It’s been a long, long time since I’ve done a ‘Textiles on Thursday’ post and shown you a textile from my collection, so it’s time to remedy that. For today, a fun, simple piece: an early  1920s brassiere / camisole: The brassiere is made of silk moire-taffeta with a jacquard woven pattern of morning glories. It’s trimmed with  a wide lace border at the top edge, which has been scooped  down and hemmed  under the arms: There are  vertical lines of lace over the front bust: And edging of beading at top and bottom.  Originally it would have had narrow silk ribbon running through the beading, to gather the brassiere in above and below the bust: The brassiere was held up by silk ribbon straps, with jacquard-woven patterns of harebells (one hopes that this is well after Victorian flower symbolism has been well left behind: otherwise this is a most un-promising garment, with morning glories for love in vain, and harebells for grief!) It measures 10″ deep at the centre front and back (8″ + …

I am buried under piles of ruffles (literally – having spent most of the day hemming and ruffling 12 meters of silk organza for a travelling petticoat for Ninon, only to decide in the end I didn’t like the way it looked…) getting ready for Costume College, so I’m pulling out a fun costume pretties post that I’ve had stashed  in case of emergency (aka:  when I decide I really need a new dress, and have only two days in which to sew it…) This is ‘Priscilla’ in the outfit she wore as a model for the Ruffles to Rebellion talk. Priscilla  claims that she’s no good at posing, but I think she’s a natural in front of  the camera. Doesn’t she look just adorable in the outfit?   (she joked that she agreed to model just so that she had an excuse to wear nothing but underwear to church!) B doesn’t approve! This is my favourite photo of the series – it absolutely captures Priscilla’s personality: (photos by the fantastic  Facundo, who is always …