victory! Robe à la Française

[aimeekitty]

Almost done with the muslin for my Robe à la Française. (I need to extend it a bit at the waist) Am using the J.P. Ryan pattern for corset, pocket hoops and dress. I'm hoping after this (which was seriously a pain... the pattern instructions are rather vague) the rest will be relatively straight-forward. I guess you can consider my happy thing for today being that I didn't murder anyone while trying to figure out the pattern. :D ... also I guess this means I can buy fabric for it soon? that's rather exiting!!
face cut to spare you. XD


all this work will be worth it, right? Please?

Comments

[lovelessbird.livejournal.com]

It's really looking good so far. I've been meaning to check out those patterns. Are they really hard to follow? I'm wanting to make a Marie Antoinette dress...

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

the fit is good, but I think the drawings and instruction are vague.

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

Looking good!

[mandypandys.livejournal.com]

Robes, petticoats, detachable pockets; there's so many articles of clothing that go into 18th century French costume, the mind boggles!

Where and when did you first develop this interest in costumes from other time periods and cultures? With the period costume: did you learn to make such pieces through class, or by reading about it and teaching yourself? Could you recommend any resources for those also interested (books, visual media, etc...)?

Are there any other time periods or cultures from which you'd love to borrow clothing? I'm more of a modern costume gal; I love saris, anarkalis, lenghas, kimono and ao dai, myself.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

well, kimono is really a traditional historic garment. It's been around much in it's current fashion (with some changes) for hundreds of years. :) I think it's probably the same with many of the others you mentioned. The rules and shapes are slightly different now than they were 200 years ago though.

as to historical fashion... it's just something I find fascinating or beautiful. What little girl doesn't dream of a princess dress? I think I've always really liked 18th century fashion. I used to draw paper dolls of cinderella when I was little, and she wore stuff that was kinda like this. I'm not sure if there's ever a particular time when I wasn't interested in fashion or costume. I kinda see them as the same thing. I've always been interested in other ancient or historical cultures, too. In highschool I was really really into Egyptian and I did a lot of drawings based on the fashion and read a lot about it.

Kimono came out of my interest in traditional japanese art and culture. I think with kimono, the more you get into it, the more interesting it becomes as the coordination of it is really fascinating and beautiful.

with this dress, the only thing left is the dress itself and the petticoat... (well and probably a really fantastic wig XD) The pocket hoops are pretty much done. It's a lot of work... but I'd like to make at least two dresses in this basic shape, so it'll be worth it! :)

sewing this is just like sewing from a regular pattern from Joann's, just sometimes the instructions are harder to follow since they tend to be by someone making their own pattern... sometimes they dont anticipate as well as a commercial company what might confuse the reader.
But if you dont understand something you can always find someone to ask. I usually can ask Judy, since she's done a lot of historical costuming.
for me, a good thing to do while working on a historical one (and I haven't done that many) is to look at existing historically accurate outfits, then you can k eep that mind while you are working. Like if the seam goes in a particular place, you already know that, so it makes it easier to understand a pattern (assuming the pattern is the same as the garment you are looking at...)

meaning, no, I didn't take a class. But I can imagine that would be helpful to someone wanting to do it! but basically you buy a pattern and follow the directions. :)

[mandypandys.livejournal.com]

Yes, many of the forms of dress I mentioned have been around for centuries, in various incarnations (though the current Ao Dai is a bit more recent), but I meant 'modern' in the sense that these various costumes could still considered contemporary, even if (in the case of the Kimono) they're increasingly reserved only for ceremony/special occasion. Thus, while I might consider a corset or garter modern (as they are still worn as lingerie), I'd consider a Robe a la Francaise or a bustle largely historical articles of clothing. My interest in sewing clothing lies more in making clothes I can wear on a daily basis, than recreating gorgeous historical pieces(which I have to say, you do a bang-up job at).

With my two left thumbs, I'll be lucky to sew a plain sari without accidentally stitching all of my fingers together. I'm going to give it the college try, though! ;-)

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

it really doesnt matter to me whether something is modern or historical or fantasy or whatever... to me the thing is the beauty and interest of the article of clothing. I feel compelled to make it because I like the item so much.

I'd rather buy a really wellmade kimono than make one (the really well made ones, I'd never have the patience to get as good of lines as they do who have been doing it for their whole life.)
Also, even with kimono, due to seasonal wearing, you may only wear a specific kimono once or twice a year. Lately I have been so b usy that I haven't even had time to attend any kimono events or lessons, so I missed the entire summer kimono season.
When I finish this dress I'll at least wear it twice in one year (this next year). Sadly after that it will probably fall into relative disuse.. (other than the occasional historical event or ball). it's really a huge expense of time and money... kindof ridiculous really, but I still love doing it!

With casual modern clothing, it's usually an issue of what I want does not exist. Like a plaid ruffled skirt. I couldnt find one of the length and shape I wanted, and it was easy to make, so I made it.

really, with sewing, it's just an issue of sewing more often. I used to really really really suck at it. the more you make the better you get and the faster you get.

[mandypandys.livejournal.com]

No, I wouldn't attempt to make my own kimono either (a yukata is a definite maybe, though). I meant something simpler, along the lines of saris (which should be easy, but with my two left-thumbs...) or eventually, corsets (harder, but worth the pay off, I hope). I'd love to be able to make my own gowns and dresses, which is why I'm so dazzled by your ability to create detailed historical costumes; for a noob like myself, it all looks fairly complex.

I don't think costuming is 'ridiculous' at all, actually. And I have to imagine that for pieces like the one you're working on, you could recoup your expenses when/if you choose to sell it, even if you can get back the time. The corset alone looks like it could fetch a pretty penny. Or maybe corsets are like finger-prints and each one is unique and difficult to fit from one person to the next? IDK, there's a lot more to corsetry and the like than I understand.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

oh no... my corsets are mostly fit to me, and even more so with gowns and costumes. people are never willing to pay what my time and costs are worth. seriously!

someone close to my size could wear my corset, but I doubt I could get back the time I spent on it.

if I ever sold my Marie Antoinette costume, I'd feel lucky to even get half of what I spent on the materials alone (not that I'm considering selling it)
but obviously I feel it's worth it :)

Cut-outs

[hazelchaz]

I find the missing faces distracting. You've got a nice face, and if I don't study it I'll never recognize you the next time we pass in the halls...

Re: Cut-outs

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

oh come now, I rarely cut my face out. :)