18th Century Stays for Historical Sew Fortnightly Bodice Challenge

This is going to be a 'quick and dirty' blog post because I'm in a rush. I finished these for the most part last weekend and didn't get a chance to post the picture. Stays or Pair of Bodies, is just the older term for corset. (essentially, for the layman, I'm sure there are costume historians that would have more information). These were completed for the Historical Fortnightly Challenge #5: Bodice. I made mine from Reconstructing History's 1740's to 1790's downloadable ePattern.

The back is supposed to have a 2 inch gap, but I just keep losing too much darn weight

The original pattern had a back closure only, but it's virtually impossible to fasten by myself. Since my ladies maid quit in a huff after I asked her to stop boffing the stable boy, I've had to dress myself.I cut the front down the middle and added lacing, so I can get it on without help.

This photo makes me want to yodel

The stays are made from Silk Dupioni on the outside with linen interlining. I bound the edges with pre-made bias tape (cheater!) and the bones are all 1/4 inch cable ties. These are not historically correct of course, but whales are so hard to catch these days and they don't give up there bones easily.

The Lost Weekend or How I survived a Pig Roast and and Oscars Party

Every year, I throw an Oscars party. Every year I make something original to wear. Oh Boy. What a weekend. I had intended to finish my 18th century stays, and use them as the top for some kind of Balenciaga type gown. However, I barely got them bound, never did get the straps done and, I don't care what kind of circus performer you are, those back closing stays are NOT going on without help. They didn't look anything like a Balenciaga dress top, so I scratched it.

This didn't happen

So, instead, I went to a rocking pig roast of a party if memorial for a very good hard living friend. I just tributed the everlovin' heck out of him. So I woke up Sunday morning, the morning of my party, in my clothes, to the dulcet tones of my lovely boyfriend and daughter cleaning my whole house so I could sleep it off. I am keeping both of them.

So rather than make something new, I hauled out my 1920's pub crawl dress, and won one of my own trophies.

Ken and I holding out trophies

My friend Carrie and actually gave me the idea, when she showed up with a Gatsby outfit. No I did not get dressed until an hour after my own party started. He we are. She is holding her best dressed female trophy

You can see better close-ups of the troll dolls in this Troll Post

American Duchess Giveaway

American Duchess is giving away a pair of their new Nankeen boots.From the site:

 Nankeens are a later Regency fabric boot with leather soles, adjustable lacing closure, and a soft, round toe. They are perfect for daywear, intended for outdoor use, and are even dyeable (purple, red, blue, oh my!) You can learn more about the boots here.

Oscar Trolls

Every year, I have an Oscar party. I make myself something fabulous of course, but this year I've been so busy sewing historically that I haven't even started. I'll whip something up. In the meantime, I also made some special troll dolls as awards.

Best Dressed Female Award

Don'cha wish your girlfriend had a booty like me

Best dressed male award

Best original costume

Fairy Tale for the Historical Sew Fortnightly

The Fairy Tale challenge for the Historical Sew Fortnightly challenge isn't due until  April 1st, but I'm so excited for it. I am busy busy busy sewing some 18th century stays and will post pictures soon. In the meantime though, let's talk fairy tales. I am 50 years old and I have gray hair. I love my gray and I'm actually pretty happy with my age too. Sooo, where does that leave me in the fairy tale world? I can be an evil witch, an evil stepmother or an old crone that keeps the princess in the tower. Of course, nothing says I can't just make myself a Cinderella costume or some other youth driven fairy tale, but I don't want to. Why? Because I'm proud of my journey. So, I'm going to write my own. At least, I'm going to write my own outline of one and base my costume on my story. Working title: The Autumn Queen. I have a lot of orange, rust, and mustard yellow fabric also. I love the idea of a woman who struggles and reaches her autumn years and then finds out she is a Queen.

I would totally rock this Dolce and Gabbana crown

It has to be historical, but since it's a fairy tale, I can also go a little nutty with it. I love some of these fairy tale illustrations.

Illustration by Jennie Harbour

Pamela Colebourn

Felix Lorioux

I need to use them as inspiration, choose a time period and just go for it. Of course, you can't go wrong with a Worth gown.

So me

Now if anyone can think of a Fairy Tale, from any country that involves an older woman as the heroine and not the evil nemesis, I'd love to hear about it. Not a myth, but an actual fairy tale. Bring on the knowledge!

Watch the Windows! or The Regency Short Stays

My mother was always very sensitive to my concerns about my ever expanding bosom. When I would turn around to show off a new blouse or shirt she would say "Watch the Windows!!" so this was my first thought when trying on these stays. Actually I can't even show you what they look like when I have myself all hoisted up in the correct manner. I'll just let this lady show you.

You're right. It's so distracting that this is a picture of the wrong time period.

I completed these for Historical Sew Fortnightly Challenge #3: Pink so I had to photograph them.I kind of re-arranged things to be a little more safe for work. Here's me.

 

Is that the prow of a ship?

If you aren't too distracted to look at the actual stays, they look pretty good if I do say sew. (see what I did there?) They are all hand sewn. I used some leftover silk from a dress I found at the thrift store. I also had some Coutil left over from my victorian corset. The boning are 1/4 inch cable ties and the eyelets are all hand sewn. Badly. I will redo them when I have a chance.

I look downright tasteful in this one

The pattern for both the stays and the chemise are from Sense and Sensibility Underthings Pattern If one must be altogether truthful, ladies of my extreme age and bodaciousness weren't really wearing this style of stays. If I was wearing this style at all, I'd be wearing longer stays that are a little more like a traditional corset. I am, in truth, mutton dressed as lamb in this get up.But you know what? Pffffthhhh.

I won! Costume College Scholarship.

I just found out yesterday that I am the lucky recipient of a Costume College Scholarship. There is a good chance that, if you are reading this blog. (helloooo, Bueller? Bueller?) then you already know what that is. Just in case you don't, Costume College is an amazing four days of classes and events all put on by costumers for costumers and a chance to stay immersed in that environment at a hotel the whole time. These are my people. For more information, check out their website

http://www.costumecollege.net/

Beside classes, which haven't been released yet, there are several events. Although wearing large overwhelming costumes to the actual classes is not encouraged, the events are another story. There is a Pool Party, An Ice Cream Social, An Ascot Tea and the Time Travelers Gala. All I know for  sure, is that I'll be rocking some kind of 'My Fair Lady' type outfit for the tea. Maybe a Poiret inspired dress with an enormous hat.

Not this one, but something like it

I'm also pretty sure I'm going to go 18th Century, probably 1760's for the Gala. Since Ken is going to accompany me, I need to make something for me

Just a little something

and for Ken

Don't tell Ken, he'll never know unless he reads this blog. Mwaaahhaaaa

Okay, so probably not in those colors, but I'm awfully tempted.