I made my 1899 tea gown back in 2012, and until this year, I’d never found an excuse to wear it myself. It’s been worn by models, but not by me.
The Sew & Eat Historical Retreat was the perfect excuse to remedy that. We were having afternoon tea, and there was talk of everyone wearing 18th century, but my Francaise wasn’t going to be done in time, and in any case, my tea gown has a sacque back!
Amazingly, 6 years after making it, it actually still fits me (the same cannot by said of everything I’ve made in the last 6 years…)
My sewing skills have definitely grown since making it, and the problem with the fabric becomes more obvious every time I pull out the tea gown (its got metal in it, and WONT uncrumple. We ironed it for nearly an hour before I wore it, and you can see what it looks like…), but I still love it. It’s so elegant…
Maybe someday when I have lots of free time (laughs hysterically) I will take off the outer robe, use it to take a pattern, and re-make it in something that doesn’t look like it’s been wadded in a ball for 18 years…
The silk of the petticoat and lining is still perfect and works beautifully, and the lace is still quite nice, and withstood me catching my heel in it a couple dozen times. Impressive!
While tea gowns aren’t really for afternoon tea, they are for wearing around the house looking elegant for intimate gatherings with your closest friends – which could include afternoon tea. So it felt rather appropriate to wear it for our fancy tea, and for wandering around in the gardens with the other lovely ladies.
And holding my hands out elegantly. Because apparently that’s what I do when you aim a camera at me!
So there we go. Creation worn!
Love the outer robe, really just a beautiful gown overall, so very elegant, thank you for wearing and sharing!
I wish I knew how to hold my hands out elegantly when someone points a camera at me.
It seems so strange that it’s been so long since I admired this gown on your site for the first time!
I was thinking that, too: “wow, I’ve been reading here and enjoying here a long time!”. And I also second what someone said below: it looks so right on you!
Beautiful photos! The gown looks so right on you.
Thank you! I’m really happy with how I feel in it 🙂
Love it, beautiful photos
Thank you! (and thanks to my awesome friends who wielded my camera for the photos)
Gorgeous! In that second-to-last photo you look like you’re about to burst into song in the manner of a musical heroine. (Any suggestions for suitable Songs for Singing in Tea-Gowns?)
Hehe. Thank you! Maybe Have a Cuppa Tea? I’m a fan of Great Big Sea’s version 😛
I hadn’t come across that one, but it looks great:
“Whatever the situation, whatever the race or creed,
Tea knows no segregation, no class nor pedigree,
It knows no motivations, no sect or organization,
It knows no one religion, no political belief!”
I know someone who was thinking of getting a teapot tattoo as a symbol of unity – because what brings people together like tea? (Except for those poor people who do not like tea, or whose religious beliefs prohibit tea. They have my heartfelt sympathy.)
Everything stops for tea, perhaps?
It’s beautiful, even with wrinkles. And very elegant.
Val
Thank you!
I think it is absolutely lovely, wrinkles and all- a design element.
Yay! It’s so exciting that 1: the gown still fits and 2: you got to wear it yourself! Thanks for sharing with us!
Best,
Quinn
Thank you!