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Post by cosmoblue on Dec 20, 2007 20:01:19 GMT -5
Do you wear drawers? Always, sometimes, or never? Which pattern did you use?
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Post by Mrs. Goblin on Dec 20, 2007 20:08:46 GMT -5
I wear drawers, mostly to prevent dance chafing. I blush to admit I wear period inapropriate victorian drawers (pattern from the Laughing Moon Dore/Silverado corset) because they're what I have on hand. What I'd really like is a pair of beige jersey breeches, which I have period reference for somewhere as being worn under ladies' gowns in an attempt to look nakeder than they really were without freezing their hindquarters off.
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Post by Goblin, esq. on Dec 20, 2007 21:13:26 GMT -5
I have a pair of drawers that I made following pictures in The History of Underclothes. They're basically very simplified linen breeches with a fly front. As an added bonus, they help keep my stockings up so I don't have to wear garters.
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Post by Goblin, esq. on Dec 20, 2007 21:19:10 GMT -5
I have a pair of drawers that I made following pictures in The History of Underclothes. They're basically very simplified linen breeches with a fly front. As an added bonus, they help keep my stockings up so I don't have to wear garters. True, they're not Ladies' Underclothes; that's what happens when I reply to posts from the "Most recent posts" without checking which topic they're under. :-) |
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Post by cosmoblue on Dec 21, 2007 14:28:09 GMT -5
True, they're not Ladies' Underclothes; that's what happens when I reply to posts from the "Most recent posts" without checking which topic they're under. :-) LOL ;D |
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Post by Mme de Beaufort on Jan 2, 2008 15:18:52 GMT -5
I have decided to make drawers. culottes or pantaloons/lettes of sorts.
I have this pair of linen summer drawstring pants that will work perfectly for my pattern, I can take the legs in a bit in width, and I might add some of those little horizontal pleats on the hems.
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Post by cosmoblue on Jan 2, 2008 23:32:33 GMT -5
I am amazed that no one has used a regency pattern for their drawers.
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Post by Mme de Beaufort on Jan 3, 2008 0:45:54 GMT -5
No pattern is necessary for the culottes. My linen pants are too thick, otherwise I'd use those. Besides, I want white cotton and some sort of treatment on the legs.
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Post by Val on Jan 7, 2008 21:05:52 GMT -5
I always wear drawers, because my legs will chafe from rubbing together. I needed some new ones and one day while in Target, I saw on the clearance rack in the pajama section, some white cotton pajama bottoms. No trim, drawstring waist, for $6! So I added some crocheted lace to the hems, and no one can tell the difference. In fact....NO ONE should even know the difference.
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Post by dawnluckham on Jan 7, 2008 21:16:30 GMT -5
I totally understand why people want to wear drawers, but remember, when these first were worn in the Regency era they were a scandalous item! Ladies did NOT wear men's garments and anything with pant legs was extremely risqué.
Before this women didn't wear anything remotely like drawers. Even then women didn't universally begin to wear drawers until the hoop crinoline came into style in the 1850's. If you’ve ever worn hoops, you’ll understand the modesty necessity of drawers at this point.
Regency period drawers don't do much for covering things up, if you take my meaning. They're basically a couple of lace-trimmed tubes of fabric attached to a cord that ties around the waist. I don't think I've ever seen a pattern for Regency era drawers.
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Post by cosmoblue on Jan 7, 2008 22:23:14 GMT -5
. . .when these first were worn in the Regency era they were a scandalous item! Ladies did NOT wear men's garments and anything with pant legs was extremely risqué. I am all about being risque  Since the most fashion forward women of the time were wearing them as a fashion designer I think I had ought to also. Besides if Princess Charlotte could get away with it, I certainly will. ;D Drawers and pantalettes all the way for me. |
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Post by cosmoblue on Jan 25, 2008 21:49:57 GMT -5
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Lady Serendipity
Clergy
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort". --Jane Austen
Posts: 120
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Post by Lady Serendipity on Feb 4, 2008 1:41:29 GMT -5
Regency period drawers don't do much for covering things up, if you take my meaning. They're basically a couple of lace-trimmed tubes of fabric attached to a cord that ties around the waist. I ebayed myself a pair of the famous "crotchless panties", and while I know this wasn't the purpose of them, I want to wear them mainly to give my very thin dress a little more structure (and coverage). My drawers are very wide legged? don't know how historically accuarate that is or isn't, but I actually like it. However, they were sent unhemmed, and are floor length (plus some). What is the proper length? I'd like to keep them as long as possible. If I hem them to midcalf length, will they occasionally show while I'm dancing? Would it be better to go just under the knee? |
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Post by dawnluckham on Feb 4, 2008 10:52:42 GMT -5
When pantaloons or pantalettes first began to be worn by adult women they were worn long enough to be seen. That was the whole point.
