Category: research

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18th Century Printed Cottons/GBACG Costume Academy

Sunday was GBACG’s Costume Academy, our annual one day of classes. I taught two — Overview of Women’s Costume in the 1830s, and 18th century printed textiles. I had a fun time teaching, especially because I had some really knowledgeable people in my classes who were able to add to what I presented – I love when that happens (of course, when it happens WELL — as opposed to annoying people who try to take over). Anyway – fun!

In updating my info on 18th century printed cottons, and because I know the GBACG website is changing and I think the articles may be disappearing at some point, I copied my research to this site so I can be sure it will have a permanent home. I made just a few updates, mostly in terms of where to buy reproductions, and added some images (rather than just links).

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Notman Photographic Archive

I’ve had this on my links page for a while, but since I am once again rediscovering its glories, I wanted to call your attention to the Notman Photographic Archives at the Musee McCord, which you can view online via their Keys to History. This is a collection of over 450,000 photographs from 1860 on (plus a few from 1840-60), which just bazillions and bazillions of fabulous period portrait photography. Like this beauty. Go! Search! Download!

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The V&A Rocks Again!

The Victoria & Albert Museum has added a new feature to their online image database. You can now, after registering, order online higher resolution copies of any images in the database — so long as it’s for accepted use (academic publication, private research, non-profit newsletters, etc.). Yay! I’ve just ordered high res versions of the mystery caraco and they are fantastic!

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Random Ramblings

Whitaker Auctions is starting to post photos from the upcoming Tasha Tudor auction and WOW is there some great stuff! I am particularly in love with this later 1860s dress (you know how there are eras you think you’ll never get into, and then suddenly you go OHMYGODIMUSTHAVEIT!? Well, I am having that lately about late 1860s. Weird. When I have enough money, I’m going to make an elliptical hoop and then…). There will be more pictures (hopefully soon!), and as I posted previously they will be publishing a catalog (yay!).

In other random news:

I’ve found THE PERFECT FABRIC for an 18th century stripey francaise, and another PERFECT FABRIC for a stripey pet-en-l’air — only to realize that we are flat broke and there’s no way I can afford to spend $150 on fabric. Sob.

So I am thinking about what I can make out of my stash — most obvious is the 10 yards of black silk duchesse satin that I scored last year from Trim Fabrics. I am thinking about a natural form evening gown, and am poring through tons of images trying to find something that I want to make. The question is whether to go all black with black beaded trim, or to use this gorgeous antique purple brocade that I got at Lacis a few months back (but is in lots of little pieces, so can only be used as an accent). I can’t decide!

I did, however, find the perfect fabric — a super sheer silk/cotton voile, which goes perfectly with the vintage accent fabric I had in my stash – for The Come Hell or High Water, I’m Going to Have a New Dress for Gatsby if it Kills Me Dress! at Stone Mountain. Purchased, thank god, before I realized how broke I was.

And I am woefully behind on movie reviews. As a note to myself, I need to write reviews for: The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton, The Painted Veil, and The Ruby in the Smoke. And I really need to find time to watch: the new BBC Dracula, new ITV Mansfield Park (still trying to find Persuasion and Northanger Abbey), Amazing Grace, and Miss Potter. Shocking!

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Random Musings Part Deux

FIDM has finally started to put up some online images from this year’s Art of Motion Picture Costume Design exhibition; so far just the Academy Award-nominated films are up (hopefully they’re going to do the rest as well?).

Those pesky Charles A. Whitaker auction people are having yet another of their costume and textile auctions; check out the online images. I may quite simply die over this Worth ballgown; do you think it’s the inspiration for this Haper’s Bazar plate (the whole iris motif?) that I started to recreate but ended up abandoning? Is this what the 10 yards of black duchesse silk lurking in my closet should turn in to? (Oh, WHAT to do with that fabric is really going to kill me, I think).

And while we’re traveling through random-land: new movie reviews of The Cazalets and Mrs. Henderson Presents are on the 20th century page.