To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. Isaiah 61:3

Friday, February 19, 2016

NFE Sailor Dress: Planning Stage


Ah finally!!  To be planning something to wear!  At the end of March, I have a mini fashion show that I will be putting on with my Mama ("6 Dresses in 60 Minutes") and I am in need of a dress from the Natural Form Era.  Since one of my costuming goals is to create a sailor dress from every silhouette era, why not kill two birds with one stone!  Hence the NFE Sailor!!!

Queen Alexandra is my all time favorite "days of old" royals (followed by Queen Maud of NorwayEmpress Alexandra of Russia and Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain).  She was beautiful and had the best dresses and jewelry.  From the accounts I have read about her, she was lovely, gracious, and everyone knows that she put up with her husband's many, many mistresses, even inviting one of them to Kind Edward's death bed.  I have a Pinterest board dedicated to her that is filled with images of her loveliness, so I think it only fitting that my Sailor Dress for the Natural Form Era be one recreated from one that she wore!




(This image has been really hard to source, so I will credit the image to the Tumblr with the most information about it...I will continue to try find the first source.)

Here is also a link to the dress that has been color tinted!!!


Years ago when I was living in Robie Creek, Idaho, I did a lot of research into Queen Alexandra.  At the time, the theme for the SASS Convention was Masquerade Ball and I had it in my mind that I could be Queen Alexandra in a court gown (see image below). I came across Alexandra when she was still a Princess wearing a fabulous sailor dress.  I downloaded the image thinking I would some day make the dress.....fast forward to 2016...almost 10 years later!!



I laugh at myself now thinking I could even begin to recreate this magnificent dress way back then.  Ah well, my sights were pretty high weren't they?  Le Sigh...she is so beautiful!



I have since found this image of the same dress Queen Alexandra is wearing but in reverse colors!  Happily, it is a full length version of the dress so I can see how the hem is decorated!

So many of the NFE dress images for sailor dresses are fluffy and have lots of swags, puffs, lace etc.  To me, a sailor dress needs to be crisp and have clean lines.  This dress totally fits the bill!!



Back view of the fabulous dress.  I usually have a really hard time with the collars for my sailor dresses, but this one is going to be a cinch!  It looks like just an over the head, detached collar!! Huzzah!!  I even have the pattern!!!

I will have to do some research into pleated skirts because I have never done one, but the rest of the dress should be easy peasy!!  I plan on using the Truly Victorian TV 423 Two Tone Bodice for the bodice.  The apron and underskirt, I will have to put some thought into.  I have some white silk in my stash and will be seeing if the fabric store has some stripe fabric!!!

I am so excited about this project!  Another sailor to check off my to do list!

Have a most wonderful day and a fabulous weekend my friends!!

Blessings!

g

8 comments:

  1. Hi! The greatest problem isn't to have a big dream, but to give up dreaming! Poor Alexandra had to wait 40 years to wear the coronational robe, you have a whole lot of time :D Anyways, I would feel sorry for the silk, and the photos show a somewhat long-wearing (perhaps woolen) fabric too. p.s.: I sent the pic on your fb entry :)

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    1. That is a true problem isn't it? Sorry I have taken so long to reply! I have been crazy busy! I wouldn't use the silk, but I am really trying to not go super crazy when buying fabric and a light wool in an off white would be too far out of my budget. But, I do agree it would be fabo in wool! Thank you for the full dress picture that you posted on my facebook page! I think her dress could have benefited from the addition of the stripes at the hem of the skirt. But that's totally ok! She still looked beautiful!
      Blessings!
      g

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  2. I'm in love with this dress <3 Actually, it's the one that convinced me to natural form era :D I'm really curious about yours!

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    1. Hi Bella! Isn't it a wonderful dress! I am so happy that it won you over to the NFE era! I may be putting my dress on hold...I need to give my body a rest after all the stress and work of the last month and a half, but I do want to get it made!
      Blessings!
      g

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  3. I love this! A few months ago I found a full length photo of the dress for Before the Automobile, which you can see here in case you are interested:
    http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/the_aristocat/13007619/33072/33072_original.jpg

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    1. Oh how wonderful! I just looked at it and I believe it is the same image that Melinda shared on my facebook page! Thank you for the link!
      Blessings!
      g

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  4. So fun! Have you decided which color way to go with? I wish I could attend your show I know it will be fun.

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    1. Thank you my friend! I wish you could be there as well! I am thinking of going with the white dupioni that I got in L.A. and then a blue I have in my stash....I miss you!
      Blessings!
      g

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