*Heavy Photo Post!*
Hello all! I hope your weekend has started out wonderfully! So far, mine has been quite nice. My incredible husband chose "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" for our movie tonight and I thought it was quite fun!
Earlier today I did my hair (it was most uncooperative indeed!!!), put my pretty Wedding frillies on and asked Colton to shoot away! This post is super photo heavy because I decided I wanted to wait and photo all the underthings at the same time. It is such a shame that most of the time, Victorian underwear wasn't seen by a lot of people. It was just so gorgeous! I had a lot of fun making these pieces of underwear. They were a lot of work, but I think that work totally paid off!
Garter Belt
Sadly, today I wasn't wearing any American Duchess clocked silk stockings (I still need to purchase some) so I "couldn't" wear my belt. Besides, if I was wearing it, I wouldn't have been able to have had photos taken of the belt!
It was very interesting to make as there really wasn't a pattern for it. For the actual belt part, I used the yoke section of Folkwear Edwardian Underthings 203. The garters I had to guess on. Inspiration for the bows came from here and here. Lara Greene-Vaught of Lara Corsets supplied the hardware, I found the fabulous French Embroidered ribbon at French Kiss Ribbons on Etsy, and the silk for the belt part was left over from mom's blue corset!
Pretty blue silk ribbon from Lara!
The closest I was going to get to modeling it today....
More inspiration I found in my August 1893 edition of The Delineator! I am 99.9% sure these were worn under the drawers. At least that's how I will be wearing mine!
French Drawers
The antique bow lace I found screamed to be used on some French drawers. Sadly, the pictures don't show the awesome flounce...
Advertisement in the back of my August 1898 Delineator for "Ladies' French Open Drawers". Huzzah for printed "proof" of what I am wanting to accomplish!
French Petticoat-Chemise
Another item from the 1898 Delineator was a French petticoat-chemise. These were an extra layer of petticoat used to hold the skirts of the 1890s dresses "out"! Love how long this one is. I extended Truly Victorian TVE02 Edwardian Underwear chemise pattern. The same bow insertion lace was used on the bodice and the hem.
Looooong petti!
Description in the Delineator for image "8":
"At figure No. 8 is shown a French petticoat-chemise made of fine nainsook and trimmed with insertion and edging, ribbon-run beading covering the joinings. A very shallow yoke at the top has fullness at the center of the back and front like the lower portion of the chemise, which may hang loose or be confined in Empire style by a belt. A flounce completes the lower edge of the chemise."
Pretty deep ribbon lace flounce looks beautiful with my FAAAAAAAABULOUS American Duchess shoes! I LOVE these and am so happy that I was able to get some!
Brocade Corset
I wanted bust and hip gores for my corset and since I LOVED how my 1840s corset turned out, I decided to go ahead and use Simplicity 7215. For the trim around the top, I trimmed some of the bow lace. It turned out really sweet!
Petticoats
Under petticoat
I had enough antique lace that I decided to make an under petticoat to go with the over petticoat that I purchased off of eBay.
I know that I got inspiration for this somewhere, but cannot find it anywhere now! When I remember, I'll post a link!
Every single panel between the insertion lace took me 1 hour to complete! All those tucks...pain in the neck. Seriously! But it turned out perfectly puffy, which is what I was shooting for!
Over petticoat
I found this lovely on eBay. It is GORGEOUS and was the whole reason all the rest of the underwear ended up the way it did! It makes me so happy! I had to cut the waist down about 3 inches however because the original owner was about 10 feet tall! Just kidding...she was probably only 5' 10". Tall lady!
Delicious, frothy goodness!
"The petticoat has a deep full flounce that gives the proper flare to the skirt and is trimmed with deep embroidered edging." Delineator, August 1898.
Mine has strips of batiste between the insertion lace, a batiste flounce then a deep lace flounce. Under the outer flounce is another row or ruffle with a flounce. It is the most beautiful petticoat I have ever seen!
Corset Cover
I fell in love with this corset cover from The MET, so used it as inspiration for my corset cover. Of course I had to put insertion lace in mine!
I LOVE this lace. I am hoping that somewhere, sometime I will find a whole bunch more!
Another image from the August 1898 Delineator! This particular magazine was so perfect for this suite of underwear!!! Huzzah for "proof" backing up what I am envisioning!
The Cover of the awesome sauce Delineator that helped me with my underwear. There are some pretty spectacular color fashion plates in it, one of which is inspiration for Mom's Mother of the Bride dress I will be making!
Now that the underwear is done for the Dressing The Victorian Bride program, I now have to start on the actual wedding dress. I am excited and dreading it at the same time... Bring on the ivory silk!!!!
I hope you all have a seriously blessed weekend!!
