All posts tagged: 1810s

Evening Dress, silk and blonde lace, 1815, said to have been worn by Miss Mary Ann Knapp and Miss Sarah Ann Knapp, who were born in 1802 and 1803, respectively, Helen Larson private collection sold by Whitakers Auctions

Rate the Dress: Yellow & Blonde late Regency

Published by The Dreamstress

I have a confession. This week’s Rate the Dress is a backup. I had the perfect thing picked out, but when I when to write up this post…the MFA Boston’s collection website was down! So I grabbed a random thing off my Rate the Dress possibilities list. And that’s what you get! Last Week a 1920s dress of voided velvet in vibrant orange Not everyone was sure that they personally could get away with wearing last week’s 20s frock. For me that’s the joy of Rate the Dress: appreciating all the things that wouldn’t suit you, but are still masters of what they are! Despite the little question about wearability, most of you loved the frock. A couple couldn’t get past that classic ’20s shape, and a few of you pointed out that it really was just a very basic 20s dress, albeit in a very nice fabric. The Total: 9.5 out of 10 Most appropriately to its colour, I think we could say this was a marmalade dress, instead of a marmite dress. Significantly …

Evening dress, 1810-1815, silk, Rueil-Malmaison, châteaux de Malmaison et Bois-Preau, M.M.2014.7.1

Rate the Dress: Regency ruffles and really green

Published by The Dreamstress

After two weeks of dresses that were very much one colour, I was determined to choose something a little more polychromatic this week. But as they say, the best laid plans… Last week:  a sunshine yellow and flowers robe a la anglaise General reaction to the dress: “Yes, yes, that fabric! And oooh, that back pattern matching! But…umm…not so happy about front non-matchingness. And the stomacher just isn’t doing it. But oh, that colour is so cheerful, and that fabric is so gorgeous, so…” The Total: 9.4 out of 10 Yay for yellow! This week:  a very green 1810s dress, I was determined to choose a Rate the Dress that didn’t feature such a single, strong, colour note. And then, when I went searching for the right thing, this dress chose itself. What could I do? Other than the colour, the aspect of this dress that instantly struck me is the hem treatment, with a ruched edging, as well as a gathered ruffle with piped centre. The hem treatment, with its slight variation in shades …

Pelisse, figured silk with velvet trim, 1815-20, Helen Larson Historic Costume Collection sold by Whitaker Auctions

Rate the Dress (well, actually it’s a pelisse)

Published by The Dreamstress

The Rate the Dress before last was spring-heading-into-summer, last weeks was autumn-heading-into-winter, this week I’m combining both trans seasonal trends in one vivid green outer garment. Last week:  an 1890s dress in dark green ribbed velvet and chiffon, with appliqued polka dots, puffed sleeves and more Ratings for last week’s Hallee dress fell into two distinct camps: loves, with an average rating of 9.5, or people who thought it was too quirky, with an average rating of 7. Which, for once, is exactly what I’d predicted the response would be.  Usually I have some theories, and then some of the responses come completely out of left field, but this time I was spot on (haha). The Total: 8.3 out of 10 A rating that reflects almost no-ones scoring! This week: a bright spring green pelisse   It took me a long time to find the right garment to feature for Rate the Dress this week.  I finally decided to stick with my trans-seasonal theme, with an overgarment for keeping you cozy in cold weather, in …