HSF Challenge #9 Flora and Fauna or killing two birds with one stone.

I admit, this one was a happy coincidence. I found myself in need of a hat to wear with The Creamsicle Bustle Dress and voila! Flora and fauna!

The base is a shallow-crowned straw blank that came in a lot of hats that were gifted to me by a friend. It's trimmed with the same pleated ribbon as the creamsicle bustle dress, and adorned with flowers and a fake dove.

The original plan was to decorate the hat with a real dove or two. I was inspired by this scene from Disney's Fantasia:

But it unfortunately was not to be. You would not believe how hard it is to find taxidermied doves, (or really any kind of white bird) for a reasonable price, or at all. The closest I came was a pair of white parakeet wings from an Etsy seller in New Zealand and they wouldn't have arrived in time. With my choices being either to order the wings and attach them later, or buy a bb gun and go dove hunting, I bit the bullet and went to Stats where I found a serviceable fake. It'll have to do for now, but if I ever find a real one, I'm totally replacing it.

The pansies and the white flowers are from Gilding the Lily Vintage in Fullerton. The roses and the ribbon are from an estate sale.

And now, onto the particulars!

The Challenge: Flora and Fauna

Fabric: Um, nope

Pattern: Nada

Year: 1870-1875

Notions: Thread, ribbon, artificial flowers, artificial dove.

How historically accurate is it? More than fairly, all of the trim is sewn on by hand.

Hours to complete: 5

First worn: Will be worn with challenge #8 entry on the 28th

Total cost: $15

This is perhaps one of the girly-est things I've ever made, but I've had a lot of fun making it. Tune in next time for a challenge and a side project!

HSF Challenge #8: By the Sea, or another favorite gets a revamp

As is evident from the title, the latest challenge is Seaside fashion and I admit I was momentarily at a loss as to what I should make. As I have no intention of going into the water unless it's absolutely necessary, a bathing costume was right out. Fortunately, the new corset and an upcoming impressionist picnic saved my metaphorical bacon. I have never been more thankful for my new corset making some of my costumes nigh on unwearable, because it gave me the excuse to redo my seersucker bustle dress. And boy howdy was it ever in need of a makeover.

This is the dress before the redo (note my cheerful demeanor)

 

And here it is after: 

If I look a little rumpled, it's because I had to get dressed very quickly so my mother could take the pictures before the light faded. I'm also laced a little looser than usual so there are a few wrinkles that wouldn't usually be there.

The bodice and overskirt are made of cranberry, cream, and periwinkle striped seersucker with baby blue trim. Because my new corset is a vastly different shape than my old one, I had to construct a completely new bodice. The pattern is Truly Victorian 4100 (their 1871 day bodice) and I had a few fitting issues with the neckline, which was a low square. So low, in fact, that when I tried on my first mockup, you could see my corset and chemise! Thankfully though it was easily rectified and the rest of it went together fairly easily. It's accented with twelve vintage glass buttons and a lavender bow.

The overskirt is Truly Victorian 305 (their bustled apron overskirt) and I had no issues with it whatsoever. It was going to have a ruffle of cotton lace, but I didn't feel up to pleating fourteen yards of the stuff.

The underskirt is Truly Victorian 261 (their-four gore underskirt) and is made of vintage peach faille that I snagged last year at Costume College for practically nothing. It's trimmed with a ruffle of cotton lace and more of the pleated baby blue ribbon. I'm not sure it goes completely with the rest of the ensemble, but it was the only  fabric I had at the time.

Now, on to the specs!

The Challenge: By the Sea

Fabric: Cotton Seersucker

Pattern: Truly Victorian everything

Year: 1875

Notions: Thread, buttons ribbon and trim

How historically accurate is it? Not terribly, only the trim and the buttons are sewn by hand

Hours to complete: Wasn't keeping track

First worn: Will be worn on the 28th of April where, hopefully, I will get better, non rumpled pictures of it.

Total cost: $20 for the trim and buttons, the fabric was already in my stash.

Next Post: Killing two birds with one stone or Challenge #9: Flora and Fauna

HSF challenge #7 Accessories

For this fortnight's challenge I was truly stumped. A life spent in historical dress and a keen interest in millinery has ensured that I am well stocked in the accessories department, but I finally made the decision to revamp my mourning bonnet.

The Challenge: Accessories

Fabric: None

Pattern:  Nope

Year: 1837

Notions: Thread, ribbons

How historically accurate is it?  Pretty accurate

Hours to complete: 4

First worn: Last October in it's first incarnation

Total cost: $0.00

In which miss Emily takes a personal day

I had planned on posting my next challenge entry, but seeing as my room has reached the dunes-and-continental-drift level of messy, I am taking a personal day to beat it back into an acceptable state. I will post tomorrow, but for now, I am off to do battle with the great beast called bedroom.