Dressing History

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:39:25 GMT

Just went to a talk at uni called 'Dickens, Austen and another wet shirt' by Andrew Davies. He is an excellent speaker, it was a very funny talk and very insightful; and I learnt many things about his productions that I had never noticed before.

Wimpole at War

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:51:34 GMT

Just a quick pic from the 1940s Wimpole at War event last weekend. There was a jacket to go with this as well, but I managed to leave it in the staff room most of the day...so I was a teensy bit cold. But I love the waistcoat so much that it didn't really matter.

Excuse the rubbish lighting and the odd expression =P

Jane Austen Festival 2008

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:04:40 GMT

Well I got home last night (and just as well by the look of the news...thank goodness no one was hurt). I only stay for the first four days, I need to be a Wimpole on Sunday and there was nothing else I hadn't been to before.

The Dressing Hisory stall at the Queen Square Traditional Fair was a great success, so I'll be needing to reorder quite a few things now. As a matter of interest, is there anything anyone would particularly like to see? Coloured stockings/particular patterns/different eras of hats?
The stall looked like this btw...

I also went to the 4 Sydney Place event, which was very interesting...and a great privilege to see inside. The house is beautiful, and the room much largers and grander than I had imagined. You know the Elliots' house in the 95 Persuasion? Not so very different. There is also talk of the Holburne Museum taking over the bottom two floors and making it an extension of the museum...a sort of Jane Austen Museum III. That would be wonderful I think, although the only thing she really wrote there was the Watsons, its obviously a very important part of her life and who she was.

So...what did I wear? Well I never finished the expensive but amazing outfit, because there was an awful lot of handsewn detail that I really didn't want to rush. I'll do that for next year now. I did, however, make a 1795 robe in Vanners Silk which I copied from a fashion plate in a book I have which is a bit too fragile to scan. The underdress is in spotted muslin (not printed, but actually stitched). I'll put some pictures up of that on its own one day. I would like to point out that my hair had fallen out a bit by this point. (The picture was taken at about 5pm, and I'd done my hair at about 7am...) I'll probably put up some more pitcures of the robe on the dummy when I get around to it.

I also made a spencer in wool from the Cotswold Woollen Weavers incase it rained, which, miraculously, it didn't! It was actually a gorgeous day!

So I'm looking forward to next year now, and moving my thoughts on to my new project...more 1780s or a trip into the 1640s? What do you think?

PS. The 1640s is inspired by me having just read The Kings General and falling in love with it. I always love du Maurier (Mary Ann was my favourite before this).

C17th?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:35:41 GMT

Anybody know anything about C17th dress, particularly 1640s, or know any good resources for it? Pictoral or documentary, both would be useful.

PS. Post-JAF post coming tomorrow =]

Dressing History has...clocked stockings and patterns!

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:49:49 GMT

The Haberdashery section of Dressing History has been redesigned and now contains our clocked stockings and our new range of patterns! Some very exciting new additions to start off what will hopefully be a very successful month!

Rocking Horse Farm...

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:38:03 GMT

Has anyone used/seen used their 1837 - 1840 dress pattern? Somebody had bought it and wants to use it for an 1843 Christmas at Wimpole costume. I have heard many many bad things about them, but I've not seen this pattern before. Is it any better than the rest?

Favourite ever regency?

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:44:32 GMT

All this JAF prep has got me very into regency again...and I wondered what everyone's favourite ever regency costume was? Anything anyone has made/seen on screen/seen in a portait or fashion plate that really made them fall in love with regency?

Patterns and clocked stockings

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:22:55 GMT

Well the clocked stockings will be available...next week!

Thats my prediction anyway, so everyone who is interested, you need wait no longer.

My new pattern series, starting with my 1800 Day Dress, will be available this week, unless it rains so much that I cant take the photos in the studio, which is now at the end of the garden because, apparently, photographic lighting and backdrops aren't suitable for a dining room. Soon to follow are the 1843 Day Dress which is revised, improved, expanded and adapted from the Wimpole Instructions. I will also have an Open Pelisse Pattern ie one with bodice and skirt in one all the way around available soon, the final version of which will be viewable at the Jane Austen Festival, with any luck.

Still lots and lots to do about JAF mind you...but I'll get there in the end.

First Icons - Pride and Prejdice 1980

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:40:48 GMT

I've never done any before so I thought I'd have a go...

Hope you like them...please comment/credit and all that =]

Knitters Knowledge Wanted

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:12:47 GMT

Is there anybody out there who know how to knit/knot/net a purse/reticule c.1800-1815? All me attempts are rather dismal at the moment, so anyone who can give me any advice or point me towards somewhere/one who can would be very much appreciated!

Serena

(who is getting very nervous about getting everything finished for JAF...)

General JAF Nonsense...

