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!

Sneak Peek - "The Young Victoria" inspired costume

Just finished draping the bodice of my newest costume of the year! {see picture above.} Like my only costume so far in the year 2010!

This is the dress I'm getting my inspiration from. It is from the movie, The Young Victoria {2009}.

I hope to have more pictures and maybe, video of me making the dress later today, or later this week. =)

~Ashley

An idea....

I have come up with an idea. Why not do a modern take for the "Double Period Project"?

 

I can make a jacket like Lydia's....

Or I could base a jacket off of this....

 

Or even this....

the choices are endless!

I'm considering taking this route. It would also be cheaper, as I wouldn't need as much fabric.

~Ashley

A Side Project

blogging, drinking chai tea, eating pistachios

In the mist of planning my 1860s dress and deciding what I'm going to do for the Double Period Project, I have been working on something else. A little girls dress for my upcoming etsy shop.

 

I'm using a vintage pattern from the 1950s. And you see those buttons? Those are vintage too! From the picture I'm guessing 1930s or so. But I can easily be wrong. :) I can't wait to show you the finished dress. I'm going to have a very hard time selling this, as I love it too much. ;0 

~Ashley

1860s dress plans

For my 19th birthday last year, I was able to pick out some fabric from Abraham's Lady in Gettysburg, PA for an American Civil War dress. It is very pretty and would you believe it - a shade of pink! I find myself lately picking out more and more pink things. I wonder why?

Here is a picture of the fabric.

I also have all of the supplies for my 1860s corset. I just need to have the pattern draped on me with duck tape.  I know it sounds weird, but it should work! Draping my own pattern I think is the best way for me. As I would have to do many changes to a commercial pattern.

Helping me through this process is Mrs. Clark "Practical Prinkery" book. http://www.elizabethstewartclark.com/PP/index.htm (Scroll all the way down)

I haven't decided on my dress style yet, though I should. Any ideas anyone? Oh, and I'm hand sewing my chemise right now.

~Ashley 

A lovely purple gown from....

The Portrait of a Lady (1996)

 

 

  

 

This film is set approximately in 1876-1879. Isn't this dress drool-worthy?!? The beading and color are so lovely! (Disclaimer: I've not seen this film. Only pictures of the dresses.)

~Ashley
Images from: http://www.costumersguide.com/

Inspiration from the 1870s

 I have found some lovely inspiration in screen-caps from the movie "Daniel Deronda" (2002). Once again, I have not seen this film, only the screen-caps. :)

Daniel Derondo

 

  

  

  

Isn't the sea green delicious? And the bead work! I love it!  

~Ashley

Images from: http://periodmovies.blogspot.com/