#edwardian dress

I found a treasure! (that everyone probably already knew about but me)

I’m in the middle of my exam season right now and I’m almost done (yay!) so I don’t have any projects in progress right now, but I still wanted to share something.

For the longest time it’s been a dream of mine to own an Edwardian gown. I keep raving about everything Edwardian on this blog but I’ve never really had the courage to make anything myself because damn, the amout of skill that you need! But I was recently browsing through archive.org looking for some old fashion magazines to find some Edwardian bodices for inspiration cause I wanted to make something actually wearable in the 21st century. Long story short, I found nothing but I came across two The Voice of Fashion magazines, both from the 1890s (Winter 1897andFall 1897) and I felt like I’d found a treasure. All of the magazines I had come across before were usually fashion magazines where you could order something and it’d take about two months (incredible, right?) to arrive. But not this one, not The Voice of Fashion.

They were full of patterns - actual, original 19th century patterns to make these gowns at home. So I quickly looked up those magazines on google to see if there was more and it turns out there is an entire book, a compilation of 14 magazines ranging from 1900-1906. So naturally, I had to buy it and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever owned and I cannot wait to actually make something from that book!

Here are some of my favorites:

And that’s not all! There are also some patterns for underwear (here’s a chemise I’ve been wanting to make for a while).

There are also hats and shirtwaists!

This is what a random pattern looks like. The system is very easily explained and I love that it doesn’t just stop at the pattern but there’s a short instruction as well!

So… I think these patterns and instructions are actually making me feel like I can do it? And it’s incredible to think that one day, hopefully soon, I will actually own one of these beauties!!!

So yes, I got really excited over a book and I hope I could share some of that excitement with you. I hope I can get back to sewing as soon as I finish my exams! Actually, I sort of have to make a petticoat next week so we’ll see how that works out.

Until then, stay healthy and if you’re in the middle of exam season like me, good luck, you can do it!!

I have been thinking. A few weeks ago I posted how I was planning to make an Edwardian inspired dress for my cousin’s wedding, and now I keep looking through pictures I find online of either extent garments or replicas and I just don’t know how to modernize anything. Then I wanted to check something I had posted quite a while ago and came across these pictures:

This beautiful gown from Janet Arnold’s Patterns of Fashion 2. I’ve been in love with this dress ever since I first laid eyes on it and I totally forgot about it until now! And now I am seriously considering just making this gown and wearing it to the wedding. Too much? Probably, but my cousin and I both love extravagant or a little “over the top” dresses, we’re usually both the overdressed ones so she’ll be fine with it. And I feel like this isn’t too in-your-face-clearly-Edwardian-outdated-garb, so that’s sort of exactly what I wanted. I could totally see this being sold as a ballgown in a store.

Obviously, I’d have to finally give in and make some Edwardian undergarments, consisting of:

1 - a chemise and corset

I found a pattern for a similar corset, and I honestly might do one of these ribbon corsets. They seem easy to make and they were worn in the early 1900s, and if I remember correctly the dress is from 1902. This particular corset is from 1903. Longer corsets became more popular lateron. Or I might just go with an 1890s corset that at least I know how to make who cares at this point.

2 - a corset cover

and 3 - a petticoat

Even though this is a 1908 petticoat I think that’s what it’s supposed to look like for this particular dress.

I know drawers would have been worn but I might cut the line there and opt for modern underwear.

Or maybe I’ll just end up saying screw historical accuracy this is a wedding in 202? I can’t wear a corset all day and just wear a really good bra

Logically thinking, I should make the undergarments first but honestly, now that I found this gem of a dress again I can’t wait to start making it! As I already mentioned in my first post about it, I want it to be lilac. I’ve never imagined it in a different color, not even once I saw a photo of the actual gown (which was not purple). It just stuck with me and I think that dress would look amazing in a soft lavender.

So… now at least I have something to do until I start university again in a few months. I changed studies and I finally got the acceptance letter today so yay I’m happy!

Look at that hat!

Hope I’ve not posted this already! Even if I have I guess it’s sure worth seeing again ☺️

There’s beauty in the unknown

Beauty far within

There’s beauty in love

And also in sin

There’s love in hate

And the other way.

Dear gods

Please let me have joy by my sins.

I just want to find someone to write letters to and receive some too..

- And for you I will live a thousand life’s time, will haunt millions of houses, will wait to every dawn, every night, if that is what I need to do. - She mumbled within her honey lips, I gazed me with her earth eyes, so I took a long breath and touched her face.

- But my dearest one, I’m only and ever yours already.

- Quotes from a book in my head, with no ending nor beginning.