All posts filed under: 20th Century

Rate the Dress: Mrs Dunstan does details, 1910ish style

Last week I showed you Felipe I, Duke of Parma, in his elaborate mid-18th century getup, all fur cuffs and cisele velvet and brocade waistcoat and lace cravat and… …you liked it!  Perhaps, as Erin suggested, it was all about having the chin to pull it off, but between the excess and the chin and the dog, it all worked and Felipe rated a very respectable 8.9 out of 10.  Now if only I could convince Mr D to wear it… This week we’re looking at another kind of design excess.  The end of the first decade of the 20th century was an interesting era, fashion wise, as garments transitioned from the exaggerated silhouettes and rich, massed details of the early Edwardian, to the more neoclassical inspired simplicity of the ‘teens.  Colour-wise, the switch went the other way: the Edwardians had favored the pale pastels of the Neoclassical & Rococo, ‘teens fashions took their colour cues from the wild combinations and exotic hues of the Orient. This dress, by New York dressmaker Mrs Dunstan, bridges …

The ca. 1905 Time Lady Shirtwaist

I’m so excited to show you my latest creation for three reasons.  First, it means I finally have something to wear with the Faille Skirt of Fail.  Second, Lauren of Wearing History gave me the e-pattern to test over a month ago, and I’m so pleased I finally had time to make it up.  Finally, there were just so many gorgeous images from the photoshoot I did that I might have to do two posts about it! So, without further ado, here is my ca. 1900 ‘Time Lady’ shirtwaist. I’ve been making it over the last week in between finishing tap pants and making pineapple reticules and sewing dozens of hooks and eyes on to Lynne’s 1905 Greek Key frock. I wanted to test the Wearing History pattern just as it was, so I blithely ignored Lauren’s wise instructions to make a full toile before cutting into your fashion fabric, and used this blouse as a working toile.  Only, being me, I meticulously finished every seam, which meant that when it was mostly done and …

Hey look! I’m a Raleigh’s girl!

Remember my 1919  cardigan?   I couldn’t find an inspiration image that exactly matched it when I was making it, but I was sure that it was perfect for the late ‘teens, early ’20s, and it turns out I was right. I’m a Raleigh’s girl! via the BBC Perfect match! Of course, I’m sure hers is linen or something summer-bicycling compatible, but it does make me want to recreate the white dress and tie a yellow scarf around my hair and do a bicycle photoshoot on the hills around Wellington!