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:27:13 GMT

Well I'm about to cut out part two of the secret project (yes, at 23.30), part one now being finished. There might be a part three out of wool in case is rains...but we'll see. It only rained one year before as far as I can remember. I still have the pantaloons, waistcoat and jacket to make so...well I'm just being me and giving myself too much to do. I have a month though. What else is there to do? Oh I need another petticoat. I made up a pattern which is just conjecture from various written sources for a semi-bodiced 1800-1810 petticoat, and it actually works rather well, so I'll make a second for underneath the secret project. I need to make up a bunch of pre-made bonnets for JAF as well, and mittens, and garters. And a cap, a frilly little muslin cap, but I can make that in role at Wimpole one day. Actually, saying that, I can do some of the bonnets and mitts like that too.

On a happier note, clocked stockings will be arrived VERY soon. I have some pictures, so if anyone is interested and wants a sneak peek let me know and I'll send you the images. I'm also experimenting with embroidering the stockings with initials, as I just got given some 1830s-40s stockings which I can copy. I've also found a source for the most amazing poke bonnets in the world. Proper 1805-10 pokes, before the big brims! I'm so happy! I'll only be ordering a few for the moment, but hopefully I'll be able to stock them soon.

I also have a bunch of boaters which were left over from some fancy corporate do at Wimpole, so I'm messing around with them. Oh and I randomly started making more C18th stays today...by hand. Give me another 20 years and it might be done. I justified them by saying I need new stays for Amabel to go under her new Chintz dress...which keeps distracting me anyway.

I remembered that my cousin is getting married in three weeks as well, and that I have nothing to wear for that. Its the day before I have to drive down to Bath for the vintage fair in the Assembly Rooms as well. Then two days later its my birthday. Then another two days later I'm driving to Bath again for JAF.

So I'm not too busy at the moment.

Georgiana Liddell

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:50:09 GMT

Thank you everyone who replied to my results post =] Getting very excited about York now! Should be brilliant fun

Back to costuming...I did a day as Georgiana Liddell today, and did some interaction with the servants from the education department, very fun. The dress is the one I made as an example for the Wimpole Sewing Circle workshops I've been doing this week.

Ever wondered what the spare rooms in big houses look like? Well there you go!

The dress...handsewn from a printed cotton from Reproduction Fabrics, lined with linen, and boned up the darts, frint seam and side seams.

Inside showing all the constructions and the cartidge pleated skirt. All handsewn.

The underwear and the boots...more of an art picture than a useful one!

So there I have my corded petticoat, shift and 1840s corset. Again, handsewn.

Now I've had a rest from regency I'd better get back to it or the dresses for September will never be finished...

...the chintz is calling though...Amabel wants a new dress...

A levels

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:49:02 GMT

Well I got my results, and I'm delighted!

I got AAA, and even a full marks module in Eng Lit, which makes 6 full marks modules over everything. I'm slightly in shock tbh! So I'm off to York in September to do History!

Just have to fill in the paperwork now...fun...

Updates...

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:42:01 GMT

I've just put an online ordering ability onto the online shop at Dressing History, so orders can be handled a bit more efficiently.

All the dresses for September are coming along nicely. The expensive but perfect dress's bodice is now done, all handsewn, and the skirt should be going together this afternoon. I wore the stall holders dress at Wimpole the other day as well, and it seemed to go down well with visitors, so hopefully Spetember will be successful!

Dressing History Online Shop

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:19:54 GMT

The Dressing History Online Shop is now online!
www.dressing-history.co.uk/shop

We sell an accurate range of accessories for re-enactors of the C18th and C19th, ranging from Regency Bonnets to Dorset Button Kits.
We also stock silk stockings, blank bonnet forms, bonnet kits, bergere hats, cottage bonnets, poke bonnets, silk ribbon, accurate reproduction mitts and much more on the way!

Jane Austen Festival Countdown

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:27:48 GMT

This year, not only will I be attending the Jane Austen Festival, but I shall be very activly participating. Dressing History is going to be having a stall at the Queen Square Traditional Fair on the first Saturday, where I will be selling bonnets, mitts, silk ribbons and silk stockings. I have quite a lot of work left between now and September (getting off the Dressing Jane Austen book proposal among other things) but have managed to give myself an awful lot more!

Accomplished so far is a decent stock of bonnets, a few mitts and my dress to wear while holding the stall (which is entirely handsewn and made from a cotton print copied from an original scrap, and fastens with my handmade silk dorset buttons down the back...pics to follow)

Still to do: Making the rest of the bonnet and mitts stock, making the costumes for the two people assisting me on the stall (one female, one male), making the costume for the display on the stall (this is my secret, amazing, will take me forever and cost me a fortune but it will be perfect dress), putting together the photo album for the stall of my previous professional work, sorting out all of the labeling and painting the shop sign.

