flemish....part 3?
I must be brief, Lilli is being a fusspot this morning!
So Drea's version consists of a corset, smock, kirtle, gown and partlets. Mine consists of a smock, "gown", apron and partlets. My reasons for these changes are:
1. Working woman needs to get dressed by herself and quickly. (try doing that with back lacing!)
2. She needs to be able to nurse (no wet nurse and no such thing as formula!) (corset is pretty much impossible)
3. She needs to either easily alter a second hand dress, or use as little fabric as possible. (simply by tightening or loosening the lacing, you can accomdate both pregnancy or a variety of waist sizes. The cut of the bodice is a simple drape, some of the easiest tailoring out there.)
4. She needs to be warm, or cool. (my version you can add a petticoat for warmth, or go without.)
5. Drea mentions the "Flat, supported bosom", but I don't see that in many pictures. I see a natural shape, with support actually being offered by the partlet (in some cases). I think it's not a bad assumption that the smock could also offer some lift, as in much earlier gowns (think cotehardie!).
I've taken apart and re-made my yellow flemish YET AGAIN. This is now it's fourth reincarnation! What can I say, I love that color and the fabric is perfectly good. I just had to remake the bodice one more time in line with my research. The funny thing is that it will probably not look much different to anyone else, but *I'll* know it's better! LOL I am now a super-whiz at cartridge pleating (which might not be the correct type of pleating but that's for another post!)
My next step here is basically building a bibliography of my sources (which amusingly enough are many of Drea's, we just took different ideas away from them!!) and planning out my "Good Enough For A&S" dress and dress diary. I have something like 20 yards of linen just waiting to be touched!
Comments? Critiques? Ideas?
And my favorite pic so far of Lilli and I in our flemish...
So Drea's version consists of a corset, smock, kirtle, gown and partlets. Mine consists of a smock, "gown", apron and partlets. My reasons for these changes are:
1. Working woman needs to get dressed by herself and quickly. (try doing that with back lacing!)
2. She needs to be able to nurse (no wet nurse and no such thing as formula!) (corset is pretty much impossible)
3. She needs to either easily alter a second hand dress, or use as little fabric as possible. (simply by tightening or loosening the lacing, you can accomdate both pregnancy or a variety of waist sizes. The cut of the bodice is a simple drape, some of the easiest tailoring out there.)
4. She needs to be warm, or cool. (my version you can add a petticoat for warmth, or go without.)
5. Drea mentions the "Flat, supported bosom", but I don't see that in many pictures. I see a natural shape, with support actually being offered by the partlet (in some cases). I think it's not a bad assumption that the smock could also offer some lift, as in much earlier gowns (think cotehardie!).
I've taken apart and re-made my yellow flemish YET AGAIN. This is now it's fourth reincarnation! What can I say, I love that color and the fabric is perfectly good. I just had to remake the bodice one more time in line with my research. The funny thing is that it will probably not look much different to anyone else, but *I'll* know it's better! LOL I am now a super-whiz at cartridge pleating (which might not be the correct type of pleating but that's for another post!)
My next step here is basically building a bibliography of my sources (which amusingly enough are many of Drea's, we just took different ideas away from them!!) and planning out my "Good Enough For A&S" dress and dress diary. I have something like 20 yards of linen just waiting to be touched!
Comments? Critiques? Ideas?
And my favorite pic so far of Lilli and I in our flemish...
