madamemodiste

We are all in a tizzy over the arrival of the highly anticipated "Georgiana" 18th c. shoe by American Duchess Boutique. It's dyable silk! It's gorgeous! It's AFFORDABLE!!

Available for PRE ORDER April 1st



Since I'm writing on the fashions of the very influential Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire for my senior undergraduate capstone, I really like the choice of names.

Lighting is still poor, but here it is without any trim. Since the fabric is so light, most trim I've played with weighs it down and pulls the fabric. Hrm...I think I'll leave it like this.

I had a brainstorm this morning, and it's either fabulous or horrid. Tell me! I have a Dracula's Ball on Saturday night, and I was thinking of making a pannier skirt of this ruffled fabric. I stuck my stays and panniers over top of my current Victorian gown (too lazy to remove current project, so just ignore it) and draped the fabric on top. Is this fabulous goth attire or awful? Remember, I'm not going for historical accuracy, I'm going for goth fabulousness.



And in the future, I can always use it as an under petticoat that won't be seen to further soften the pannier bones.


[Poll #1511495]

I just have a few minutes before I have to get ready for school, but here I am at the 18th century "Polonaiseville" tea Friday afternoon!

(I'm on the right)


...and with bauhausfrau (she's on the right), who inspired Polonaiseville and organized the tea!


[x-posted]

So as you may recall, I added an extra width of fabric to the polonaise overskirt to make it nice and floufy. I totally failed at getting it pleated onto the bodice. Epic fail. I had to remove the extra panel and just go with the original width to make it fit. *hangs head* I spent hours on this and wasted a whole sewing day, and since I barely have time left to begin with, this makes me frustrated. So I hand sewed the skirt to the bodice and it looks fine (though my stitching is really bad!).

Left to do on the poloniase:

Hem overskirt

make and attach buttons and loops (acquire cream ribbon for loops?)

sew on hooks and bars

sew down neckline trim

make and sew down sleeve and cf bodice trim

oh yeah, stitch pinned sleeve hem

I quickly made the rump pad for my polonaise gown this morning. Not the most expert thing I've ever done, but it'll do! Pattern by Winego.



And I solved the "I forgot to consider the rump pad when I did the petticoat hem" problem. Since there will be an overskirt, put the rump pad over the underskirt and under the overskirt. Problem solved!

As it was a beautiful day in the upper 80's, Jason and I spent the rest of the day at the park, so nothing else got done. I might show up at Costume Con in just 18th c undergarments!

Whew! Man I have a lot to do! I just started on the bodice of the Period Impressions polonaise and I find I'm not in love with it so far. Thank god bauhausfrau already warned me that it is short waisted. Wondering if I should have stuck to that Butterick pattern I already made up a few years ago after all as I think the back pieces are shaped better (3640). Well, we'll see. Don't expect the best fitting bodice! Makes me feel bad because this is silk taffeta and I can't usually afford such nice material.

I hope I get a chance to make some trim. School keeps getting in the way of my sewing! I also have to trim the lovely hat I got from bauhausfrau last summer, but that part will be fun.

I haven't yet worn my black 18th c stays AS stays, and I'm wondering 1)how black stays will look under large 1" repeating cream and silver stripes, 2) how it will change the fit of the bodice, and 3) will they actually be comfortable under a bodice when I can't access them to tug them about. Please don't let it be hot on April 30th!!

Is it awful to have black shoes with a silver and cream gown? It's all I have at the moment as most of my wardrobe is rather dark. I could make little shoe clip cockades of the dress material.

Oh and I WISH I'd had enough time to make a matching parasol! I have a black silk with a black handle, a white with black lace overlay with a blonde wooden handle, or a white sutler parasol I trimmed with venise lace and ruched white netting a few years ago. Which one do you think I should bring?

After much cursing, I finally wrangled the flounce into ruffles and got it sewn onto the skirt.

Thank you guys so much for the wonderful 18th century gown photos for my new fabric! Since I'm easily swayed and love to do group projects, I'm going to jump on the Polonaise Bandwagon and do Georgiana's gown from The Duchess (Thanks to bauhausfrau for the screen shots!). bauhausfrau even supplied me with a pattern that everyone seems to like: Period Impressions 1770 Polonaise and Petticoat pattern. Though one could also use Butterick 3640 (left hand version) in a pinch.



This all makes perfect sense as one of my favorite gowns from Marie Antoinette is her blue stripe polonaise (thanks to padawansguide's Costumer's Guide to Movie Costumes for the screen shots



All that floufiness is soo delicious!!



I think the fabric I have is a silk taffeta. I'll have to ask Beth for sure. Maybe it's faux? I don't know. It does seem to have a crispness to it, so I think it will work! I hope there is enough of the stripe to do both the overgown and underskirt plus trim!

It's weird having nothing on my dress mannequin...