Finally, me WEARING my Regency gown

[Val]

Everything is finally done enough that I could take a photo of me in it, and even the turban I came up with.
s355.photobucket.com/albums/r448/chloe_and_rudy/
I already was changed and downloading the pics when I realized I forgot to put the pink robe on for a photo but you get the idea.
I still need to sew the pearl & rhinestone pin to the front of the robes, and a similar one will go on the side of my turban.
Putting the drawstring in my gown worked wonders! Also the theatre trick I learned from my friends last week of putting a rolled up towel under the girls to help hold them up. The trim sewn on top of the drawstring looks really good too. It covered up the bunchiness of the drawstring.
The only thing I don't like is the fullness of the skirt on my gown. It was cut from the original pattern I'd used, a round gown. Maybe if the fabric was a cotton it wouldn't have the bulkiness of my peau de soie. But since I have a robe over it, it's not so bad. I'd love to remake the gown in a silk dupioni. I had some but not enough for it. The rest of my gowns will be cotton.

[dawnluckham]

Val, what a great outfit! I love the turban! The whole thing is really lovely!

I really, REALLY like the trim at the bottom of the gown. You’ll share the pink gown another time won’t you?

Now what was that trick with the rolled up towel???

About the fullness in the gown… The only thing that I can think that might improve on the skirt fullness is to take out the gathered front and pleat it in 1 inch pleats facing toward the back. You can make the very front flat and then start the pleats as soon as 3 inches from centre front or leave it flat for as much as 6 inches or more from centre front. What this does is leave a flat 6 to 12 inch panel right at the front of the gown and pushes CONTROLLED fullness (with pleating) toward the back. This is a technique I use all the time. I really like the full skirt over my own full hips, but I want that fullness pleated instead of gathered. I only gather my skirts at centre back.

There’s a picture around here somewhere where I was showing Steph something about skirt to bodice. Steph? Was it when you were working on the green gown?

Found it! It’s this thread scroll down to the red and white striped gown.

regencysa.proboards59.com/index.cgi?board=gowns&action=display&thread=379&page=2

So this skirt has a flat front and 1 inch pleating at the sides all the way around to the centre back where it’s then hand gathered into those stroked gathers.

Does that help in any way at all? There are front photos of the gown in my LJ.

I wouldn’t suggest taking the skirt off and making these changes unless you really want to. With the overgown on top the whole thing is really wonderful. I love the trim! ;D

[Val]

Thank you Dawn. I'm really getting very happy with it. I probably will take out some of the fullness when I get back from Costume College, but for right now, I don't have time to do anymore to it. There is already a lot of fullness in the back too, much more than what I see in your pictures. This was the original skirt I cut from the RH pattern. Lesson learned.
I will post the theatre trick in a separate post so others might see it.
I need to try on another gown today to see how to make an adjustment. While I have the bodiced petticoat on, I'll pop on the white dress again and the pink robe, and take a photo of it.

[Val]

I just added a photo of me in my Pink Princess.
s355.photobucket.com/albums/r448/chloe_and_rudy/
I'm sure all of them will look better once I'm fully dressed, makeup & hair dine and turban & jewelry on. That won't be for another three weeks tho.
Tomorrow morning I leave for WA but will still check in here.
*waving to you Oregonians as I fly over*

[dawnluckham]

Val you might be surprised to know how much fabric is in my skirt. There are 3 panels of fabric: The 2 back panels are what ever the width of the fabric is 45 inches to 56 inches. I sometimes take a bit out of the front (and third) panel, though in the stripe dress, I’m not sure I did, The dress I’m working with right now I tore the front dress panel to 42 inches wide. The 1 inch pleating eats up a lot of fabric and the cartridge pleating in the centre back can make a LOT of fabric fit into a very small space.

I don’t suggest everyone use this much fabric for their Regency dresses but those of us who are blessed with lots of curves do better with that fuller skirt.

Love the pink gown! ;D Have a nice holiday visit.

[Lady Caroline]

Coming to this thread a little late - I too am interested in the "rolled up towel"....how do you hold it in place? Sounds like a great idea, and it certainly gives the "look" of the Regency era.

By the way, the gowns are beautiful, thanks so much for sharing them.

Lady Caroline

[Val]

Aug 5, 2008 11:12:32 GMT -5 Lady Caroline said:

Coming to this thread a little late - I too am interested in the "rolled up towel"....how do you hold it in place? Sounds like a great idea, and it certainly gives the "look" of the Regency era.

Lady Caroline, I'm sorry it took awhile to answer you. I may have given directions in another separate post but can't remember now.
I've been out of town at Costume College, and just busier than heck trying to get unpacked, laundered, etc, and clear out the piles I've left in my house. Photo link will be in a separate post.
The rolled up washcloth or handtowel (depending on your size) is rolled starting at one point, so you have "tails" in the center. This gives you a nice absorbant piece to put btn the girls. Then put your bodice on, & tuck the towel under the girls. You'll have to test different size "towels" for your size. Fabric probably would work too but it's good to have the "sweat absorbancy" that towels have, and no loose threads to deal with.