Historical reproduction: 1890s bodice by Denise Chukhina
In the third year of graduate study, our students complete several capstone projects, one of which is the historical reproduction. For this project, they choose a garment from our collection of antique garments, the Costar Archive. They must study the garment closely and then reproduce it as closely as possible. Often the source garment is very fragile, oddly-sized, and not a garment which could or would be worn onstage. Our students reproduce the pattern of the source garment, but adjusted/altered to the measurements of a modern physique.
Third year graduate student Denise Chukhina has completed and photographed her historical reproduction project, a replica of this 1895-1905-ish velvet bodice. (You can read all about the garment itself at the link, and see several detail shots of its embellishments and design features.)
Left: original antique garment on custom pigeon-breasted display form.
Right: Denise Chukhina's reproduction, sized up to fit her own measurements.
Oblique view illustrating the "pouter pigeon" silhouette.
Denise elected to do her reproduction in navy instead of black like the original.
Denise's bodice incorporates velvet, silk chiffon, and satin;
it is trimmed in glass beads and hand-dyed braids and lace appliques.
Detail shot of the hand-beaded collar and some of the lace appliques.
In addition to the reproduction itself, the students write a research paper about the garment, analyzing its construction and relating any known information about its provenance. They also digitize their patterns. Both of these documents will then be uploaded to the Costar site after the student's work has been graded and the degree conferred. So, if you like this bodice, check back in a few months and you can grab the pattern for it from Costar!
Third year graduate student Denise Chukhina has completed and photographed her historical reproduction project, a replica of this 1895-1905-ish velvet bodice. (You can read all about the garment itself at the link, and see several detail shots of its embellishments and design features.)
Left: original antique garment on custom pigeon-breasted display form.
Right: Denise Chukhina's reproduction, sized up to fit her own measurements.
Oblique view illustrating the "pouter pigeon" silhouette.
Denise elected to do her reproduction in navy instead of black like the original.
Denise's bodice incorporates velvet, silk chiffon, and satin;
it is trimmed in glass beads and hand-dyed braids and lace appliques.
Detail shot of the hand-beaded collar and some of the lace appliques.
In addition to the reproduction itself, the students write a research paper about the garment, analyzing its construction and relating any known information about its provenance. They also digitize their patterns. Both of these documents will then be uploaded to the Costar site after the student's work has been graded and the degree conferred. So, if you like this bodice, check back in a few months and you can grab the pattern for it from Costar!