Another dress for Mother

I mentioned in my last post that I'd spent most of the previous challenge making a new bustle dress for my Mom. She wore it to the Victorian Day at Los Encinos Adobe, and had a ball. 

Unfortunately, I didn't take any detail shots before the rear camera on my tablet decided to die (again) so I only have these full views. The Fabric is white cotton with a navy woven stripe and it's accented with blue moire ribbon. The bonnet is actually a 20's-style straw cloche cleverly trimmed with more blue ribbon (and I will eventually want it back, Mom.)

Mom and Mr. G

    The Adobe holds events like this a few times a year and we bring lunch and picnic on the lawn. There's a blacksmith, demonstrations, period games, and this year there was a medicine show and a band.
                                   

Some of my friends from my reenactment group came too. Does the dress on the right look familiar? *wink*
                                     

All in all, a lovely afternoon! 

Next post: Another challenge entry

Challenge # 11: The politics of fashion

I freely admit that I slacked off on this one. I've been spending most of this last fortnight working on a bustle dress for my mother to wear to an upcoming event, and that took priority. 

I decided to make a half-cockade in suffragette colors. There won't be a hat to go with it any time soon, as I'm not terribly interested in the fashions between 1890 and 1919.  But it went together quickly and painlessly. 

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The Challenge: The politics of fashion

Fabric: Nope

Pattern: Nada

Year: 1910's

Notions: Purple, white, and green grosgrain ribbon, thread

How historically accurate is it? Completely hand sewn and pleated

Hours to complete: 1

First worn: Probably not

Total cost: $6

The little black dress of the romantic era, or HSF challenge #10: Art

For this fortnight's challenge (Art) I wanted something that a) was simple, b) would work for several different occasions, and c) was made from material from my fabric stash. And happily, I managed to do all three. 

I decided to sew something I've seen in a fair amount of romantic era portraiture: The diaphanous white dress. 

Usually gathered, usually sheer, this particular style of gown can be dressed up or down with accessories and works for almost all of the romantic era.

My version is made of the same sheer silk as my mother's day cap ( I bought a lot of it and I've been working my way through it.) and it's lined with ribbed cotton organdy.

Inside the bodice

                                    The outside of the bodice just before the sleeves went on

                                                             The skirt before gathering

                                         What the stripes look like in front of  a solid color

                                                           A sleeve before assembly

                                                            And Esca, helpful as ever...

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The Challenge: Art

Fabric: Striped silk and ribbed cotton organdy

Pattern: Self drafted

Year: 1830's

Notions: Thread

How historically accurate is it? Machine and hand sewn

Hours to complete: Wasn't really keeping track

First worn: Not yet

Total cost:  Free