All posts tagged: 1830s

Rate the dress: Dull brown in 1835

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week’s ensemble was all about erasing details: comparing the impression captured in the painting to the reality of the dresses fit and construction.  The painting came up trumps for comfort and flattery, and Jeanne Samary came away with a very impressive 9.2 out of 10 This week’s dress will be all about the details, because they are what carry the dress.  The fabric is a dull brown, the weave a subdued brocade.  Only the elaborate pleating, ruching and puffs add interest.   What do you think?  Does the simple fabric balance the elaborate treatment?  Or is the elaborate treatment, plus the plain fabric, two wrongs rather than a balance?  Or is the elaborate treatment still not enough to add interest to the plain fabric?  Is the dress, despite all the details, still dull and boring?  Or are both fabric and details an exquisite exercise in subtlety and design? Rate the Dress on a scale of 1 to 10

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? 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