All posts tagged: 18th century

18th Century Masquerade Costumes

A reader asked me about 18th century Masquerade costumes. Specifically, she wants to make an 18th century Grecian inspired masquerade costume. How fun! It’s right up my alley! I wish I had the time and reason to make one too! The theme allows for either full on stays, stomachers and paniered robes, or simpler flowing ‘negligee’, permissible under the guise of classical inspiration. There are so many possibilities! Goddesses have always been popular, and would be perfectly appropriate – one of the top masquerade destinations in 18th century London was the Pantheon. I could do Athena, goddess of wisdom, with a medusa-head stomacher. Or Diana, goddess of the moon and the hunt, with star and moon spangled hair, and even stags and bow and arrows (if I was feeling really over the top!) I bet Venus was popular in the 18th century; the goddess of love could wear a rose-wreathed frock, and have a miniature cupid in her hair. There are non-goddess options available too: Elisabeth Cudleigh, Maid of Honour to Princess Augusta of Wales, …

Rate the Dress: 1750s Robe a l’Anglaise

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week you looked at a very unsimple puffed and frilled lavender and mauve creation from the 1820s. Some of you loved it and gave it a perfect 10, but most of you thought it was a bit fussy and unflattering, so it rated a 6 out of 10. This week, dear readers, I direct your fashion critique towards the 18th century, and specifically to a simple ca. 1750 robe a l’Anglaise. Unusually for the period, this fabric is not pastel, but instead a rich brick red brocade silk, sprinkled with apricot and pink roses. Unfortunately, the petticoat that was worn with the dress is no longer extent, so you will have to rate it on the merits of what is left. What do you think? Is the unusual colour a success or an unfortunate aberration? Rate the Dress on a scale of 1 to 10

Rate the Dress – 1700s mantua

Published by The Dreamstress

The assessment of last week’s dress was fairly unanimous, with most people expressing that Maria didn’t do the dress justice. As Jo-Anne astutely summed it up, the dress was overpowering. Some of you did approved of Maria’s ‘death stare/don’t give a damn/emo’ attitude though, and combined with the stunning (if mis-worn) dress she rated a 6.5 – not a complete failure.* I’m still in a glitzy, metallic mood (OK, when am I not in a glitzy, metallic mood!), so I present for your consideration this turn-of-the-century (the 18th century) Italian confection of Madonna blue and silver, from the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Are you in love? Or are you in like? Or is your reaction more along the lines of “burn it now please?” Rate the Dress on a scale of 1 to 10 *P.S. Am I the only one that was really, really tempted to photoshop Kristen Stewart’s face into the painting? I swear, it would make total sense if she was a reincarnation of Maria!