Before all of that though, the online Dressing History shop should be online within the next few days, providing bonnets, stockings, mitts and all my other lines!

Kentwell

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:23:01 GMT

Just got back, and I have to say that was brilliant! Learnt a lot...including how much I say ok...and the ladies in the Needlewomen's were lovely. So I'm definately coming back. Went over the Tailors as well for the last day, which was nice. Met lots of great people too (although mostly on the last evening, so I'll have to camp on site next year and stay every night...lesson learnt). It was great to meet myladyswardrobe dalarnahorse123 witandwisdome and peronel as well.

So all in all, amazing place...even if I did spend most of the week in very scared silence not knowing how tudor speaky I had to be...I dont think my voice has ever had such a long rest!

Website, C19th Maids and Birmingham/Burlingham Gown

Mon, 26 May 2008 20:37:04 GMT

Thanks to everyone who commented about the website! I've got rid of the sounds now (which I agree were quite annoying!) and I've changed the alignment on the repros and originals pages so that the text is kept further apart. I'm going to put in pop up pages for each dress as well with a lot more pictures and information, but that probably wont be until next week when I have perfected the code.

Also...

Can anyone help me with a new interpretation project I've been asked to do? Does anyone know of any quotes or pictorial sources for what house maids or a ladies' maid would be wearing in the 1830s-40s? I have been asked to make servants' dress of this date for historical interpretation, and am trying to find a source to replicate which will challenge the black gown/white apron look, which our visitors seem to associate with them.

And thirdly...

Does anyone know what a birmingham or burlingham gown is? A student has been in contact with me asking and I'm really not sure, I cant say I'd heard the term before. I can only assume it is made from fabric manufacted there? Apparently the reference comes from a quote from a historian regarding the slave trade.

Dressing History Now Online!

Fri, 23 May 2008 22:07:09 GMT

My new site, Dressing History, is now online. The latest version of flash is needed to view the site, but a link to a basic html only version is also there. This html version will be improved upon shortly! Go to www.dressing-history.co.uk to see the site.

Dressing History provide accurate historical fashion reproductions, engaging historical interpretation, original garments for sale and a series of talks and accompanying books. With an emphasis on quality and historical accuracy, we are able to provide a reliable resource for dress historians, re-enactors, museums and the heritage industry. We believe in the importance of dress as a tool to understand the past, both when addressing the social history of and era, and in understanding individuals, and try to convey this in our work.

All feedback and comments both on lj and via email are very much appreciated.

Opinions?

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:28:19 GMT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270237812781

I'm a bit confused, I really cant get my head around that dress...what IS it?

1745 Riding Habit...

Sun, 18 May 2008 21:15:03 GMT

Made this last week for today's Rebels and Redcoats and Wimpole. The jacket is made of green twill wool, with black velvet cuffs, then I used gold silk braid for the button holes. Under that I have a linen habit shirt with the black ribbon at the neck (see Ashelford's Art of Dress, image 95). I have enough wool left to make the matching petticoat I think, but I quite like it with the brown, and there is no reason why it isn't authentic like this...so I'm not sure there.

Sarah Juniper

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:30:02 GMT

Well done everyone who guessed Sarah Juniper for the shoes! Just putting in my order for another pair. They are wonderful and highly recommended!

Servants, Kentwell, Chemise Dress and...fun... (image heavy, sorry)

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:14:25 GMT

The ladies' maid outfit finally got its first outing! Got a very positive response from visitors, who seemed to find it much easier to talk to me as a servant than a lady!

Then we have my finished Kentwell costume. Wore this for a very little while at the OD on Saturday (it was FAR too hot on Saturday, its not natural), but I love it! And my new Tudor shoes are extremly comfy.

I've got another Chemise dress as well, working my way towards having the courage to cut out my striped white silk one.

And finall there is my new shoes! And some Amabel and Mary Yorke props...

General sewing news and updates

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:49:53 GMT

I'm now working on a 1760s-70s Jacket for Amabel Yorke, who I am now portraying at Wimpole. I'm hoping to create a full wardrobe aimed directly at her tastes, interests and descriptions of her own clothing (I've been in touch with the archives where her letters and diaries are kept and am in the process of reading the originals). Hopefully when the project is completed it is something I can give a talk about, but we'll see.

The fabric is a beautiful blue silk brocade, and I'm using linen to line it. See here for toile and fabric ready to be cut out.

Its cream ruched silk ribbon. Bit prettier than the black...

And now for a general dress update...

Oh and I completly pulled apart and redid my chitz anglais and put it over my quilted petticoat...HUGE improvment.

Textiles project - Landscape

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:41:09 GMT

I don't think I posted this before. This was my last A-level piece. It was called Lnadscape, and was inspired mostly by Susan Stockwell.