1820's Evening Dress

1820’s Copper Silk Evening Dress

For the court dinner at Dress U 2013 I wanted something that wouldn’t be enormous (like an 18th century court gown), wouldn’t be ridiculous (like the English Regency gowns worn over silly high hoops), wouldn’t be subject to loads of rules (like the end of the 19th century into the Edwardian period), and that I could get future use out of. I decided on a mid-1820’s gown.



( And here's what I did... )

Thoughts after wearing:
I enjoyed wearing this dress very much. It was comfortable and moved well. The only bad thing is the very wide neckline, which, while fashionable, has an annoying tendency to expose undergarments. Pinning things in place is period, right? Now I look forward to an opportunity to dance in this dress. Maybe we’ll make it to the James Monroe ball this summer.

Shutdown Week Projects

This week was our annual maintenance shutdown, and I got to play the part of door guard. Most people brought books to read - and I did too, though I just couldn't get into it - but mostly I brought needlework. I really wasn't called upon to escort anyone so I got a lot of time with various types of needles. It was a productive week.

I finished my 1947 green linen-look dress, my 1847 knit bustle, my 18th century teal petticoat, and the knitting on my 1857 gaiters. I also started and finished a 1780's bum pad like that posted on Before the Automobile. I started a 1780's blue wool petticoat to go over the bum pad but didn't get any further than the side seams and pocket slit hems and started a pair of cross-stitched garters that I'm copying from a pair in the Boston MFA. I even made a little progress on the "A Summer Stroll" cross-stitch piece that I've now been working on for just about a year.

Did I mention it was a very productive week?