1884 Eggplant and Silver Day Dress

I have decided that for the next 3 TBTs (I would just like to point out that not one of my TBTs have been posted on a Thursday...), I will finish out the SPWF series of costumes as they are sort of a matching set.  This next dress just really didn't blow my skirt up and was my least favorite of the whole weekend.  What did I do with it when I got home?  I dismantled it.  Why?  I have no idea.  I think some sort of lunacy grabbed hold of me and made me do it.  Whatever the case, it is no more.  Well, that's not entirely true.  I still have it in pieces in a rubber tote in my garage.  I might put it back together...but the hat I can't.  I re-made it into a mourning hat for my friend Beth.

At any rate, this dress is another blending of two inspirations.  One a fashion plate, the other an extant garment...let's begin shall we?

Here I am looking very peeky.  I had just gotten over a fabulous bout of bronchitis and was still feeling a little under the weather.  But my antique reticule matches my dress perfectly and that's what counts isn't it?  YES!!!!

Inspiration #1

Extant Garment from Abiti Antichi.  I saw this dress and loved the bodice immediately.  I adore tabs and I adore buttons....HELLO!!!  The bodice has both!!  How glorious!!!

My bodice had hooks and eyes on the hidden center panel...I wish I would have taken photos....

Inspiration #2

From the LaSalle Library

Fashion plate from 1883.  The ruching on the side of the underskirt and the way the bustling in the back is caught up in a sweet bow over the pleating at the back of the skirt really made my costumer's heart quicken!!  I decided for the side front treatment to pleat instead of ruche and put velvet strips to separate the sections. 

Patterns Used

Bodice:  TV463 French Vest Bodice

Underskirt:  TV261 1885 4-Gore Underskirt (without the back bustling)

Overskirt:  TV382  (just the front draping)

Bustling:  Self drafted

Fabrics:  Silver Moire is cotton

The rest is synthetic

More pictures of the dress on Emma.  The color is much better her.

The inspiration for the hat came again from a fashion plate.  I loved the way the hat perched towards the front of the head.  The tall flowerpot hats had not come into vogue yet so I was delighted to be able to fashion this hat.  It is constructed of wire and covered with the fabrics of the dress and feathers.

I like to try to use antique or vintage feathers when I can, but at the time didn't have any gray or silver colored ostrich plumes.  I sewed together 3 new gray plumes and curled them to emulate the other ostrich plumes in my collection.  The small egret spray is antique...

I had the fun opportunity to try absinthe!!!  It was FAAAAABULOUS!!!!

Here some of are with Steampunk Boba Fett!!  He was so utterly awesome!

I thought I'd share the picture of more of us on the day I wore the Fushia Flower Day Dress...I should have put that in on the last post, but didn't even think of it!  I think we all look great in our pretties!!

Until next week my friends!

Be blessed!

g