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Post by cosmoblue on Jan 7, 2008 20:48:55 GMT -5
I love the variety of the attire of these gentlemen. Anyone have any suggestions for how to create these looks? For example which patterns etc.?  |
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Post by Goblin, esq. on Jan 7, 2008 23:39:43 GMT -5
It's hard to make out the details in that picture. I believe they're essentially wearing the same cut of waistcoats and breeches. You can get a lot of variation by mixing single- and double-breasted waistcoats and coats, wearing the coats buttoned closed, buttoned back, or open. It looks like these coats have tails of different widths, and possibly the shapes of the fronts are curved differently. Cravats can be tied in a bow, or have the ends tucked into the top of the waistcoat. The different hats also modify the appearance greatly. Also, the fact that they all have period hairstyles helps a lot!
I think the gentleman in the back is wearing hessian boots, while the two flanking gentlemen are wearing top-boots. (I can't make out what the one in the middle is wearing.)
As to patterns, I just got my Reconstructing History patterns in the mail today, but the tot has been whiny and needy all evening (he's teething, poor thing), so I haven't had a chance to do more than open the envelope.
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Post by Goblin, esq. on Jan 7, 2008 23:49:14 GMT -5
As to what makes a gentleman look less than snazzy... Mostly this is caused by poorly constructed, poorly fitted clothes. Many men don't want to wear breeches or pantaloons, let alone of the requisite tightness. Many coats I see are what I term "girlfriend coats" (no offense intended to anyone on this forum) made by seamstresses unused to making men's clothes, without period patterns (such as tails cut separately from the body; more like a bodice and skirt than a period coat) and far too loosely fitting. Many men today don't like to wear neckcloths, many don't even wear their coats, because it gets too hot dancing (the fact that rayon linings don't breathe probably contributes to that).
Think in terms of period clothes, not costumes. One woman I spoke to insisted on making her husband's coat machine washable, even though I doubt she would consider washing his suit coats in the machine.
Sorry if that sounds like a rant; it's a bit of a hobby-horse of mine!
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Post by Mme de Beaufort on Jan 25, 2008 21:51:28 GMT -5
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Post by dawnluckham on Jan 28, 2008 10:10:34 GMT -5
This new pattern from Reconstructing History is nice, but it still doesn't have the small shoulders cut of the early 19th c. It was taken from two silk coats, so if you plan to make a wool coat you will need to do additional research to understand wool construction techniques (as construction for wool and silk coats differed). One other little detail: The positioning of the sleeve opening at the wrist is quite different and unfamiliar to us. Nice if you're looking for "different" but surprising if you're just wanting to sew up a coat and be done with it.  |
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Where so many hours have been spent in convincing myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong? ~ Jane Austen 
