Latest Posts

The 1910 Little Miss Muffet at the Village Fete Dress thedreamstress.com

Magic in them thar hills: an Edwardian photoshoot at Otari Wilton’s Bush

Remember my yellow 1920s dress, and how I said it was magic?

Now I think maybe the magic is in Otari Wilton’s Bush instead.

I’ve never done a photoshoot at Otari Wilton’s that hasn’t looked beautiful: there is something about the trees and the angle of the light that is just perfection.

Case in point:

Theresa was in town last weekend, and, as we do, we had a dress-up photoshoot.

I picked Otari Wilton’s Bush as our location, because Theresa had never been there.

Theresa wore the 1910 Miss Muffet at the Village Fete dress, and I wore a brand-new just-finished dress from an original 1919 pattern, and my tricorne revival hat.

I actually made the dress as a wearable toile, because I wasn’t sure about the pattern.

And…

We love it all.

Out of 760 photos, at least 500 of them are good enough that I’d be proud to show you!

(which is actually a problem, because I’m pretty sure you don’t want to see 500 photos!)

So here is a quick look at a few, and I’ll post more in individual blog posts: especially ones about the 1919 dress construction.

A dress made from a 1919 pattern thedreamstress.com
The 1910 Little Miss Muffet at the Village Fete Dress thedreamstress.com
A dress made from a 1919 pattern thedreamstress.com
The 1910 Little Miss Muffet at the Village Fete Dress thedreamstress.com
A dress made from a 1919 pattern thedreamstress.com
Wool dress, 1911, part of the wedding trousseau of Vendla Brown b. 1880, Sörmlands Museum, SLM11205A

Rate the Dress: 19teens trousseau

I have Edwardian on my mind, because I just finished a late 1910s dress, and photographed it, and am in love with the era in general. So this week’s Rate the Dress is 1910s, and you get to decide if you’re in love with it in particular.

Last week:  a crinoline era gown in cobalt blue

Sometimes I’m completely surprised by your reaction to a garment. Last week…not so much! It wasn’t hard to guess that the fabric would be quite popular, or that the extremely long berthe might not. (I also feel slightly vindicated that a couple of half-points were lost for fringe 😉 )

The Total: 8.8 out of 10

A very, very good show, but the machine woven perfection of the fabric could not match the heart of the hand-embroidered frock the week before.

This week: a 1911 theatre dress, part of a bride’s trousseau

This dress was part of the trousseau of Vendla Brown, nee Hallström (1880-1964).

Wool dress, 1911, part of the wedding trousseau of Vendla Brown b. 1880, Sörmlands Museum SLM11205A

According to the musuem, Velda wore it to the theatre the day after her wedding.

Wool dress, 1911, part of the wedding trousseau of Vendla Brown b. 1880, Sörmlands Museum, SLM11205A

The dress is a lightweight wool, decorated on the skirt with greek key meanders, and on the bodice with two different kinds of lace, and a floral silk ribbon.

The bodice is finished with a bolero effect.

Wool dress, 1911, part of the wedding trousseau of Vendla Brown b. 1880, Sörmlands Museum, SLM11205A
Wool dress, 1911, part of the wedding trousseau of Vendla Brown b. 1880, Sörmlands Museum, SLM11205A

What do you think? An elegant ensemble for a slightly older bride (Velda would have been 33), or too boring, or too many design elements?

Rate the Dress on a Scale of 1 to 10

A reminder about rating — feel free to be critical if you don’t like a thing, but make sure that your comments aren’t actually insulting to those who do like a garment.  Our different tastes are what make Rate the Dress so interesting.  It’s no fun when a comment implies that anyone who doesn’t agree with it, or who would wear a garment, is totally lacking in taste.

(as usual, nothing more complicated than a .5.  I also hugely appreciate it if you only do one rating, and set it on a line at the very end of your comment, so I can find it!  And 0 is not on a scale of 1 to 10.  Thanks in advance!)

Royal Hawaiian Featherwork: Nā Hulu Ali‘i at LACMA, thedreamstress.com

The Pacific Influence on Western Fashion – 31 March – New Zealand Portrait Gallery

Come hear me talk about how the Pacific has influenced Western fashion, from 18th century ballgowns made of tapa cloth, to Elvis in an Aloha shirt.

I’ll explore how the exchange of fabrics and fashions impacted both cultures, and the way in which the Pacific is perceived in the wider world.

Day: 31 March 2019

Time: 1-2pm

Where: New Zealand Portrait Gallery

Watteau in Paradise 1960s dress thedreamstress.com

This talk is given in conjunction with the exhibition Edith and George: in our sea of islands.

More information