Historical Costume Festival - "Sense & Sensibility" inspired dress

This is my sixth entry to the Historical Costume Festival.

Back in the spring of 2008, I sewed a Marianne Dashwood inspired costume for our trip to Williamsburg, Virginia.

::Inspiration::

::My Version::

{The first two pictures are of me in Williamsburg. While the rest are my Senior pictures.}

::What I did::

I used Sense & Sensibility's Elegant Lady's Closet pattern for the dress; and Sense & Sensibility's Regency Spencer Jacket & Pelisse pattern for the pelisse.

The dress is made out of white voile, with a white muslin petticoat underneath. For the pelisse I just used broadcloth in a creamy yellow. I did notice after making my pelisse that I forgot to add 3/4 sleeves. Oops. :p


~Ashley

Historical Costume Festival - White Regency Dress with Embroidery

This is my fifth entry to the Historical Costume Festival.


Inspired by a image I found on Mrs. Chancey's website. I went about making my own version of a dress found in the book, The Art of Dress by Jane Ashelford. It is a wonderful book by the way! 


::Inspiration::

picture from: www.sensibility.com/vintageimages

::My version::

::What I did::


I sewed the entire dress, but two button holes, by hand. It is one of three projects I've sewn entirely by hand. The dress is made out of the higher end of 100% cotton muslin from Joann Fabrics. I embroidered the sleeves myself, which took quite awhile - about a year and five months of off-and-on work. Sewing the dress it self took only three days. The basic embroidery outline was found in the book:  J.&P. Coats 100 Embroidery Stitches. The pattern I used for the dress was Sense & Sensibility's Regency era dress pattern. 


~Ashley  

Historical Costume Festival - "North & South" inspired costume

This is my fourth entry to the Historical Costume Festival. 


Oh, how I love the movie, North & South {2004}!!!! When I first saw the movie last year, within a week I already had a dress copied from the movie. This is only movie costume I've made to hold that record. =) 


::Inspiration::

::My Version::

::What I did::


I draped the pattern on my dress form and drafted the sleeve pattern. I'm hoping to add sheer under-sleeves sometime - once I figure out how to do it and find the perfect fabric. =)  The fabric is from Joann Fabrics and I bought it for only 88 cents a yard back in 2007! If only they still had fabric for so cheep. The lace trim around the neckline is from Philadelphia, PA and I bought it for only 25 cents a yard. And it is 100% cotton trim!! 


~Ashley 

Historical Costume Festival - "Felicity: An American Girl Adventure" inspired dress

This is my third entry to the Historical Costume Festival.

Back in 2007 my sister, Gabrielle and I worked on researching a dress that Felicity (of American Girl) wears. It is her old meet dress and one of her dresses in the movie, Felicity: An American Girl Adventure (2005).

::Inspiration::


Skip to 4:00 minutes to see the dress.

::Our Version::






::What we did::

Using simplicity 3723 for the starting point, we had the bodice and skirt be separated, unlike the pattern were it is together. We boned, interfaced, and lined the bodice. While for the skirt, we just sewed and gathered three lengths of fabric into a waistband.

~Ashley 

Historical Costume Festival - "Wives & Daughters" costume

For my second entry to Atlanta's Historical Costume Festival I will share my Cynthia inspired dress from the movie Wives & Daughters (1999). 

::Inspiration::

::My Version::

::What I did::

I used Mrs. Chancey's Romantic era dress pattern for my dress. The fabric is quilters cotton from Joann's. I also made my own fabric covered buttons for the back.

~Ashley

Historical Costume Festival - "Rear Window" Grace Kelly inspired dress

This week Atlanta is hosting the Historical Costume Festival. It sounded like so much fun, I just had to join in with some old pictures of my costumes. As I'm too sick to take new pictures.

For my first drafted pattern back in 2008, I wanted to copy one of my favorite dresses that Grace Kelly wears. It is from the movie, Rear Window.

::Inspiration::

::My Version::

::Fabrics Used::

The bodice is made out of black velveteen. While the skirt is made out of gray satin with a sliver glitter organza overlay. I drafted the pattern for the bodice and sleeves. For the skirt I just used a circle skirt pattern that I have from simplicity. 


~Ashley

Fun Video

Hi everyone!

I made a video of me draping my "Young Victoria" bodice. Enjoy!