Silk, various forms

Yes, I knew that, see my post on March 17th "The look of the 1890s was *not* hooped skirts. Think "Belle Epoch",and "Fin-de-Siscle". ;->"

I also provided a whole bunch of links to the 1890s women's clothing styles on March 18th.

I hear ya'! ;-}

In article , BEI Design of uttered

Trust me, you do *not* want to be wearing an S-bend corset either

"BEI Design" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

yes, i have the La Mode Bagatelle Reform Tea Gowns pattern, but i haven't been brave enough to tackle it yet...partly because i need to decide which underdress, which overdress, which sleeves... then pick fabric. if i trip over the perfect fabric somewhere, figuring out the rest would be easier. lee

Ok, I see what you are saying.

No the wedding isn't a period piece, and

yes, at first I was thinking serious costume,

but since I am really not a very fancy person, (heck, I wear denim jumpers to church) I have toned down my idea to it's simplest form, I think, very little embellishment, and mostly form is my costume, not the embellishment.

I want the A-line, with the rear gathers, but I wear that a lot anyway, only before I didn't put as much emphasis on the A-line and now I want to. I want a nice blouse or jacket with a princess shape to go with the gores of the skirt, but not over the top. So I guess I can tell her it isn't a costume, since I am not wearing the fancy embellishment and I'm not wearing a hat, though since I haven't got much hair anymore, I probably should.

"Kitty In Somerset, PA" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:

i really like the Folkwear #209 Walking skirt (& i *hate* dresses/skirts).

i thought they had a princess-line blouse patterns, but i don't see one. #226 Princess slip or #203 Edwardian Underthings could be used for sleeveless blouses (or you could add sleeves. i've done that with the Edwardian underthings many years ago. i don't like sleeveless. i sew because i'm picky ) the Belgian Military Chef's jacket #133 is princess seamed, but you'd probably want to make the double breasted front less obvious... i like the Folkwear patterns because they're multi-sized (easier to fit that way) & actually fit together like they're supposed to. they also include historical data & embellishment ideas. as far as a hat, if i remember you said this was an evening affair? if it's daytime, i'd go for a hat as sun protection, but if it's evening, just wear one if you feel it completes your outfit. :) lee

Thanks, great suggestion. I would dearly love to learn to wear hats, since as I said, I'm thinning on top, but I never learned how to wear them. I;m afraid I wouldlay it down somewhere and sit on it. LOL Kitty

Hi,

How about laughing moon 5 gore skirt here is the website:

used this style for the skirt part of my wedding dress because I wanted something that **I knew** was inspired by the 1890's without it being a themed wedding.

I've used this pattern to make a few other skirts, and they don't scream out costume. Granted I'm wearing them with a modern style bodice, not the huge pouffy sleeves of the period. The hooping, or under bustle would definatly also make it more "period". probably something you want to avoid.

Laughing moon also has a bodice pattern for the period that shows a few styles for inspiration

you want the look of -inspired by- rather than -replica- that can also be done without looking costume-like. I'd suggest patterns like:

simplicty 5973 -- simple fitted princess, view c has short sleeves, the skirt is a six gore though, you could however wing it with view E.

simplicity 5597 has a skirt (view B) wich is a "modern version of how to have a train, with out it dragging on the floor. I've sceen the shorter in the front longer in the back skirts elsewhere lately, you will have to make the front at least knee lenght, though otherwise you run the risk of looking like you can't hem straight. If it were me I'd do without a train, though at 5'1" it would make me look even shorter than I am.

Butterick 3843 has a pretty decent skirt option in view E..the back pleats give the 1890's "feel". the wrap style top aslo reminds me of view b in the laughing moon bodice. -- a nice moddern interpretation of an old fashion

The mc calls website is not working for me right now...but based on looking through those abouve I would try the butterick as a starting point. My "pattern style" is very "frankenstien dress". I pull elements from many places and mold them to get what I want.

I think I understood that you wanted 1890's inspired, rather than an exact replica... if so I hope the abouve patterns helped.

I honestly believe there are very few new ideas in the fashion world out there anymore, it's all about new interpretations. We look to fashion designers for what is "in" but it reality. those of us that sew are our own personal designers. We can be inspired too, and find a way to pull it off with out looking like a halloween costume.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions. Raelynn

thank you for the Laughing Moon link. I thought they were difficult patterns and expensive when the opposite seems to be true. also comes in my size, so no sizing the pattern for myself. I am hooked, I think I will be spending some money on patterns after all. that skirt is just what I want, and the blouse, might do as well, option F. not sure yet if I want that much arm showing. LOL

also thanks for the pointers on inspiring modern design. I do tweek just about every pattern I use, size wise as well as design wise. I almost never wear a pattern as drawn and I am teaching a hefty friend to do my methods, she and I wear almost the same pattern, with tweeking of course. so I redraw a pattern for her and it works for me, or vice versa. can't beat that.

I sort of like that six inch train. would that actually lay on the floor or would it just sort of almost touch just farther back? what say those of you who have worn this sort of thing?

Thanks, kitty Kitty

Isn't this for an outdoor wedding? Just be aware, you will probably get grass stains on the underside of the hem with *any* length of train.

Ok, you both convinced me, no train. Darn, I never got to wear one. LOL maybe someday.....

Maybe the Queen will confer some "honour" on you that will require formal dress. ;->

Or not....

Oh, Kitty, just make it and make a way to bustle it.

And then scotch guard the bottom of it.

Michelle Italy