All posts tagged: 1800s

Rate the Dress: Red & White Regency (with shoes!)

It’s entry #2 in my series of ‘Rate all the Party Dresses’. This week we’re going back in time 210 years, and rating a formal Regency gown. It’s a particularly exciting rating, because it also includes the shoes worn with the dress. Last week: a bright orange silk and embroidered net party frock from 1916 The reviews for last week’s frock were a very happy surprise. I was afraid many of you would find it too bold and outrageous – but just one did. I’m always delighted when you love a dress, and even more so when I’m really not sure you will. (of course, it would be terribly boring if every one of you just adored everything, so don’t worry if you don’t!) The Total: 9.5 out of 10 Definitely a belle of the ball dress! This week: an 1800s dress – and the shoes to match I found the bare footed mannequin that last week’s dress was displayed on rather disconcerting, so this week I picked an evening gown where we know …

Old Government House, Parramatta, Sydney

Published by The Dreamstress

I’m in Sydney & the surrounding area for the week, visiting the wonderful Theresa, having a much-needed mini-holiday with Mr D, and, most importantly, speaking in conjunction with the ‘Tales from the East: India & New South Wales‘ exhibition at Old Government House, Parramatta, Sydney. I was incredibly excited about getting the opportunity to visit Old Government House. It’s the oldest public building in Australia and one of the few authentic examples of Georgian architectures in the Antipodes. It’s also an extremely important structure from a historical standpoint. It’s strongly linked to both Australia’s convict and colonial history, and to Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Macquarie is sometimes called the ‘Father of Australia’. While his legacy is chequered, he was undeniably central to shaping Sydney & New South Wales general trajectory in its formative years as a colony. He and his wife Elizabeth were also responsible for expanding Old Government House to its current structure. The house is furnished as it would have been under their residence, in the style of the 1820s. Theresa and I were …

Rate the Dress: brief bodices and beads, ca 1810

Published by The Dreamstress

Sometimes I know exactly what I want to post for Rate the Dress, and that it is the perfect theme. Other times, like this week, I have no idea. What I finally settled on this week wasn’t my first choice, or my second, or even my third. Sometimes settling is a good thing, because if I hadn’t, I might not have looked at it up close, and found out that it was so much more interesting than I had thought. How so? Scroll down to find out! Last week: A Wedding Ensemble from 1887 Well, Louise Carnegie picked well, both when it came to men, and to fashion, because her choice of wedding ensemble was very well received. A few of you didn’t care for the red-trimmed bodice variation (but then, some of you did), and not all of you were entirely sold on the colours. Interestingly, most of you saw the dress as sort of a khaki or light olive colour. Personally I thought it was a grey, with just the tiniest hint of …