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Madame Ornata’s sapphire blue dress: a photoshoot

Published by The Dreamstress

Along with me in the Laurel dress, we got photos of Madame Ornata in her sapphire blue dress at last weekend’s photoshoot.

Madame Ornata looked amazing, and was so fun to photograph: slinking along in her dress and doing something adorable every two shots (the ‘outtakes’ for our photoshoot are hilarious!).

I’ve culled and culled and culled, and used supreme willpower and gotten the hundred fabulous photos down to under twenty of my absolute favourites.  Enjoy!

Photography by me and Sarah

Based on these photoshoots, I’ve decided that every woman should have at least two photoshoots of herself in a glamorous dress a year.  With everyone owning a digital camera, it’s super easy, and it’s great fun, and great for your self esteem.

So go out, oh readers of the world, and instead of scheduling a girls night out, schedule a pretty picture taking session for yourself!

Rate the Dress: 1830’s menswear

Published by The Dreamstress

Despite my concerns about your interest in last week’s Victorian Batgirl dress (black and white and a fashion sketch), it attracted lots of attention.  So much discussion about bats and aesthetics, and links to modern versions of the dress!  It rated an 8.3, because while some of you thought it was fabulous, a few of you don’t care for Victorian fancy dress.

This week I felt it was time for a change – we leave the details of the Renaissance, the splendor of Worth, the puffs of James, the wacky sexiness of Victorian fancy dress, indeed, all the frills and furbelows of womenswear, behind.

Instead, we look at menswear.  What will you think of this restrained man’s ensemble from the early years of the Romantic era?

Men's ensemble, 1833, silk coat, Metropolitan Museum of Art

The fitted blue silk jacket dates to 1833, and is worn with a palest yellow waistcoat, pleat-front buff trouser-breaches with stirrup bottoms, and a black silk cravat.  Simple with a touch of interest, or boring and mismatched?

Rate the outfit on a scale of 1 to 10

Vintage patterns part 2

Published by The Dreamstress

Here are the rest of my vintage patterns.  Most I inherited from Grandma or was given by Auntie Artie.

Adorable blouses, though I don’t think they will suit me

The hairdos! The attitude! The hip-hugger pants!

 

Negligee, sleeves, and aprons (and such aprons!)

I love the simplicity and elegance of the middle dress

The pattern on the left reminds me of candy stripers!

Just looking at these makes me feel a little bit more fabulous.

I don’t know if I like the blouses or the hairdos more

Housedresses and maternity wear – not glamourous, but interesting!

Party time!  And I loooooooove the pattern on the right – especially in stripes

It looks just like the costume designs for An Education

I’m so excited about the accessories patterns! I don’t make a lot of hats.

These are so ridiculously pretty and feminine

Vintage Hawaiian patterns! Mum got me these as a present

Fabulous, and hilarious!

Now I just need the time to sew some of them up, though I have to say, I’m loving some of the commissions I’m working on right now!