A Fractured Fairytale

One of the things I love, and admittedly hate too, about costuming is the fact that every project is different. I may have made things from the era before, but each project presents its own unique challenges, frustrations, and opportunities to learn. One of my current project is the perfect example. I’m working on a mid-1790s evening gown with a gathered front and high, narrow back. My love for 1780s and 1790s gathered front transitional gowns is pretty obvious when you look at my project history, but despite the fact that I’ve made five similar gowns, this project has been an interesting experiment. Read more...

My original plan for the Costume College Ice Cream Social was to join in on the Game of Thrones fun. I had a Margaery Tyrell inspired costume planned and even started when I ran into trouble. My perfectly fitted pattern didn’t translate into a perfectly fitted bodice, and while the costume isn’t a total loss, it needs work. More work and mental energy than I had time for with a deadline looming.
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I’m home from my annual pilgrimage to southern California. Not only did I spend a lovely weekend at Costume College, I also extended my vacation to explore some more around L.A. I have fun things to share from both the Getty Villa and the Getty Center, as well as the Huntington Library. Also, I may have bought more fabric. Oops. But first, Costume College! Read more...

Important note: I can't claim 100% accuracy with the construction of this dress. I havent done enough in-depth research to definitively say how this style would have been constructed. Since it is a transitional style, I felt comfortable enough to use my knowledge of 18th century techniques to experiment with the construction and make educated guesses as to what they might have done.
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If you've been following my instragram account, you may have noticed that my new print dress is nearly finished. It just needs sleeves and accessories and its ready to wear at Costume College. It turned out differently that I originally planned, but thats the price of experimenting. I miscalculated and the waist ended up sitting at my natural waist, not raised like I planned. Also, the fabric is really too heavy for this style of dress, but I've already invested enough time into the dress that I will make it work. With the right accessories, I can easily transition this dress into a slightly earlier look.

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