"Gettysburg" Boots by American Duchess

     American Duchess just came out with some new pretties! "Gettysburg" booties. They work from 1822ish through 1860's. One of my favorite periods! I've been hoping for this shoe for a while. I just ordered some in the pre-order (which means 20% off). Check them out!

(photos by American Duchess)

Romantic Era Hair Styles

     Let me start by reminding my readers ( if I have any) that I am not a professional costumer, nor am I an expert in historical costuming or costuming in general. These are my drawn-out musings and ponderings. Now to the post...

     The Romantic era was notorious for its extreme hair styles. Curls, braids, loops, and twists were manipulated and decorated in a manner of ways. The were big, they were loud, and they defied the rules of gravity. I've been trying to figure out how to replicate these styles.

The Apollo Knot(s): that big bunny-ears thing....often accompanied by forehead curls

Portrait of a Lady miniature on ivory, 1832 by Carl Von Saar 

Evening dress, 1827 France, La Reunion

On Helena Bonham Carter in Les Mis

The Turban: or other weird head devices... Just wrap that stuff around your head.

Evening dresses, 1830

On Lady Harriet in Wives & Daughters

   

February, 1831

     The Hats: (just curl up your bangs, plop on a bonnet and you're done!)

1830

 

1827

Late Romantic: these ones are pretty relaxed. Soft curls and modest buns.

1838 

1838

1841 Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaievna 

     And that's not even the beginning of it! There are so many different styles out there for this period!
But how do we replicate this? I'm still trying to figure that out. I found a few costumers who shared their creations on the internet. Some are just result pictures and some have tips and tricks:

This lady made use of her own hair as well as false pieces:
http://fashionephemera.blogspot.com/2011/12/1830s-wig.html

This one shows you how they made a base for the Apollo Knot:    
http://labricoleuse.livejournal.com/116796.html?thread=451900

A very talented Deviant Artist:
http://ladycafelfenlake.deviantart.com/art/1830-s-extreme-hairdo-252544195

A blogger:
http://madamemodiste.blogspot.com/2011/03/1830s.html

If you're going for a Turban look: it looks like this Regency look could also work for Romantic with some fiddling.
http://americanduchess.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-tie-regency-turban.html


     Most Romantic styles (original or reproduction) use fake or added hair pieces. The curls won't be too hard to find out there, but some hair pieces you have to create on your own. But how? I'm not quite sure...
Some theories:
-Fake/extra hair bent over buckram loops and attached with hair pins.
     In The Young Victoria, you can see a pale material inside the Apollo knots of royal ladies. There is scene later on showing the knots actually being unpinned from their buns.

Look at her bun. Doesn't that look like buckram or something?

-Starched hair loops.
     Like how people starch their shirts, collars, and petticoats to make them stiff.
-Wire woven into braid loops.
     Millinery wire, perhaps?
   
    Well, that's my rant. I'll be trying to make my own hair pieces soon enough. Does anyone else have ideas or tips for re-creating Romantic Era styles?

Over and out. 

A (Late) Year in Review

     It's that time to reflect on the things a created this year. I don't have pictures of all of them. But, here I go.

-1920's Prom dress
-1930's silver dress + a matching sash
-1830's periwinkle dress
-Regency dress
-New Dickens Bodice
-baby sling for a new family member
-two embroidered handkerchiefs for boyfriend
-Fusiliers bodice (I'm still going to try to make it better, though)
-1840's skirt (post on that later with matching bodice)

copyright Laurie T.

copyright Laurie T.

       

copyright Christopher M.

                             

copyright Laurie T.

That's all for now! Happy New Year!

Violent Romantic-Era Plaids!

      I finished up all my Dickens sewing, including the Fusiliers bodice. No pictures yet. I'm still not satisfied with it.
     But, on to other things! My passion: the Romantic era. The last post I did was all about inspro pics, but I keep changing what I want to do for my Hopeless Romantics April Gaskell dress! Right now, I'm really into big, bright, bold, PLAIDS! Here are my musings.

  

   I could just eat them all up!

     I have been drawn to Molly Gibson's purple tartan dress (from BBC's Wives & Daughters) for a number of years now. I very much want my own version of it. Here she is (again).

Fusiliers Bodice Mock-Up

     Got the mock-up done! Fitting has always been stressful for me, but I think this one went okay.
My base pattern was Laughing Moon's Early 1860's Day Dress. The bodice portion with coat sleeves.

via Laughing Moon

     

     I made the armscyes bigger (they were digging in under my arms), narrowed the sleeves, widened the neck, and took in the waist about a 1/2 inch. I also lengthened the bottom edges a little. I decided that I may want to extend the bodice into the little skirt thing. If I leave a little extra room at the bottom, I will have the proper seam allowance to add that piece below the waist. Hmm... Maybe this shows what I'm trying to say: 

     This is Queen Victoria's riding habit. (Looks a lot like what I'm going for!) See the part where it flares out from the waist? That's what I might aim for. On the men's tunics, it's a separate piece sewn to the waist. Dunno what it's called...

Romantic Dress April 2014 Musings

     The third annual A-Bunch-Of-Crazy-Costumers-Make-Historical-Dresses-From-Certain-Time-Period-Gaskell-Ball is in April. The theme this year is the Romantic Era. It's one of my favorite eras!!! We each shall create an evening ensemble ranging between the late 1820s and about 1840.
     I have too many dresses I want to make for the occasion, so here's just a look at the inspiration pictures I've been drooling over .

     

     I purchased my silk already. A very nice ivory silk. I think it's shantung or taffeta, but can't tell the difference. I am leaning towards the last three designs as my main inspiration. Late 1830's. Simple cut and details. And I love the strawberries on the bertha on the last one! Very exciting....

Smooth Sailing Trousers Mock-Up

     Well, still no pictures of completed Wearing History's Smooth Sailing denim trousers, but here's the mock-up! Yeah, not super good quality pictures....

Only one leg hemmed and no waistband. The real pair
hist a bit higher on my waist. 

Blurry picture, but you can sorta see the way the darts
fit over my behind. Pretty smooth fit!

More photos next time.