Admire

Georgian Shenanigans in the Wairarapa

Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com

Five years ago on Labour Weekend Stella, Priscilla and I threw up our heels and scampered off to New Plymouth, to play with deer, and dress up in Edwardian costumes, and take lots of photos.

Quite a lot has happened since then: marriages, children, moves across the country, houses have been built and bought…and I started Scroop Patterns!

This year we decided that five years was far too long, and it was time we did it again – especially as New Zealand relaxed Covid restrictions just in time for us to plan.

So we booked a cute cottage out in the Wairarapa, and set out on three days of fun and friendship, and a well deserved break after a very stressful year. And dress ups and photos – if I could find the energy to organise that!

Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com

I was juuuuust about to finish my first Amalia Jacket toile (in fact, I finished it on this weekend), so decided on an 18th century theme.

I basically just threw everything that might fit either Stella or Priscilla and that was 18th c in my car.

The goal was just to have fun. Dress up, be ridiculous, enjoy each others company, take photos, that’s it. We didn’t worry about looking perfect, or being accurate.

Stella’s never worn my pet-en-laire, so she picked that.

Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com

Priscilla’s borrowed pretty much every costume of mine that might plausibly fit her at one point or another. She opted to mix things up with some menswear. It only took a couple of safety pins and a few basted seams to keep her in it!

Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com

My Edwardian tricorne was a trifle anachronistic, but fit the mood. I’d brought some shoe options too, but turns out Pricilla already had the perfect shoe match! (also, can we take a moment to appreciate her calves? They would be the envy of any 18th century gentleman!)

Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com

And me? I wore my just finished Amalia, the petticoat I made earlier in the year, and used it as an excuse to try styling that whole look.

I had intended to take us down around Lake Wairarapa for photos, but we took too long getting dressed, so we just enjoyed the yard and cottage.

But what a yard! Roses and hawthorns in bloom, nesting birds (we found at least 5 nests with baby birds), and spring at its best.

Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com
Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com
Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com
Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com

When we ran out of options in the backyard, we moved to the front.

Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com
Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com
Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com
Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com
Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com

And out to the road…

Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com
Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com
Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com
Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com
Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com
Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com

And finished up with the traditional terrible face photo!

Amalia Jacket and 18th century dress ups thedreamstress.com

7 Comments

  1. nofixedstars says

    how lovely to see all the prettiness and jollity—a much needed break in my day.

    one of the things i have missed most due to all the covid cancellations is the opportunities to dress up in costume…glad somebody still gets to do it! (and shares the photos!)

    • Elise says

      Yes! Vicarious jollity is a terrific thing! And a very pretty thing.

  2. The pet-en-lair!

    Also, I’d love to have a pair of those menswear trousers. Any suggestions as to finding a pattern or adjusting an existing trouser pattern?

    You guys looked like you had so much fun. And the picture of you on the road taking a photo fills me with so much joy! Perfect mix of old and new look!

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