Okay, WOW. Just came across the online exhibition From Paris to Providence: Fashion, Art, and the Tirocchi Dressmakers’ Shop, 1915-1947 at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design). A. & L. Tirocchi, Gowns, was a prominent dressmakers’ shop in Providence, R.I. run by Laura Tirocchi Cella and Anna Tirocchi. This site is AMAZING. There are numerous color photos of extant garments and fabrics from the shop, PLUS information on the house, owners, clients, AND databases which record employees and clients, transcripts of correspondence, transactions from their ledgers, clients’ measurements, and much much more. I am so impressed — THIS is the way to do an online exhibition.
I decided to distill some of what I’ve learned through my years of costuming into construction tips for costumers. Included is advice on interlining and lining, piping, making friends with hand sewing, and pattern drafting. I hope it’s useful to someone!
Okay, I admit it. I’ve always resisted reading Threads magazine, both because it’s focused on modern sewing, but also because it’s pricey. I’m planning to ask for a new sewing machine for Christmas (I desperately want one that does buttonholes, plus there’s some electrical problems with my current one), so I picked up the latest issue for it’s review of 31 sewing machines currently on the market. I have to say, it’s fabulous! Tons of construction tips, lots of inspiration, and pretty too! They’ve got a ton of useful info on their website, with lots of articles from back issues.
Photos are up from Costume College.
Some of the classes were really exciting, such as “Fancy Feet” (which demoed all of the millions of foot attachments you can use on your sewing machine — I’ve already ordered my ruffler from Clotilde), and “Georgian Fabrics.” Other classes were not as useful as I’d hoped — some of the period overview classes turned out to be more skimpy or more “show & tell” than I’d hoped. But overall it was fun to hang out and talk shop with other costumers, see the fabulous vintage clothing display, and (of course!) shop in the marketplace.
I signed up to teach two classes next year — an overview of 1830’s fashions with Heather, and another class on fashionable women of the bustle era (1870’s-80’s). I’m really excited about the second one, and am already collecting images of Princess Alexandra, Jennie Churchill, and Lily Langtry etc. If you have any suggestions for key fashionable figures from the U.S., England, or France from this era, please email me!
Okay, so the 1796 dress and the 1890’s bead embroidered dress are officially on hold as I start yet ANOTHER project — c. 1874-77 afternoon dress.
Costume College is this weekend! Here’s the classes that I think I’m going to take: Edwardian overview (?), Fashionable colors from the English Regency through Edwardian times, Georgian fabrics, Victorian mourning, Men’s tailoring techniques.