Regency frock

[madamemodiste]

So I've decided to finally tackle a Regency dress. I have that white on white striped voile left over from the Chemise a la Reine as well as a few patterns on hand. I have the Sense and Sensibility Elegant Lady's Closet and the Simplicity version of her Regency Gown pattern. I can't decide if I want a flatter, less gathered bodice like in the Simplicity evening version or if I want the gathered drawstring version. I'm doing elbow length sleeves. What do you think? I feel the non-gathered version will make me look less frumpy. As a girl of average height with curves, I have to consider such things.

I then plan to make an open robe of my black and red striped taffeta

Comments

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

Hey Kat--What I would recommend is to just use the front skirt piece from the SRG. But be sure to check one thing: the ELC slips on over the head, so you need to make sure you can get your shoulders through the top of the skirt. Then omit that whole lower drawstring.

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

So the shaped skirt front is authentic for the flater front look? I see lots of ladies at events that appear to be in Regency gowns without gathered skirt fronts (or barely gathered), but I feared using the wrong method of achieving that look :) I already have one not-very-authentic Regency gown and didn't want to make the mistake of doing that again - lol!

I wish I "got" the apron front method, but I know it's beyond my technical skills at this point.

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

Hey Kat--The shaped skirt is less common, but you can find them in a few examples. Another trick is to use straight rectangle panels, but do all the gathers from the sides (starting under your arms) to the back and none at the front. That is also authentic. If you do this you should concentrate most of the gathers in the back, but some along the sides.

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

And just another tip with this style, you can also cut a little dip in the center front which helps it sit better. Just a crescent an inch or so deep works wonders!

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

The shaped skirt is mostly a later skirt. It starts showing up a lot on the 1810s. Hunnisett does have a shaped skirt pattern as early as 1800 though, and hers are taken from originals. Earlier though, it's just a mild slope at the sides. They don't really get a lot of shaping until the skirts that you can actually see the back thrust in, for lack of a better term. They're very pretty, I think!