|
| The Gold Regency |
|
| This was taken right after I finished it. |
I made this dress originally for the Autum Ball, an event held by the Friends of the English Regency. I had the material
in the "stash" but couldn't decide whether to make this or something else. Mela took one look at this sari (a polyester sheer
sari bought for $15 in Artesia) and said I had to use it. I'm glad I followed her advice (but I usually am glad when I do
so, so no big surprise). This was lined with a gold silk charmeuse that I'd bought for another costume, but it looks a lot
better here. I cut the trim off one edge of the sari and applied it to the bottom of the charmeuse lining. The upper part
of the skirt is simply the rest of the sari width made into a skirt, hanging free of the charmeuse.
|
 |
| Gold Regency Sleeve Detail |
|
| This shows the vintage trim. The buttons are new. |
The sleeve of the gold Regency, in close up. The gold metallic trim is vintage from the 1920s. I bought it from an antique
trim and lace dealer who lives in the Netherlands.
|
|
|
|
| Jane Austen Evening 2001 |
|
|
| This was another Austen Evening costume. |
I made this costume after watching "Immortal Beloved" too many times. This was a movie about Beethoven and the
costumes were wonderful. Most of the women were wearing these lovely little overcoats/dresses over their other dresses, and
I decided I had to have one. I was stymied by the fact that I had several saris on hand, but none of them in the color I
wanted. I had a particular shade of blue in mind. So I kept putting it off. Then walked into a local thrift store and found
exactly the color sari I wanted there (at $85 it was hardly thrifty but I was happy). The under dress is made of white linen
embroidered with white flowers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Jane Austen Evening 2003 |
|
|
| This was yet another Regency costume for the Jane Austen Evening. |
I love the color of this dress but hate the way it fits me. For some reason the skirt stands out from the bodice (maybe
because of the lining) and I think it makes me look hideously fat (admittedly, I was 35 pounds heavier when this picture was
taken than I am now). Again, this was made with a cheap polyester sari over a dark green polyester lining which was actually
rather stiff, not a limp poly. The French trim I bought at Joann Fabrics with a 50% off coupon because it normally sells
for $25/yard. I bought just enough of it to use on the bodice and sleeves. I lucked out with the ruffled chiffon trim - bought
that at my favorite discount place, 8 yards for about $5. It's in exactly the same shade as the sari. One of these days I'll
get around to maybe reattaching the skirt on this dress so it doesn't make me look quite the blimp.
|
|
