Faux pas: a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion. Just because you find historically documented proof of something being from the past, be it a dressmaking technique, hair style, manner of speaking, etc., doesn’t mean you *should* use it in your costuming. I mean, really, do we Read More...
Tag: Victorian
Take Your Victorian Dressmaking to the Next Level
Being creative creatures we are always striving to better ourselves and our work. Of course, there are always those quick projects where we just want to get it done and ready for the event. Those we simply “cut & paste” using the supplies and abilities we’ve developed over time. But then as I was sewing Read More...
1887 Summer Berry Trifle Dress
Back in January 2013 I declared it was to be the Year of the Striped and Plaid Bustle Dresses. (Have you participated yet?) During the Fall 2012 session of the Bustle Day Dress Online Class someone had posted a link to striped fabrics over at Farmhouse Fabrics. [insert dream time and drool here…] Through a Read More...
Patterns for the Well-Dressed 19th Century Gentleman
Lest you think we forget our handsome gentlemen around here… Without them where would our Elizabeth Bennet be? What about Molly without her Roger? Or Scarlet without her Ashley AND Rhett? For these dashing men to be appropriately dressed, they must make a visit to their tailor – who probably dressed them to the T Read More...
How to Sit in a Victorian Bustle Dress
I get asked quite often: “How in the world does one sit in a dress like that?!” No, really. How DO you sit down? To help you all out with that burning question… here’s a video tutorial with tips for how to sit down when wearing a bustle dress from the 1870s or 1880s. Read More...
Pleated Trim to Jazz up Your Victorian Neckline
Want to add pizazz to your Victorian dresses? Well, pleated trim is a fantastic way to go. You can cut strips of your dress fabric or use ribbon. Fold it, pleat it, gather it, or ruche it to make trim that complements your gown perfectly and adds that “Pop!” we all want from the historical Read More...
You Have Made Your Hat… Now what?
Guest Article by Gina White Hours and hours have gone into the creation of your hat. (In my case blood, sweat, tears, frustration, and a few choice words go into the making as well….) You have worn your newly crafted chapeau to your event to the delight and amazement of your fellow event goers, and Read More...
Matching Stripes on a Bodice
Stripes are awesome! (if you don’t know). And they rule fantastic designs throughout the 19th Century. What if you love stripes but the matching part terrifies you? You avoid sewing with beautiful linear patterns because you think the Stripe Matching Game is beyond your reach. I can assure you it’s not. It’s a matter of Read More...