Do my thinking for me! Which fabric for gown?

[Anna]

I have three possible fabrics for my ballgown for the ORS ball on Sept 4.

- Beautiful, heavyweight royal/navy blue silk satin. It's so much thicker than any silk I've met before. I keep waffling back and forth between an Elizabethan doublet and breeches and a Regency ballgown. My biggest concern is that the silk is actually heavier than might typically have been used in the Regency. There's also that it's honestly heavy enough to do right by Elizabethan clothes, and I can't get any more.

- Burgundy silk charmuse. I have been hanging on to this fabric for quite a while. I was originally planning a Victorian costume with it, but honestly they didn't tend to use silk satin as light as charmuse, whereas I feel Regency could get away with that.

- White sheer cotton. I may not be able to find this fabric; it may still be under too many things in boxes. Accursed boxen! (Boxen are like oxen, except they are less dirty and contain many more of your things. In addition to this, they are typically not alive, whereas there is a decent chance with oxen.) I would do a very full, gathered style, probably with some colored accent somewhere (waist, most likely). I am least thrilled by this idea, but least attached to this fabric.

Thoughts? I think at this point I've mostly talked myself out of the blue silk.

[cosmoblue]

I think that you would be good with the white cotton. I would not think that the drapey charmeuse is going to give a look that you would be satisfied with and you have already talked yourself out of the blue satin. Besides the cotton will be nice and light for dancing. I think it is funny that you are least excited by the white gown because I love white gowns and find them super exciting.

[Anna]

I'm quite pale with dark hair. Saturated colors always seem to do better. However! I could dye the white fabric... Or! I could do it as an overdress on top of the charmuse! That might actually work out, even though the hand isn't great on the silk. (Well, it is, but not for Regency.)

[quincy134]

I agree with Cosmo. I love working with cotton, and the idea of a white gown with some color sounds lovely.

[Anna]

Thank you! I think that's the direction I'm going to go.

[cosmoblue]

Aug 20, 2009 17:59:08 GMT -5 Anna said:

I'm quite pale with dark hair. Saturated colors always seem to do better. However! I could dye the white fabric... Or! I could do it as an overdress on top of the charmuse! That might actually work out, even though the hand isn't great on the silk. (Well, it is, but not for Regency.)

You should remember that during the period ladies were expected to keep the sun away from their skin and should be pale, with all the huge bonnets and parasols and everything. If you look at paintings it sometimes looks like their skin is near translucent. Your dark hair would only make you more striking and peoples eyes would be drawn to your face as opposed to your gown which I would think would be preferable. Unless your skin is also sallow white should be beautiful. Also if you are really set on having color near your face you can put ribbon trim at the neckline.

[Anna]

Y'know, I had all the various contenders out and you're right. I'm going with the white sheer cotton. Thank you for your persuasion!