C. Willett Cunnington writes in the “History of Underclothes” that they commonly extended down the leg to just below the calf, where rows of tucks and lace and pretty detail would be applied.
Also from “History of Underclothes”: “From Lady Stanley’s letter of 1817 – ‘We were insulted by the presence of (Lady) Charlotte (Lindsay) in a green silk Spencer, green silk boots, and trowsers to the ankle much below the petticoat.’”
As I mentioned before, pantalettes were generally just a couple of tubes of fine fabric (not usually wide legged – just straight tubes) fastened about the waist with a ribbon. They were not without their problems:
And this funny little story written by a young lady comes from 1820.
“ They are the ugliest things I ever saw: I will never put them on again. I dragged my dress in the dirt for fear someone might spy them. My first dimity pair with real Swiss lace is quite useless to me for I lost one leg and did not deem it proper to pick it up, and so walked off leaving it in the street behind me, and the lace had cost six shillings a yard. I saw that mean Mrs. Spring wearing it last week as a tucker….I hope there will be a short wearing of these horrid pantalets, they are too trying. Of course I must wear them for I cannot hold up my dress and show my stockings. No one does.”
A footnote to this story indicates it comes from Mrs. Earle: “Two Centuries of Costume in America”
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Post by Mme de Beaufort on Feb 4, 2008 12:38:50 GMT -5
LOL, that is totally priceless. I made myself a pair this weekend, but I opted to go with being innaccurate and made myself a full pair with seat and all (and I opted for elastic instead of a drawstring just for the sake of not having to fumble about if I need to go to the WC. They turned out servicable at most. The shape is fine, they come to about mid-calf in length, but I messed up the folds and tucks on the hems, and so they are not quite presentable, I may add lace next time and keep it simple. But they *are* my muslin version, and therefore, they will do for this upcoming event but will act as a pattern for my next pair (with more carefully managed hems). At least my legs and bum will be warm.  Thanks for the story Dawn. You have a trove of reference material. How delightful. |
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Post by cosmoblue on Feb 4, 2008 13:31:57 GMT -5
I just wanted to share this pic of the shorter drawers which were different from the pantalettes. This pic is from the History of underclothes. They went to below knee.  |
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Post by Mme de Beaufort on Feb 4, 2008 17:58:44 GMT -5
Is that what you will be toting beneath your drop-front gown? I simply *cannot* wait to see what you will be wearing, Cosmo.
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Post by cosmoblue on Feb 4, 2008 18:07:55 GMT -5
Oh, No not me. I haven't had the time to make drawers. (a this point I may show up in a chemise and stays alone)
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Post by Mme de Beaufort on Feb 4, 2008 18:47:34 GMT -5
(a this point I may show up in a chemise and stays alone) Oh how shocking!!! (You'll finish... I can see you're already working on your gown), an ambitious drop-front gown it seems. I took the easy route, and reused mine. |
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Post by Val on Feb 4, 2008 22:13:10 GMT -5
I carried the memory of this story on Sat while I was at the Dickens Fair. I was going to wear my antique drawers and chemise in the Fashion Show portion where we wear the underpinnings, and dress a lady from the inside out. While changing at the hotel and putting on my drawers, one of the buttonholes tore, and the button wouldn't stay in it. I didn't have any needle and thread with me but knew they had safety pins in the dressing room of the auditorium where the show was being held. So I stuffed the one side of my drawers up under my corset, put on my gown, and left to walk the two blocks to the auditorium. I could feel it loosening a bit, and that story popped in my head, as I worried if I was going to have one leg dragging on the street. Fortunately it was not to happen, as I made it in one piece and safety pinned the buttonhole tight.
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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 
