All posts filed under: 19th Century

Clothing the world of Katherine Mansfield

Published by The Dreamstress

Well, it’s been almost a week since the Katherine Mansfield talk, and I am mostly recovered, and most of the stuff is washed and put away and life is mostly back to normal! I’ve seen some of the photographer’s images from the talk, and they look amazing.  Definitely something to look forward to! For now, here are a few more informal glimpses from my camera, courtesy of various models backstage, and Madame O in the audience during the talk. Zara from Off-Grid Chic  (modeling my green ’20s gown) and Juliet of Crazy Gypsy Chronicles (in the 1910s longline) have a modern technology moment in the middle of historical costuming. Sandra of Flossie FT doing hair: All dressing rooms should have spectacular stained glass windows: And then, the talk! How adorable is Martha in the 1920s bathers?   Yellow stockings! And a dress with wings!

Rate the Dress: red velvet spencer

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week I showed you a very fashion forward lady of 1914, to mixed reviews.  Some of you simply didn’t like the period, others simply didn’t like the way the ensemble wouldn’t suit most figures, and most of you weren’t too keen on the hat.  But lots of you did like it: thought it elegant, avant gard, and just ‘zingy’ enough to be interesting.  It rated a 7.4 out of 10 (it would have been a higher score if the two people who said they loved it, with exclamation points, had rated it!) As the next HSF challenge that I’m supposed to write a (well overdue) inspiration post for is the HSF Choice Gentlemen challenge, I thought showing you a bit of menswear-inspired fashion was appropriate. As soon as I selected this item I also realised that it is exactly the 1810s version of the 1910s suit I showed you last week: luxurious, slightly quirky, both very practical and very unpractical,  very feminine with a nod to menswear, and possibly, just a tiny bit silly. …

Rate the Dress: Charles Worth in 1897

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week I showed you a striped 1860s number, and pointed out that the stripes weren’t aligned as we would expect them to be.  Oh foolish me!  Having had it pointed out, you all obsessed about the stripe placement, and were rather harsh on the poor gown (I know there was a tiny mis-match as well, but other than that, I actually though the unusual stripe action on the chevrons made the gown far more interesting and dynamic than a ‘normal’ stripe placement).  Beyond the stripes, some of you decried it as quite dull and blah.  Poor frock!  Some did love it though so it managed a 7.4 out of 10. I’m quite obsessed with the late 1890s at the moment: the stiff, A-line skirts, the focus on menswear inspired tailoring, the pleating, the peculiar puffed sleeves. This House of Worth evening gown from ca. 1897 is the perfect summation of the whole look.  The skirt,  with its heavy folds and widening gores.  The juxtaposition of the über-feminine pink floral warp-patterned silk with a strong, …