The Concept
A riding habit for Colonial Williamsburg! Very late 1770s, basically following this lady from Zoffany’s “The Sharp Family”… except in green.
The Fabric & Trim
Habit: forest green wool (crepe? suiting? can’t remember!) from Mood Fabrics, lined with green silk shantung and white linen. Waistcoat: off-white silk taffeta, trimmed with gold trim from Florence. Brass buttons from Burnely & Trowbridge.
The Pattern
Draped by me, based in part on the 1750s habits in Patterns of Fashion and Cut of Women’s Clothes, as well as the 1760s-95 men’s suit coat in Costume Close-Up.
Useful Links
- Diary of a Mantua Maker’s riding habit project
- Research posts by me: one and two
Bibliography
- Arnold, Janet. Patterns of Fashion: Englishwomen’s Dresses & Their Construction. Vol. 1: c. 1660-1860. New York: Drama Book Specialists, 1972.
- Baumgarten, Linda. Costume Close-Up: Clothing Construction and Pattern, 1750-1790. Williamsburg, VA: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 1999.
- Blackman, Callie. “Walking Amazons: The Development of the Riding Habit in England During the Eighteenth Century.” Costume, Vol 35, 2001.
- Waugh, Norah. The Cut of Women’s Clothes 1600-1930. New York: Theatre Arts Books, 1968.
Could you possibly help l am trying to find a pattern of Lady Wolsey riding habit,like the one in red or something similar with the lapels,would be very grateful if you could.
I’m not sure of any commercially available riding habit patterns that are GOOD — I would suggest checking JP Ryan to see if her line has anything?