This is a photo diary of my costuming "travels"; where I've learned and struggled to make historical costumes for myself. They're not always pretty, but always fun, most of the time. And I want to share with others what I learn along the way. **You can find me on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/Time-Traveling-in-Costume-640703499399817/ or have my posts delivered to your email by signing up at the lower part of the right column.**



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HI, my name is Val. I'm a member of Costumer's Guild West in Los Angeles, Dean of 2018 & 2024 Costume College; Past President of the San Diego Costume Guild, member of Orange County Costume Guild, and a representative of the San Diego History Center. I also put on historical fashion shows for various groups. I make my own historical costumes but don't sell any unless I get tired of one.The eras I've made so far are 1770 up to 1918. My favorite is the 1880s bustle.

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Tuesday, May 8, 2012

1903 Floral Voile dress

Started May 6, 2012
I'm not wasting a minute to keep my momentum going. I have plans.
My original plans for Costume College convention in August was to make a couple 1930s dresses to wear for this year's theme track. But I lost steam on that. I do still have my vintage evening dress that I'm going to bling up for the Sunday Tea. But Downton Abbey has my heart, and that's where my costume madness is taking me.
So now that I have my Pink Striped dress done, although it will get a little tweaking since I figured out one of it's problems, I can start on my next dress. And then there's the next dress after that. :D
Surprise even to me, my next fabric is also kind of a pink stripe but the stripes are made of flowers. Must be a theme here.
A pretty picture first to give you an idea of what I'm thinking.

For the dress: as mentioned before, I already made Truly Victorian's Edwardian 1903 s-bend corset, so common sense tells me MAKE THE DRESS. And ooh, they just came out with the underpinnings too. 

















I bought this fabric about 6 years ago and as you can see, had other plans for it. Its a sheer cotton voile purchased at Fabrics & Fabrics for I think $3.99 yd. Surprisingly I've still seen it there about 6 months ago but not much was left.


I've traced out my patterns for the skirt and bodice, and am ready to cut out the muslin for the bodice. I've already cut out the skirt and because of the floral striped pattern of the fabric, I doubt I'll be using the band pattern piece that makes a layered look to it midway down the skirt. I think a wide lace might look pretty on it though but I'm going to wait and see what the entire look of the skirt is before I decide on that. I've cut out the train length on it but I want to see how that looks too, and if I want to make it shorter.                                                    
Since the fabric is sheer, I'm cutting out an underskirt of a solid white cotton and am going to put a ruffle on the bottom of it. 
I work on my costumes a little bit each day and some days it comes together faster than others. 



5 comments:

  1. Everything looks gorgeous!
    Laurie

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  2. What a very pretty voile and at such a good price. Love it. Can't wait to see the finished product.

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  3. I just stumbled across your blog and love your work. Now I can't wait to see this latest creation. I have looked at those patterns before, but never considered them. Now I want them! You make them seem so much more desirable. You have a very discerning eye. Can't wait to see it finished!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much. The skirt is so beautiful just in the way it floats around. I hope to get the blouse cut out and started in about a week as soon as my two current event/projects are done this week.
      Val

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