madamemodiste

My my! I have woefully neglected this journal! My apologies to those still following! I wrote my senior thesis (for my undergraduate History degree) during the Spring semester and it sucked up all my time. But it's done (I got an A!) and now I can share what I've been up to.

I made two new outfits for the Steampunk World's Fair.

"May Welland Visiting Dress" This was inspired by a dress May wears in The Age of Innocence a few times. You know I love me some stripes! This dress has no actual steampunk attributes other than being Victorian, but that's good enough for me!



I also made a day dress out of this cool red satin fabric embossed with a crocodile pattern and a red poly taffeta. I call it "The Croc Dress" it's alternate name is "The Sporting Dress" because I wore it to represent the imaginary head of the SPWF Croquet Team. I made the croquet harness, too.



The rest of the photos can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14941369@N07/sets/72157626657528881/

Then came time for the 6th annual Victorian party. Wow, I can't believe I've been doing this for 6 years!

I made a dress out of my famous white on white stripe cotton voile. Yup, that fabric I got years ago at Joann's that I used to make my Chemise a la Reine, my Regency chemise, and the Regency day dress I started like 2 years ago (and only needs a hem to be finished...I should be ashamed!).



And the rest of the photos can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14941369@N07/sets/72157626947959942/

Next up: 18th c. polonaise for Bastille Day in Philadelphia

Today we leave for the Steampunk World's Fair! Half my closet is packed. I am laughing thinking "How are we going to fit all my stuff and all his stuff in the back of a Mini Cooper? But somehow we will. We don't know how, it's a mystery.

I have two outfits for each day (one day ensemble and one evening ensemble) except for Sunday, which does not require an evening gown. I planned my outfits around two eras of the Victorian period in order to keep the amount of understructures I had to bring under control. But still, 4 3-piece Victorian gowns take up a LOT of room, and that's after you've packed 2 big, fluffy petticoats and a steel bustle. I have three pairs of shoes, five pairs of gloves, 4 hats, 2 parasols, 1 "Edwardian" umbrella, plus undergarments, jewelry, opera glasses and more.

Dashwood (one of our 4 cats) thought he was sneaky and tried to pack himself in the folds of a petticoat. Can you imagine opening your suitcase at the hotel and your cat pops out? Oh my! I've heard stories like that, and they always amaze me. When I was a kid, my dad got in the car and started a 2 hour trip. He got half way there when he saw movement in the back of the car when he was checking his blind spot. It was our cat, Boots. She'd jumped in the open window of the car for a nice nap, and went for a ride. He had to turn around and bring her back. Too funny.

Anyway, I'm really excited to debut my three new outfits this weekend. We're bringing laptops, so will be able to post each day.

So who am I going to see? Are you coming?

Hello! I finished the black and white NF era gown that I have simply named "Donna's Dress" since she inspired it!

I wore it this past weekend to Belvidere Victorian Days in NJ. It sort of drizzled all day, but we made the most of it!

Made entirely of cotton from the Truly Victorian 1882 tea gown pattern with the neckline from the TV 410 1873 polonaise, and a "Victorian revival" white blouse underneath purchased at the mall.



Please ignore the alien cat in the background. She is clearly engaging in shenanigans.

As you can see, I paired the overdress with a striped skirt I made several years ago. The parasol frame is circa 1890's and was recovered in net and lace by me and mostly Beth because I was distracted putting in an offer on a house the day she visited.

Here is a link to photos from the day:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14941369@N07/sets/72157622226266761/

I know a lot of people haven't seen this movie yet, so my Sunday afternoon gown was lost on them. It was based on a gown that "Lizzie" wears upon her arrival in England in the movie based on the Edith Wharton book "The Buccaneers". Here's a screen shot I took



and here's my version (in cotton...at the time I couldn't find striped sheer) and matching hat



and another shot with the train down from this past weekend (thank you isabelladeangelo for the photo!)
( HERE )

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]

I have like 4 loads of laundry in, I've located gowns and undergarmets on the tentative list, and I've packed one medium sized suitcase full of shoes and accessories (gloves, purses, knee socks, jewelry, etc). I also have a large box for two hats and a large shopping bag with the rest of my millinery (smaller hats, feathers, and hair flowers).

Still have to hand wash two bodices and my 18th c corset. How does one actually sew and do homework when all this needs to be done? LOL! ACK!!

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?

LL and I had a FABULOUS time today!!! The weather really held out so we could promenade all over the Museum area. First we met in the Azalea garden for greetings, photos, and a picnic. Jason and I were up too late last night at a nightclub and failed to bring any picnic stuff, but that turned out to be ok because everyone else brought soo much food! We oohed and ahhed all over each other. LL's dress was so amazing and looked so fantastic!! And her parasol was a dream!

Then we walked over to the museum exhibit and saw the most delicious French gowns. I saw my favorite blue and white 1874 striped gown as well as a purple silk and velvet outdoor costume that was so gorgeous. They let us take pictures, but no flash was allowed. There was a constant loop of nineteen-teens fashion show films and fashion plate stills on the walls (3 separate ones), and so the room was a wee on the dark side, so I fear my photos won't show much detail on the darker gowns.

The building that houses the textiles is very old and beautiful. The old fashioned elevator still has the turn crank and tiny wooden stool for the elevator operator!

LL was adopted by one of the gangs 7 year old daughter (now who is surprised by that??). So cute! LL couldn't leave until she'd instilled in the little lady a penchant for dressing up.

Unfortunately, LL had to leave us to go back to her family, and I was so sad to say goodbye as she really made my day by playing dress up with me.

From there we took an old fashioned trolley, run by the museum, back to the main building. It had old fashioned wood and iron benches for seats. Too fun! After perusing the museum bookstore and grabbing sodas, we went outside to say goodbye and a few last minute photos when we realized we'd never taken a group picture when everyone was together! Opps. So we got a shot of those of us left.

Then Jason and I went to dinner in the city - such a treat!



And here are the rest of the photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14941369@N07/sets/72157617063601420/

I got the buttons and button holes done. I admit, some of the button holes look as though I'd had a few drinks! I think my machine needs a tune up. I'll take it in Monday. Still need to do the decor on the cuffs, and it's done. Here's a preview shot



It kind of fits. The waist is still too big, the area right above my breasts is a smidge too small, but the jacket does button. I'm just not sure how comfortable it'll be. We'll see. Maybe I'll take bauhausfrau's advice and wear my 18th C. corset underneath (if it'll fit under there), so if the jacket feels too hot or too annoying, I can take it off. !!!

Now, since it's Halloween, I feel like I'm allowed to make it look a bit slutty. I was thinking of just wearing a short poufy skirt over my panniers with the jacket. The Dracula's Ball is crowded, so not many people see what you have on below your waist anyway. Should I do that or wear the original long black 18th C. skirt? And if I do that, should I wear colored tights with my black velvet platform shoes? Change the shoe laces to red satin?

Tonight I am attending two parties. I will wear my Steampunk Birdwatching ensemble, for which I got those birds from Michael's yesterday. I think I'll pop one on top of my hat and put another on the cane (yes, I got my steampunk cane back from Jason's friend, who was sprucing it up).

Now, which bird arrangement do you like for his outfit? #1 has 2 birds...one raven and one gaudy bird of paradise. The other is just the raven alone. Vote for your favorite!

VERSION #1


VERSION #2