I have developed quite a love for this style of gown and am contemplating giving it a try. I have made several gowns around this era but not in this exact style! I love the fit of the bodice and the way the fabric hangs down in a very firm yet graceful line. Hmmmmm…..
This next one is my favorite:
In the meantime, I have been working on going through my fabric stash with the intention of cleaning it out and getting a feel for what I have. In addition, I have almost completed the 1880’s hat tutorial and hair style. Once I finished the photo shoots for both, I will get them up soon!
I have plowed through and completed the February challenge of Blue! I did so to allow for a little more time to complete a few other projects and to make sure that the challenge got done. Stemming off of January’s challenge, I created an 1880 Princess seam gown of navy cotton and velvet. I had every intention of photographing the process, however as alteration after alteration had to be made, I gave up and just focused on getting it finished. I am overall quite pleased with the look, however, my original plan and the finished outcome turned out to be different. I originally planned on not having a velvet panel in the front, but in order to have the dress hang right and close properly, one need to be added. I also had a different plan for the edging of the gown, but felt that the box pleat looked the nicest and fit the style of the gown. Underneath the gown, on the back portion of the hem, I added in a sheer beige trim to add a little extra umph to the gown. Lace was purchased, but not used, extra buttons were added here and there, and fingers were burned on the yards of pleating….but I finished it! I hope you enjoy the pictures!
The Challenge: #2 Color Challenge -Blue
Fabric: 8 yds Navy Cotton and 1 yd Royal Blue velvet
Pattern: Based on two different styles of dress – heavy reliance on Janet Arnold
Year: 1880
Notions: 6 yards navy braided trim, 13 navy covered buttons, 1 yd sheer fabric for under-pleat, boning
How Historically Accurate is it?: Very – I worked hard to get the right fit and style.
Hours to Complete: 20 Hours
First Worn: Planning on having a photo shoot soon!
I am in the midst of finishing up an 1880’s Princess seam dress which has proven to be a bit more challenging than I originally thought. I have achieved a clean fit all over except the left lower portion of the gown…it just won’t hang nicely. Ugh! I am hoping that I can fix that soon and show pictures in my new light box I created! 🙂
But while I was researching for this particular gown, I came across this stunner. And looking at it…I wouldn’t even know where to start on it’s creation!
I am very pleased to have finished the January challenge of the Historical Sew Monthly a little earlier than originally planned! I had a great time creating these two pieces and am excited to use them as the foundation pieces for February’s color challenge of blue.
Completing the bustle came with a few challenges, especially since the sides of the bustle have a slight bubble to them from the inside panels being tied. You will see what I mean when you look at the side of the finished product. Here are a few pictures of the final stages of the bustle: inserting the boning, adding the side panels, and attaching the inner ties.
When it comes to the ultimate in trim, fit, and elegance, I have to say that the 1880’s wins the prize! Between the bustle and the yards upon yards of ruffles, the gowns created during the latter half of the century are magnificent and speak to the elegance of the time. Here are a few of my favorite examples!
Another example of gown envy…..this time with a stunning light blue mid-1860’s gown with train. It is a “two-fer” so to speak, as the gown features two separate bodices for day or evening. Absolutely beautiful! I especially love the sheer flowers that are sewed into the front of the skirt.
How many times have we looked into our closet searching for the right outfit to wear and finding nothing that will work? Too many times? Of course, I am sure that we all have more than enough clothes, however there comes a time in all our lives when we honestly do feel that our closet has reached it’s current full potential and is in desperate need of an overhaul, or at least a little refresher. So we scour magazines for new ideas, browse store ads for the best deals, and navigate the often dangerous zone of dressing rooms with three-way mirrors. Our reward? A hopefully perfect new ensemble that will, or so we think, go with everything in our already full closets, and we won’t need to buy anything for quite a while…maybe. 😉
And for those ladies in the days before ready-made clothing, I am sure the process was very similar, if not a bit more spread out. The same search through fashion books for new ideas, working out a deal for the perfect yardage of fabric, and praying that your eyes won’t get too cross-eyed as you work tirelessly to complete your new gown!
And for any of you modern-day ladies who are looking for your next perfect reenactment ensemble, may I offer you these beautiful 1840’s fashion plate examples!