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Hahahahaha!!! The look on my face is priceless!!! In the video, I share pictures of some of my ancestors. How I miss them!
Hi! This trousseau is simply amazing! Lovely details on every single part, on every piece, I especially love the layers of petticoats you made :) And yes, the garters were worn under the petticoats, drawers; the periodical photos displaying ladies with garters outside of the petticoat were only made for men's amusement and teasing :D keep on with the good job, looking forward of the bridal gown!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Melinda! This was quite the project and the actual dress is still not even started! I have seen the periodicals you have been talking about and was also told that they could have been for advertisement purposes. Whatever the case, I'm wearing mine in! hahahahaha!! Thank you once again Melinda!
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Wow you look beautiful! You're right, it's too sad that all these gorgeous layers will be covered by a dress. Try to make it just as pretty as (or prettier than) the underwear - though I'm sure you will. :) Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you G-Cis! Yes, it was sad that most of the world never did get to see these pretties! But, it's 2016 and thanks to blogging, people can see mine! Hahahaha!
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Whew! That is a lot of work! I am tired just reading about it! The bow lace!!! Squeeeeee! Everything is frothy and lovely. Such a beautiful epic project.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lot of work...and I'm happy it's over! When you come out, you can pet the bow lace! hahahaha! Thank you my friend!
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Dear sweet cousin!!! I LOVE the pictures and certificates!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much cousin! I will be scanning the images off for you when the computers complete their transfers...
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Beautifully done as always! <3 <3 <3
ReplyDeleteThank you thank you Lara for the compliment and the hardware and ribbon! You are a rock star!
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Wow Gina this is incredible! So many beautiful pieces!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Vivien! There are quite a few pieces!
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Amazing - such attention to detail! It's a pity it all your beautiful, hard work will not be seen when you're wearing a gown! No doubt that what will go on top all of this will be just as gorgeous as your underwear, though! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this wonderful compliment Sanna! The reason for making this whole suite of underwear is so that people can actually see them. I do Historical Fashion Education Programs, and one of my programs is going to be Dressing The Victorian Bride, where I dress myself in all the layers of underwear. That is one of the reasons I paid so much attention to this particular set of undies, so they would look pretty for those attending the programs. I hope people like them!
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Omg, everything is flawless! But THOSE TUCKS! They look like a lovely nightmare to see! Also, it always strikes me how people back then cared about details when it comes to underwear. Like, they could spend their monthly wages on a gorgeous lace that would end up being unseen!
ReplyDeleteAah, nightmare to SEW, obviously. Autocorrect just can't stand how perfect those undergarments are!
Deletehahahahaha!!! Eleonora, you are a hoot! I too agree with how interesting it was to our ancestors to pay such close attention to pretty underwear...I guess we can check that up to the fact they didn't have distractions like TV, the internet, etc and they took the time to make pretty things even if they weren't going to be seen by the world...
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ps...I have this same issue with auto correct!!
Beautiful work, Gina. Makes me jealous of all the pretties.
ReplyDeleteVal
Thank you so very much Val! Don't be jealous! You have that epic orange 1830s dress that I am going to steal one day...
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Oh my goodness, how perfect is everything, especially that tucked petticoat!! Simply divine.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Crystal! That tucked petticoat took the longest and I am just happy that it turned out well! Nothing like taking a stupid amount of time on a project just to have it not turn out ok!
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I agree, Victorian under garments are soooooo gorgeous! You did a fabulous job on all of this!! Ooohh that lace and all those little tucks on the petticoat. LOVE!
ReplyDelete-Emily
Thank you Emily! The underwear from these eras is my absolute favorite thing about...these eras. That sounded weird. But anyway, I LOVE Victorian-1920s underwear! So fun to make and wear!
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All the pieces are so pretty, Gina! Fluffy petticoats are so fun to wear and are so beautiful. Love the pintucks!
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Quinn
Thank you so much Quinn! I agree, fluffy petticoats are the best. I felt like a big fluffy cloud wearing all the final layers in the photo shoot...too fun!
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Absolutely gorgeous! I am so jealous. There is nothing better than frills and furbelows. I am working on my own underwear project just now but being 1840s it involves a lot more cord than frills and lace! Fun too in its own way but not as beautiful as yours :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much La Belle! I have made two corded petticoats and I LOVE them too! They are so very unusual and cool and totally work under the skirts of the dresses! I wish you great luck in getting your outfit completed! I hope you share on your blog?
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I wish our undergarments still looked like this! Can you imagine victoria's secret filled with fabulous pictures of petticoats and bloomers?!?! I'd actually go there, probably! Stunning creations!
ReplyDeleteI would totally shop at Victoria's Secret if it were filled with frilly, lacy things! It would be so fun! Thank you again, for your lovely compliments!
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