The Dreamstress

This week we’re going from spring green to blossom pink, with an 1890s dress that’s all rosettes, puffed sleeves and swishing silk. Is the star of the show, or something for a supporting character?

Last Week: an 1830s dress in morning glory patterned silk

Once again last week’s dress was quite popular, even winning over some people who are generally avowed non-fans of the 1830s. It couldn’t quite convince everyone, especially when it came to the sleeves. What points it lost were for poof or cupcake cuffs.

The Total: 9.2 out of 10

Still breaking the 9 barrier despite a few very low scores for sleeves, but alas, not quite up to a 9.5+

This week: an 1890s reception dress

I was very tempted to go extremely bright and bold after last weeks soft, pastel frock. But it’s just turning spring here, and the magnolias are blooming, and I’m dreaming of photoshoots with cherry blossoms, so I’ve picked a pink frock the colour of fruit trees in bloom.

Dress ca. 1895, Sörmland Museum

This 1890s dress was clearly well loved by its owner/s. The hem is badly worn, and the delicate self-striped silk has seen better days. So you’ll have to do a bit of imagining to restore it to its original appearance. Put it on a person a couple of inches shorter than the mannequin. Add a few petticoats to give the skirt the necessary fullness. Re-weave those threads in the hem. Smooth out the wrinkles, give the chiffon on the bodice a steam, and refresh the wilted flowers in your mind.

Dress ca. 1895, Sörmland Museum

When all of that’s done, you have the dress as it was: the kind of frock a young lady might have worn to celebrate her graduation, or to an afternoon concert, or perhaps an engagement part.

Dress ca. 1895, Sörmland Museum

You can certainly imagine an L.M. Montgomery charater in it (although Anne, much as she would have wanted the pink version, would have had to have it in green).

Dress ca. 1895, Sörmland Museum

What do you think? Is it heroine worthy? Or something for a supporting character?

Rate the Dress on a Scale of 1 to 10

A reminder about rating — feel free to be critical if you don’t like a thing, but make sure that your comments aren’t actually insulting to those who do like a garment.  Phrase criticism as your opinion, rather than a flat fact. Our different tastes are what make Rate the Dress so interesting.  It’s no fun when a comment implies that anyone who doesn’t agree with it, or who would wear a garment, is totally lacking in taste. 

As usual, nothing more complicated than a .5.  I also hugely appreciate it if you only do one rating, and set it on a line at the very end of your comment.

This week we’re going from vibrant purple to restful green, and from a almost universally popular timeperiod, to one that’s a bit less of a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Can it score a hat-trick of 9.5+ ratings (without any hats involved)?

Last Week: a 1912 evening dress by Lucile

So many of you loved everything about this dress, and even those who didn’t rate it a perfect 10 only had the tiniest quibbles with its design: finding the colour not quite perfect, or the beads a bit clunky. Even so, it didn’t score a single rating under 8. A real crowd pleaser!

The Total: 9.6 out of 10

Just one point shy of the week before.

This week: an 1830s dress in morning glory patterned silk

Last week’s dress was an easy pick for popularity. Almost everyone loves the early 1910s!

The 1830s though? Up until quite recently they have been one of the least favourite decades for historical fashion. However, thanks to avid championing from rockstar costumers like American Duchess (and other talented costumers), the 1830s are seeing a definite rise in interest.

If you’re already an 1830s fan, will this week’s dress scratch your Romantic era itch? Or if you aren’t yet a convert, perhaps this will be the dress to bring you over to the bright-and-very-big-sleeved side? Or perhaps not…

This 1830s dress is made from pale green silk, with a jacquard woven damask pattern of morning glories.

It features the typical just-above-the-natural waistline of the 1830s, finished with a wide ribbon belt (possibly a styling addition by the museum, so you may choose not to put too much weight on it in your rating). It’s been paired with a delicately embroidered fichu: a common daytime accessory in fashion plates of the period.

The main area of design interest in the dress is that iconic feature of 1830s fashion: enormous gigot sleeves. These ones are gathered in to fit the armhole with narrow pleating, held in place with bands of ribbon arranged in poofs and secured with jaunty bows. Below the ribbon they fall in soft fullness, and are cut a little longer than the arm, so their extra length droops over the crisply pleated cuffs.

What do you think? Are you pro 1830s and think this one’s perfect? Or pr 1830s, but think you’ve seen much prettier examples? Or still not a huge fan, but can admire this as a lovely example of its type? Or just no-gigot no way?

Rate the Dress on a Scale of 1 to 10

A reminder about rating — feel free to be critical if you don’t like a thing, but make sure that your comments aren’t actually insulting to those who do like a garment.  Phrase criticism as your opinion, rather than a flat fact. Our different tastes are what make Rate the Dress so interesting.  It’s no fun when a comment implies that anyone who doesn’t agree with it, or who would wear a garment, is totally lacking in taste. 

As usual, nothing more complicated than a .5.  I also hugely appreciate it if you only do one rating, and set it on a line at the very end of your comment.