Bustle gowns!

[madamekat]

Since we're on the subject of bustles, which I love to make and wear, I thought I'd post a link to my website where I have a page filled with images of extant and reproduction bustle gowns from early to late as well as a few understructures

Comments

[miss_philomena]

Wow, I'm loving Tissot's 'The Fireplace'. All those stripes.

[madamekat]

One of the ladies over on the Alley did a reproduction of that one. It was fabulous!

[accursed_miss_m]

I love bustle-era clothes! My half-done outfit has a definite 1870s bustle in the works.

Have you got a copy of Frances Grimble's Fashions of the Gilded Age? There's an 1879 pannier bustle in there that I'm dying to do plus several overskirts but I haven't rustled up the fabric yet. I've been drafting out the patterns but all that drapery takes so much fabric for it to look right.

[madamekat]

I have about two dozen fashion plate books, but still haven't gotten that one yet. Have you tried Truly Victorian patterns? Love 'em. I don't know how to draft (and am probably too lazy!), so her patterns are great for me.

[accursed_miss_m]

Grimble's books are amazing! Even if I wasn't drawing the patterns out I'd still use them for fabrics and the pretty pretty pictures.

I haven't tried Truly Victorian yet. I've done Past Patterns and now I'm obsessed with Ageless Patterns--when I can afford them! I wind up being forced to draft patterns because I'm too effin' busty for regular sized patterns and wind up altering all my patterns or else they look frumpy.

Random fabric-y question: Where do you get your PVC yardage? I Googled it a couple years ago and got only ready-made PVC clothes or PVC pipes, neither of which were any use to me at the time. :D

[madamekat]

Joann fabrics always has pvc around halloween time, and have a good selection of colors, too. When you google, try also typing "fabric" next to "pvc".

Otherwise, try http://www.mjtrends.com/products.Black,PVC,Fabric

The only problems I have with PP and AP are that the instructions aren't as detailed as I need them to be. There are a few I'm dying to get, but I fear I'll get the pieces and have no idea how to make them look like the cover! I did get the 1887 Sling Sleeved Mantle and after manipulating it in various directions, finally figured sort of how it went. Here's how it turned out:
http://www.neverlight.com/~madame.s/C13%20photos/mantle%20pic.jpg (a little wrinkled from holding it most of the afternoon!

[elessa]

i want the eureka air bustle! one never knows when they will be in need of a flotation device.

wonderful pics. thanks for sharing!

[madamekat]

That ad is from Peterson's Magazine, December 1872. I laughed so hard when I read it!!

[elessa]

i am very glad you have shared it. i was also laughing out loud as i read the entire thing. it made my day by putting a huge grin on my face.

i also love the bustle look. i don't have one yet, but definitely plan to join in with my own!

[madamekat]

Thanks! I love to discuss bustles, so this is fun :)

[accursed_miss_m]

Oh yes, I suffer from "asslessness" and bustles just balance out the hooters.

[madamekat]

*bwaa haaa haaa!* You are hilarious!

[squirrelmadness]

Kat, have I mentioned recently that you're all kinds of amazing? Because you are.