All posts filed under: Rate the dress

Rate the Dress: a ca 1845 ball gown with an unusual note

I think I may have slightly cheated with last week’s 1900s blue silk Rate the Dress. Apparently I described it so thoroughly, and detailed all it’s good points so eloquently, that I convinced some of you to like it even if you might not have otherwise. I definitely enjoyed writing about the dress, but I wasn’t consciously trying to make you like it. Ironically, I only think it’s OK! It definitely doesn’t make my heart go pitter-patter as a whole. It did make (almost all) of your hearts go pitter-pattern though – or, more accurately, skip a beat. Claire dubbed it the swoon dress! The total: 9.3 out of 10 This week: a ca. 1845 ball gown For this week’s rate the dress I’ve chosen a ca 1845 ball gown in classic white. “Oh no, not another one of those!” might well be your instant reaction. After all, aren’t all 1845 ball gowns much the same? Yes, maybe… However I think this one has enough interesting design details to merit your consideration. And that’s …

Rate the Dress: a ca 1900 day dress gets the blues

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week’s 1750s Robe a la Francaise was far better received than I had anticipated. I thought the muddy colours and square shape would put people off. If they weren’t enough, there was the lacklustre presentation and dreadful wig. Despite all those, you found the back pleating sufficiently swooshy, and the fabric sufficiently luxurious, to keep all your ratings at 6 and above. The ratings averaged out at 8.3 out of 10. 8 (or 8.5) was the most commonly rated # for the dress, so for once the ratings reflect the general reaction. This week: A ca. 1900 day dress This week I’ve chosen something in a nice bright, bold colour: a ca 1900 day dress in deep blue printed silk: The silhouette of this dress, with its drooping bell sleeves, not-yet-excessive pigeon breast, and gored skirt with ruffled hem, is absolutely typical of fashionable 1900s dress. The S-curve has yet to reach its most outrageous proportions, but is definitely in evidence. The only throw-back is the sleeve heads, which retain a slight fullness. The …

Robe a la francaise, brocaded silk & metal, ca. 1755, Museo de Roma

Rate the Dress: a Robe a la Francaise in rococo brown, ca 1755

Published by The Dreamstress

I can usually anticipate some of the reactions to a Rate the Dress, but I was completely blindsided by the initial reactions to last week’s royal fancy dress. Sure, it wasn’t a court jacket, but badly made seems a harsh accusation for a 200+ year old costume that still looks nearly pristine! The frat boy comparisons did crack me up. Isn’t it odd how our modern perceptions of a ‘look’ completely change how we see it in a historical garment? However, after the initial wails of ‘tacky’ and ‘cheap’, a whole bunch of you swooped in with 10/10 ratings. There were 14x 10/10 ratings, compared to only 11x of any other #! The enthusiasts pointing out that the costume was awfully fun, did exactly what it said on the tin, and was quite practical for a theatrical performance. After all, a real bear skin would have been extremely hot and heavy and hard to move gracefully in! Thanks to all those 10s, Karl got a 8.4 out of 10. Rrrrowr! (sorry, I couldn’t resist!) This …