also, it should probably be steam pressed.
Now, I am on to the bodice. I made a mock-up in black muslin, which I fitted onto my [...]
Hem Fringe and Pleating
Posted in 1875 Ensemble, Victorian Costume, tagged Bustle, Costuming, Gothic, Sewing, Victorian, Victorian Costuming on October 16, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I’ve hemmed the skirt (whip-stitched it by hand) and attached the fringe. To hand pleat I individually pin each pleat then stitch. I did not hand stitch the pleating in place because I would rather budget the time for the bodice and the hat (coming later). I will probably hand stitch the pleating onto the [...]
Rigging and Bustles invariably leads to James Jacques Tissot
Posted in 1875 Ensemble, Victorian Costume, tagged Bustle, Painting, Rigging, Tissot, Victorian on October 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Do you like rich vivid colors? Lots of bows and bustles? Rigging on ships? Distant and unreachable beautiful woman who became to you the embodiment of spirituality? Then Tissot is for you. Who can write about the bustle without mentioning Tissot?!
The lack of costume updates can be explained by the lack of a person to [...]
