Stripey 1870s Dress
I have actually been working on this project for some time, but only recently have I replaced my last camera so I haven't been able to give photographic proof!
Anyway, I am currently working on a striped bustle dress from around 1873-4. This is my first attempt at a Victorian dress, so it has been a bit of an adventure, but all together it's turning out well.
First layer, my corset and chemise. I haven't been able to get around to making any drawers yet, but I did purchase some white voile with the intention of making some combinations.
The chemise is a McCalls pattern from a few years back that worked well enough for these purposes. The corset pattern is from Period Costume for Stage and Screen, and yes, I know, it doesn't fit properly. They are right when they say that your first corset is a "working toile". While it fit weel in the mock-up, it has stretched quite a bit after the fittings and I am no longer happy with the fit over the bust. I may scrap the whole thing and start again from scratch. But for now, it works well enough for fittings.
The bustle is also from Period Costume for Stage and Screen. It is the view C bustle with the view B bustle on top to give it a little more oomph. I used coat hangers for the boning, cut to length and covered in duck tape at the ends. Rather clever, if I do say so myself.
The petticoat is made form the underskirt pattern from the 1870-71 dress from Patterns of Fashion 2. It is made of a crisp white muslin. This is a little heavier than what I've seen most petticoats I've seen, but it helps hold it out into more of the wide 1870s shape. Since I was going to use this pattern for my skirt as well, the petticoat also served as a mock-up.
The fabric for this dress was a great find at Fabricland during a clearance sale. It was on the sale table for a rediculous $1 a metre. I bought 11 metres of it (the whole bolt) which means I should be able to make a matching evening bodice afterwards, and maybe even a matching modern skirt. The fabric is %100 cotton and incredibly soft.
The over-skirt is also from the 1870-71 dress in Patterns of Fashion. It was extremely easy, as it just involved pulling up the skirt with tapes and buttons to make the poofs. It is lined in a stiff polish cotton left over from some cutains, which helps the poofs keep their shape.
The bodice is from the early 1870s bodice in Period Costume for Stage and Screen. I still need to add the sleeves and the hooks on the from, so it is just pinned shut at this point, hence the weird fit and wrinkling in the front. I love the peplum to death as it looks so cute resting on top of the bustle.
So basically I just need to add the sleeves to the bodice, add ruffles to the bottom on the skirt and over-skirt, and then trim the whole thing with ribbons and buttons. And then re-work this damn corset and maybe have time to make a set of combinations.
Anyway, I am currently working on a striped bustle dress from around 1873-4. This is my first attempt at a Victorian dress, so it has been a bit of an adventure, but all together it's turning out well.
First layer, my corset and chemise. I haven't been able to get around to making any drawers yet, but I did purchase some white voile with the intention of making some combinations.
The chemise is a McCalls pattern from a few years back that worked well enough for these purposes. The corset pattern is from Period Costume for Stage and Screen, and yes, I know, it doesn't fit properly. They are right when they say that your first corset is a "working toile". While it fit weel in the mock-up, it has stretched quite a bit after the fittings and I am no longer happy with the fit over the bust. I may scrap the whole thing and start again from scratch. But for now, it works well enough for fittings.
The bustle is also from Period Costume for Stage and Screen. It is the view C bustle with the view B bustle on top to give it a little more oomph. I used coat hangers for the boning, cut to length and covered in duck tape at the ends. Rather clever, if I do say so myself.
The petticoat is made form the underskirt pattern from the 1870-71 dress from Patterns of Fashion 2. It is made of a crisp white muslin. This is a little heavier than what I've seen most petticoats I've seen, but it helps hold it out into more of the wide 1870s shape. Since I was going to use this pattern for my skirt as well, the petticoat also served as a mock-up.
The fabric for this dress was a great find at Fabricland during a clearance sale. It was on the sale table for a rediculous $1 a metre. I bought 11 metres of it (the whole bolt) which means I should be able to make a matching evening bodice afterwards, and maybe even a matching modern skirt. The fabric is %100 cotton and incredibly soft.
The over-skirt is also from the 1870-71 dress in Patterns of Fashion. It was extremely easy, as it just involved pulling up the skirt with tapes and buttons to make the poofs. It is lined in a stiff polish cotton left over from some cutains, which helps the poofs keep their shape.
The bodice is from the early 1870s bodice in Period Costume for Stage and Screen. I still need to add the sleeves and the hooks on the from, so it is just pinned shut at this point, hence the weird fit and wrinkling in the front. I love the peplum to death as it looks so cute resting on top of the bustle.
So basically I just need to add the sleeves to the bodice, add ruffles to the bottom on the skirt and over-skirt, and then trim the whole thing with ribbons and buttons. And then re-work this damn corset and maybe have time to make a set of combinations.