All posts filed under: Admire

A medieval moment in my 1350s-80s gown

At long last, after lots of research, lots of work, some triumphs, and a few setbacks, I’ve finished my first proper medieval garment. I got it completely ready to wear, except for sewing four buttons on the cuffs, for a historical dinner on Saturday. I wore it for the dinner with cuffs unbuttoned, and then I finished the buttons on Monday. On Thursday the weather was beautiful (if cold) and the gorgeous Elizabeth of Ills Winter and I spent the late afternoon hanging out at the Sir Truby King gardens, taking pictures and generally having fun. I only ended up putting 11 buttons on the sleeves, because of buttonhole issues (more about that in a later post), but I could add more later if I wished. I’m reasonably happy with the finished result. The neckline is a little too scooped, the sleeves a little too long, my buttonholes more than a little rubbish, but as a learning piece, it’s not bad at all! The next one will be much better! I definitely feel I’ve got …

The Marmotte Masquerade Stays – Finished!*

Published by The Dreamstress

I didn’t think I would get the Marmotte Masquerade Stays done for the Bastille Day Ball, because they won’t ever fit me properly as anything but undergarments. In fact, I wasn’t sure if I could even make myself finish the stays at all… But then the Sewphist asked if I had anything she could wear to the ball. When she came over the Wednesday before the dance to try things on, all of my frocks were too long in the bodice for her, and I had a brainstorm. The stays are too short in the bodice for me, so perhaps they would fit her? And they fit her so perfectly, and looked so fabulous on her, that she agreed to finish the binding so that she could wear them (and if you have ever bound stays, you know what a major undertaking that is!). So I showed her how to do the binding around the bottom tabs, and sent her away with bias binding (perfect historical accuracy was clearly not the object with these!) and …

A set of Baroque pearl accessories

Published by The Dreamstress

One of the reasons I love 17th century fashion so much is the jewellery. 18th century jewellery is very pretty, but it tends to get a bit heavy on diamonds and overly ornamented, and just too bling-y. Mid 17th century jewellery is fabulous though. It’s all pearls. Throat skimming pearl necklaces, round or baroque. And pearl drop earrings the size of pigeon eggs, with more pearls twined through the hair. Pearl trimmed clothes, and large hanging drop pearls dangling off broaches. (sings) Pearls, Glorious Pearls! Whenever I’ve worn Ninon, I’ve faked the pearls from my stash of random pearl necklaces, but have always intended to make a set of jewels that captured the look a little better. With the masquerade ball coming up, I thought it was high time I did it. I had a set of really beautiful, high quality faux pearls, still unstrung, so I strung them, and added a vintage clasp (not 17th c HA, but still very pretty, and it gave the effect). I remembered reading somewhere about women in the …