Fashion Historian & Historical Costume Maker
Howdy! I haven’t forgotten about this here dress diary, I’ve just been so busy SEWING that it’s hard to pause to blog! The bulk of the base dress is done, and I’m now in the hemming yards of organza and fiddling with things stage. But today I want to talk about the bodice!
The plan is to do the embroidery for the robe de cour using ribbon embroidery. I hit on the idea as I was thinking of ways to speed this project up, and after I found a few examples of 18th century ribbon embroidery. You all helped out, and with what you came up with, I’m convinced enough that this is a viable, historically accurate option.
So a few months back I posted about looking for more examples of 18th century ribbon embroidery. The AMAZING Suzi Clarke did me proud and told me,
I have two front pieces from a gown like the top one [my court dress inspiration image], which are embroidered with ribbons in different colours. They are ivory silk and are shaped. Do you want to e-mail me to discuss how I can share them with you? I also have some ribbons very like the originals.
Did I want to see them? DID I?
Continue reading “18th Century Ribbon Embroidered Skirt Panels”
I’m right on progress, having done a bunch of embroidery and getting close to done on the petticoat (ie underskirt) and train (ie overskirt). Today I’ll talk skirts, tomorrow embroidery!
Now that this project is underway and the under-petticoat is done, I want to talk a bit about what I’m planning for my dress!
Here’s my source image, which is a preparatory drawing for a fashion plate:
