Back in 2008 when I was making one of those every-other-year masterpiece costumes, I was insane and had to make all the undergarment layers too. From that detailed project list came the need for a trained petticoat to 1) support the trained silhouette, and 2) keep the underside of my skirt relatively clean (you know Read More...
Tag: Undergarments
Are You Wearing Your Chemise Wrong?
Are you? Is that even a question to discuss? Apparently it is. Who’s to say I’m wearing my underwear wrong? Or even if I’m wearing it right? This is such a personal question even for modern conversations, but how does it apply to those of us who make and dress in underwear from another time? Read More...
Fabrics for Undergarments
I don’t know about you but I want to be comfortable when wearing my historical clothing. Right? And it all starts with what kind of fabric you have closest to your skin. Whenever beginning a wardrobe for a new time period, or even if you are just starting to make historical costumes, having a comfy Read More...
Year in Review: Costuming in 2013
It’s that time of year again to marvel at the projects you completed during the year and kick yourself for ones that didn’t get done. (Or maybe it’s just frustration at having the lack of sewing time to complete the to-do pile…) As noted in my 2012 list, reviewing my completed projects is not something Read More...
Avoid the Corset Ridge
If you’ve worn a corset you know it…. THAT LINE! That horrible, awful line. That ridge that sticks out in front of you like a power boat pushing through the water creating a wall of water around its bow. It’s nearly as bad as obvious hoop lines. Ugh… So what can you do next time Read More...
Selecting the Correct Bustle to Create the 1870s or 1880s Silhouette You Want
Scrolling through the hundreds of photos of Bustle Era dresses and patterns makes you wonder – so just what goes under that dress to make that silhouette? How does that skirt get into that shape? This period is all about the skirt! It is what defines this era and further divides it into three distinct Read More...
Cleaning & Storing the Costumes We Make
If you’ve been making costumes for any length of time you KNOW the space they take up in the house… the closets… the garage… the bathroom… under the bed… How does a flat bit of fabric suddenly need a stretch limo to take it home? Or its own bedroom to pout in? And what happens Read More...
The Tail of 3 Bustles
Once upon a time there was a girl fascinated with all lovely things Victorian. Her dress-up box (i.e. closets and hat boxes and shelves) was cram-packed with dresses and accessories made in luscious silks, light cottons, and other wonderful things. She had so many delights to be satisfied for a century, but it wasn’t enough…. The Read More...