1840's Dress

[atherleisure]

After a couple of years, I figured out what would be a good project for more of the embroidered silk faille I made a sacque out of in 2018.



It's an 1840's dress based on some in museums that I've seen. The only difference is that most of them seem to have some kind of trim around the upper arm, but I really couldn't find anything I liked for that so I skipped it.





Sorry about the quality of the pictures. It was late afternoon, and the sun was very bright. That was when I could get my husband to take the pictures, though, so less than ideal is what I've got. Hopefully, I'll have an event to wear it to some day and can get better pictures.

I'm very pleased with the shape of the skirt. The rest of it came out nicely too, and I really like the bias strip-covered bertha.

To make the shoulders not stand out awkwardly around the neck, it had to be fairly tight at the upper back. My husband said the hooks and eyes were straining at the top. I couldn't see it so I don't know whether it was normal tension or more strain than would be good for it. I thought I might borrow a technique from the bustle era and make an inside pair of flaps to hook at the upper back and take the strain off the main layers of the bodice. I don't think that's historically accurate to the 1840's, but it might be prudent. If anyone has any information about what would be a good solution, I'd be happy to hear it.

Now I just have about 3.5 yards of the fabric left. No idea what it will become.

Comments

[koshka_the_cat]

It's so pretty!

[atherleisure]

Thank you.

[danabren]

That came out really well, it's lovely.

[atherleisure]

Thank you.

[motorharp]

It looks so good! The third picture looks like it could be a portrait painting that graced someone's sitting room long ago.

[atherleisure]

Thank you. That’s such a lovely compliment.

[marianme]

Your dress glows! I'm hoping that the luster shows equally well indoors. Great job on the pleats for the bertha.

[atherleisure]

Thank you. It’s not shiny, but there is a bit of the glow of silk to it, maybe because the weft threads are quite thick.

[penwiper]

Excellent pairing of a pattern with simple lines and a luxurious fabric. Lovely!

[atherleisure]

Thank you. I thought the fabric demanded simple lines.

[mala_14]

It looks beautiful! That bertha is so nice. Also, it's fun that you used the same fabric for an 18th c gown and an 1840s gown because you see those extant 1840s gowns that have been clearly remade from 18th c dresses.

[atherleisure]

Thank you. That fad for remodeling old silks was what made me think of doing an 1840’s dress with this fabric. Between the sacque and the petticoat, there definitely would have been enough fabric to make this dress without any piecing. I’m not even sure I would have had to cut into the large back piece of the sacque. Or if there hadn’t been a petticoat, I think it could have been done with just the sacque, but I might have had to piece it a bit.

[mala_14]

That's really interesting.