All posts filed under: 19th Century

Rate the Dress: Toulmouche’s 1870s Blue Dress

Well, if last week’s stripey Doucet Rate the Dress taught me anything, it’s that I can never predict how you will react to a particular garment! I thought last week’s dress was awkward, blatant, incredibly boring for something that should have been bold, and really poorly done, especially in the bodice and the stripe transitions. It’s only saving grace was a really lovely collar/neckline, paired with an unusual and quite modern sleeve. A handful of you agreed with me, but most of you were extremely enthusiastic (in full caps with exclamation marks) about the outfit, and brought the rating up to a sparkling 9 out of 10 (you agreed with me on the shoes though, as the rating goes up to 9.2 if it is paired with them!). This fortnight’s theme on the HSF is ‘Art’, which leaves the field wide open for all sorts of fabulous ‘Rate the Dress’ options. This week I’ve picked a frock artist: one more known for painting elaborate gowns than for capturing evocative likenesses. While not as famous as …

Let there be light!

Published by The Dreamstress

In the last half hour of my crinolines photoshoot with Theresa (of Existimatio), the sun began to set over the hills of Wellington and lit up the rather spectacular cloud formations in glowing azure and gold. Theresa was madly snapping away, capturing me and the sky, and the gorgeous, glowing light over the city. Suddenly she had an idea. “Stand right there and let me get your profile against the sun!” So she snapped away, making “Ooooh” noises and telling me to move just a wee bit forward or a wee bit back,* until I became envious and said “Me, Me, Me! My turn! I want to try it on you!” But all I got were photos where Theresa’s hair looked like it was on fire: Then I had an idea. “Raise your hand…no…the far one…yep, that’s just right..now click your fingers” “Perfect! Now LET THERE BE LIGHT!” And there was. When Theresa saw the pictures she said “Oh my god, you’re such a dork!” Yep, and a happy one at that! These pictures particularly …

A very sweet, very white 1860s chemise

Published by The Dreamstress

For the Historical Sew Fortnightly Black & White challenge I decided to make a white item, and a black item (and maybe a black and white item if I get very ambitious this evening!) My white item? A very sweet, very white, 1860s chemise from the (slightly infamous) Simplicity 9769 Martha McCain ‘The Fashion Historian’ chemise/corset/drawers pattern. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have bought this pattern, because I usually use period patterns, or make something based off an original item I’ve studied or own (I know it sounds snobbish, but I’d rather know that anything weird, hard to work through or mistake-y is my own fault!). But…I’m teaching sewing so I’m trying to use a lot more commercial patterns, so that I can advise students on them. Oh, and also, the pattern was basically free. At one of the first Fabric-a-Bracs I went to someone was selling a bag with all the bits for a corset: busk, aiglets, grommets, lacing, and this pattern, for (if I remember correctly) $15! Which is less than a busk …