Fan Front Fifties

1/11/06

While it may be rather early to be planning my next Dickens' Fair dress, this one has been running around in my brain for over two years. It all started with a bonnet...a beautiful gray bonnet that I purchased at Costume College two and a half years ago. Its shape places it in the late '40s-early '50s, which I really like because it's a style people don't do very often for fair.

Then came the fabric. I was shocked to discover a striped silk shantung (very few slubs...honestly, more like light taffeta than anything else) at Joann's of all places! I bought up all that I could get my hands on, nearly two full bolts. That means I have enough fabric for a skirt with flounces, thus my design will be more fifties than fourties. I also really like the look of the fan-front day bodices, which again seems to be more of a '50s fashion.

Since, in theory, I should have plenty of time to work on this dress, I'm going to make new undies as well. I've never had a true early victorian chemise, so that's going to be first on the agenda; I've just been using shifts from other time periods since it doesn't show anyway. I also want to make a good corset that is specifically for this time period, one with decent waist reduction and flared hips. Since I'm going for a pre-hoop era, I want to make a corded petticoat as well. (I have my '30s corded petticoat, but it's more of an A-line than a bell, so I definitely want a different one. Besides, I like making corded petticoats with tons and tons of layers and flounces--so girly!)

Items to be completed:

corded petticoat

skirt

day bodice

evening bodice

1/16/07

Obviously, this one didn't make it to Dickens' this past year. I was too busy making my wedding dress. However, I'm still planning on making it, and will hopefully have it ready for Costume College this year, especially since I have all the materials.

I also think I'll add a ballgown bodice, that way I can wear this both during the day and to the gala on Saturday evening.

I'll definitely need to make a new corded petticoat since I've sold the 1830's one I made. I even have most of the materials for that too. I bought a ton of cord about a year ago, anticipating making a new petticoat and just never got around to it.

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