Thinking about the next project

[mala_14]

I still need to do recaps of my two latest costumed adventures and show my finished 1845 striped white dress, but I'm just not feeling like it today. I should have time this week to get to some of that. Technically the 1845 dress isn't completely done; it has all the eyes sewn on, but only half of the CF hooks. I'm so over it now though and thinking about the next thing.

The next project is going to be my ruffly, floofy sheer early bustle dress. I've wanted one for a while now. But the first part needs to be a corset cover. I am thinking something like this one from the Met:


Pretty plain and simple. I have some lawn I can use for it, but most of the examples I looked at seemed like they used something a little thicker. Any knowledge on what would be suitable? My other point of contention is on where the shoulder should hit. Looking at pictures, paintings, and photographs, it looks like a lot of the time the lining or corset cover was cut like a ballgown bodice with the strap on the point of the shoulder or just off the shoulder and that it was more rare for it to actually be on the shoulder. However, that seems like it'd be annoying to wear, so I'm not sure that I want to go that route. Any opinions?

Links to show the more off-the-shoulder cut and people in sheers with the lining/corset cover off the shoulder:
www.pinterest.ca/pin/79024168433112380/
www.pinterest.ca/pin/99853316715353088/
www.pinterest.ca/pin/565131453234325043/
www.pinterest.ca/pin/565131453234325010/
www.pinterest.ca/pin/565131453234324897/
www.pinterest.ca/pin/565131453220659698/
www.pinterest.ca/pin/565131453231122690/

Comments

[nuranar]

Mid-century underthings were pretty consistently all that same tightly-woven, smooth cotton like Pimatex. That's what the corset cover looks like, too. I think you wouldn't want something like lawn anyway, because it's soft and will want to crease and collapse. It's not very opaque over colors, either.

For what it's worth, my shoulders are slightly uneven, but I was never aware of it until reenacting. One of my evening gowns has a neckline that's perfectly on the points of the shoulders. Until I move - or dance - when it slips off the left side and stays down there. It's really, really obvious! (And rather funny.) It's not the dress, it's me. The same thing happens with some half high linings, and chemise necklines when I try to situate them in the same place. Now I find it much easier, and more comfortable, to sit the neckline an inch or two off the shoulder entirely. Then it stays in place and doesn't move.

[mala_14]

Thanks for the input! The internet tells me that Pimatex is a combed poplin, so I can probably find something similar without too much trouble.

I also have uneven shoulders. My ballgown was meant to sit on the shoulder point and never stayed there. Good tip about just drafting things so they're off the shoulder and not trying to mess around with the other stuff! I may just do that.

[jenthompson]

That's such a cool style!

And seriously - you have the best Pinterest collections that I've ever seen!

[mala_14]

Thanks! I am so anal and I think my Pinterest boards reflect that: everything needs to be put into its own little category and I need all the examples I can find! ;p