1871 ballgown, with pictures!

[mala_14]

I forgot that I had pictures. I took another picture and now here they are. The finished bodice, with closures:


I wore it around for a while after that, so I snapped a pic of it on:

It could definitely stand being about an inch longer in the waist. I am hoping that making a somewhat wide belt will be enough to cover the gap and skirt waistband without the bodice pulling out. If not, Plan B is to baste the belt to the bodice.

Overskirt as it is so far, with the ruffle and silk header attached. I did this by layer the ruffle and overskirt wrong sides together with the silk header right and ruffle right sides together. Machine sewed them all, then flipped the header up and attached it by hand at the top. This kept everything nice and neat with all the seam allowances encased.

I really like the way the net looks over the silk. It looks kind of coarse in pictures and really isn't particularly fine net, but from a distance it looks lovely and airy and sheer. Also, have I mentioned, NO hemming!? elizabeth_mn told me that early bustle should make you look like a little cake. I think lace trimmed ruffled net totally qualifies.

I was super lazy yesterday and only managed to try everything on and swan around in it for a bit. Today I'm going to cut out the belt/sash/butt bow. Tomorrow will probably not involve much sewing because I'm going on the train in costume with friends (like last year)! Hopefully no dastardly train robbers are about! ;p

Comments

[jenthompson]

It's SO PRETTY!!!

[mala_14]

Thanks Jen! Sometimes one needs to be fluffy.

[atherleisure]

Gorgeous! Definitely baste everything together; then there need be no worries when you wear it. Besides, the skirt probably won't want to stay at the raised waist without basting - and it's period!

[mala_14]

Thanks! Good point.

[koshka_the_cat]

Beautiful! I love the net over the silk too :)

And that's a fashionable level for the waist. Baste and you'll be fine!

[mala_14]

Thanks Katherine! Net is my new best friend. :) I will definitely be basting.

[elizabeth_mn]

It's true, it should look like a little cake, and it does! So cute!

The waist is very short and I think it looks perfect for the era. You nailed it.

[mala_14]

Thanks! I'm going to be pretty froofy.

I find it difficult to get the right waist height. It's like bodice Goldilocks: too high, too low, hard to get just right. :p

[newmoonstar]

So beautiful!! Definitely not too short for the early 70s- just baste it and it'll be perfect. :)

[mala_14]

Thank you! I will definitely be basting the belt to the bodice.

[starlightmasque]

OH WOW!!! You're lucky I am three times your size or I'd just steal it from you.

[mala_14]

lol I feel the same way about your costumes! ;)

[mandie_rw]

The trim is so pretty! Definitely little-cake worthy. :D

[mala_14]

Thank you! It's very frosting. :)

[nuranar]

That is just exquisite. The attention to detail and the fluffiness is just right! And I love the fit on the shoulders. I'm really wanting something like that for my own ball gown.

A lot of my 1860s stuff has ended up an inch short in the waist, too. I wonder how it happens?

[mala_14]

Thank! I was worried the shoulders would be too low, but the lace tucker definitely helps keep things at the right place.

I have no clue. I thought it might be because I usually do bodice fittings without the skirt so I'm just not paying attention to the waist. Or it's because my mock-ups are in stretchier cotton. One of these days I'm going to get it right!

[sewtimely]

How lovely! I worked with a silk net on a project, and what a joy it was to work with. Single most expensive fabric I've ever used. I love how it came out on yours.

We'll need photos together at CoCo. I'll be wearing an 1876 confectionary number, though my floof will be at the hem. :)

[mala_14]

Thanks! Silk net sounds dreamy! If I ever get around to making an Edwardian ballgown, I would need to get some some silk net. This cotton stuff was nicely inexpensive, so it was good for experimenting with.

Yes! 1870s ballgowns ftw! Yours is going to be gorgeous. It actually made me think of another gown I'd seen in a painting, with the cream and the ruched gauze: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/438115869989708954/

[sewtimely]

Oooooh, lovely! I debated to a swag look like on the woman on the left on the center front of the gown, but decided to keep thing simple.

[mala_14]

Well, yours is already copying a super fancy fashion plate, so no need to add extra complications! I randomly saw that painting on a book cover, did a double-take at the gorgeousness, and decided that the lady on the left's gown is on my dream to-do list. :)

[theladyrebecca]

So pretty! I love how frothy all the net and trimming make it look!

[mala_14]

Thanks Rebecca! I was definitely going for froofy with this one.