Skirt and blouse

This was the earliest version of the skirt and blouse. Made from a fine cotton lawn the white blouse has pin tucks front and back. At the neckline are two rows of gathered lace. The long full sleeve gather at the wrists, into cuffs.

The skirt is a pretty yellow flower print on white cotton, and along the top of the upper most ruffle is sewn a yellow silk ribbon, The yellow silk scarf match it in just the right hue.

Considered a walking dress, it was light and airy, and unrestrictive.

Underthings

Here is my lady in her chemise and drawers. All of her under garments are made from white cotton in varying thickness. Next is her corset. This one was very different from others I've made but very much like the Elizabethan corsets I've seen and made for myself.

Her petticoats are fairly simple and not heavily decorated as other eras were.

I keep forgetting to take pictures of her under things and her nightgown and housecoat, so tonight after finishing the peachy pink gown I took the time to add pictures of these.

Nightgown and Wrapper

This nightgown was very interesting to make, as it is the first one I've made that could be truly termed from "neck to hem". Made from a very soft fine white cotton, it would be very nice to sleep in, and I think she thinks so too.

The "wrapper" which is what they call the housecoat back then, is made from soft but heavier white cotton. This also made up in an interesting way as it only goes to the lace line on the nightgown. That is where the upper piece is set in, and does not happen on the wrapper.

The last piece of this ensemble is the nightcap. One can't but wonder ... "Did they really wear those back then?" But I'm sure they would wonder the same of us with our hair curlers and caps.

{The picture with the bow at the waist is the housecoat, and the other two are the nightgown. It's hard to tell these apart.}

Is it peach or pink?

How about peachy pink? lol I loved the color of this fabric and I think she looks great in it.

This is a visiting dress, and while she has a fancy beaded necklace, and beading trim on her hair ribbon, I don't think it's to much. She doesn't have to wear the necklace but I think it adds a bit of sparkle to her attire. The gown is made of taffeta, with an organdy over skirt, sleeves and collar. The lace trim has the same peachy pink color woven into it's design.

The necklace is hand beaded onto a colored ribbon that matches the ribbon belt in a wider width. There is one wide tuck and the bottom of the overskirt with the lace just peaking out from under it. In all a lovely gown, and another wonderful piece to add to her wardrobe. Don't you agree?

A house dress?

This blue print cotton house dress is worn over a plain white cotton underdress. This will allow for additional dresses to be worn over the white underdress. She also has a lovely village bonnet to go with the blue overdress, allowing for an outing or just to take a stroll through the garden.

The fine voile cotton print is a lovely shade of royal blue on white. The gown is decorated with hand died silk ribbon, and white edged lace .

The bonnet has artificial flowers, more of the ribbon and some royal blue hat veiling, to finish off the trimmings.

Aubergine Pelisse

This is called a Pelisse Dress or Robe. The style was very popular in the 1820's and so I decided to make one up in a royal purple crinkle like mixed blend. It's lined , and overlaps in the front. The edges of the gown are trimmed with a beaded appliqué in a long narrow design, and of a lighter purple color. The Color was called Aubergine, and that is a french word for eggplant.

She has detachable collar and cuffs of a fine Bordeaux Angeles. She also wears a bonnet trimmed inside the brim of the same beautiful white lace. The bonnet is finished with a trimming of ribbons, feathers in a lighter purple hue, and the beaded applique used down the front of the gown and around the bottom hem. There is also the very long shawl of deep purple lace.

new for Electra

This is a lovely shade of green silk, with a matching net and trimmings. I have had this collection of fabric sense the last miniature show I went to years ago. The gown is an evening dress in the same era as I have been working in, the 1820's. The bottom of the gown was often gathered and puffed like this and trimmed out in different ways to accent the design. It made the bottom of the gown "stand" in a circle around the body, from the stiffness of all the gathered fabric or net etc. So on to the next gown.