10 years ago I made a lovely embroidered cotton gown- and it didn't fit. After hours of careful work, tiny stitched pleats, and hand sewing it wasn't what I hoped for. Since then I've learned far more about my body, garment patterning, and have come to realize making adjustments to better suit my needs isn't a compromise. So, I'm making the gown again. Better. Because it will work for ME, rather than just trying to be the closest copy I can make!
I know that the typical plain white Regency dress gets a lot of flack for being boring, but I promise it's possible to make it just as detailed and elegant as anything else! Not every gown can live in the world of Bridgerton Technicolor or Emma pastels. And now I want pretty pastel pastries. Sigh. Ok. Let's tackle this simple, but elegant design this week. It certainly has no shortage of dramatic angles and drapes, despite being mostly rectangles and straight lines!
The difficulty, as always, comes in at the neckline. What sort of support or corset will work under this garment that gives it the soft drape that we expect from this era? I certainly don't want something that flattens across the front or lifts the bust too high. And with such a low spot at the center front, most options in my closet will show! I might have to make a better corset option in the future (no time!).
So let's take those patterns from last week, and dive into sewing an elegantly simple dress from the 1800s. Then I just need to find somewhere to promenade like a Jane Austen novel...
Embroidered Muslin Gown: www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Woven Stripe Gown: www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
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