A Fractured Fairytale

I wanted a new comfy (and more importantly cool) dress to wear at the Jane Austen Festival this year. Since I was behind on my sewing schedule I decided to stick with what I know and love and made yet another late 1790s gathered front dress. Honestly, I don’t get tired of these. The style is so easy to wear and the gathers mean the sizing is very forgiving. And with a busy small scale print, it means I can worry less about the inevitable dirt and stains that come with picnicking at an outdoor event.
 
The dress is made from a lovely two-tone indigo print from Burnley & Trowbridge and is sewn with a combination of machine and hand stitching. The construction follows the same method as my blue striped gown,  detailed in this post from last year, with a few small changes. The pleats at the back are slightly different, and I ran out of fabric so I had to piece the top of the back skirt gore. Also, I wanted to mix things up a tiny bit, so I added a little self-fabric belt. It attaches at the back with two fabric covered buttons and wraps around to be pinned in front.
 Unfortunately I was so hot and miserable the day I wore it to the Jane Austen Festival that I didn’t take any photos, but I did wear it again to Costume College a few weeks later in blissful AC! I accessorized it the second time with the collared chemisette I made last year, some pretty carnelian earrings from Dames a la Mode, and a cute little antique coral brooch. I really like the bright pop of orange against the blue and white. Even better, I ran into Gloria of In the Long Run Designs, and she snapped some wonderful photos of my outfit. I just love having professional shots of something I've made. Its such a treat!