Closures a bit simplified

Hey everyone!! It’s me again, it’s been a while school got very busy. For this dress i did a victorian era inspired gown with bows and some flower detailing, and i made a regency inspired lace hat! It’s made with silk taffeta and satin ribbon along with some miniature gold buckles and rose embroidery appliqués to the dress, and of course, some ruffles! This is a collaboration with shadesof_pemberly on instagram for lady catherine de bourg’s dress! If you eant to see kore pictures, my insta is historical_calico! I couldn’t bring myself to make another regency gown when I could do smth a bit more elaborate! The regency cap is probably my favorite bit if the outfit though! I used lace and rose appliqués to make it! Regency goes surprisingly well with Victorian era loll

hello sewists!

I'm noodling around with ideas for my next project, and have run into a few questions. I'm planning on making a bodice with a separate overskirt and skirt, style somewhere in the 1870s to 1880s. but I can't decide if I want to have a bustle, a demi-train, a fantail or...? so that got me thinking: were women's garments in the late 19th century "convertible," so to speak? did women wear a skirt bustled or not bustled depending on what they were feeling that day, or did the way each piece was cut preclude them from being dual-purpose?

so for example, would the bustles in pics 1-3 have been able to be let down? do you think pic 4 is bustled, or is that just how the skirt was constructed? could the overskirts like those in in pics 5-6 be bustled? and in the 1870s, when natural form/fantail skirts were all the rage, did women ever loosen the drawstring (or whatever kept skirts gathered like in pic 7) to wear more of a full skirt, like the one in pic 8?

also, has anyone found good resources showing diagrams of the bustle infrastructure?

thank you in advance for your advice and expertise!

Hello all! Seems like I'm going to be a frequent flyer in this sub. While I am starting the process of bodice mockups, I want to also do shoes and was thinking, would this silver pair I have be a suitable shape for the 1860s? Im going to bedazzle the ever loving crap out of them with rhinestones for the glass effect but want a somewhat historical shape. In the Claire Hummel fan art, Cindy is barefoot but obviously I can't do that in a convention hall. Any opinions? Thank you!

I’m looking for shoes for my wedding next summer, and I’m thinking about finally getting a pair of American duches. Unless you have recommendations for similar styles, that ships from eu? I’m choosing between those two. I love the ties on the Gibson, but on the other hand the heals might be a bit to high.

My problem is that I have some issues with my feet and knees. I need good padding under the sole or I get sore feet and shins. I generally don’t wear heals for long periods, the best I’ve found was a pair of dancing shoes with a 5cm heel and silicon insole. I’ve however read that the American duchess are better than many others, so I’m considering trying…

Anyone who own these shoe, can you answer a few question?
1. How much padding/shock absorption do they have?
2. Are they easy to walk in? Compared to “modern” heels?
3. Are they sized to wear normal socks, or thin nylon stockings? I’ve seen people say that the Astoria can need half a size up, but I’m thinking - if I need to add a sole, maybe I need to go up one size? Can I change if the size is wrong?

The “Pumpkin” sleeves were the biggest challenge and it took a lot of efforts to build a cage right. Now us happy

This was made for me as it is beyond my skill level of sewing. But On a side note. This could be worn as everyday clothing in mild weather.

I have a odd heavy size (44-39-44-48) that I only acquired after a surgery 6 years ago and I've never quite gotten used to it. I can look presentable in modern clothes but everything feels so tight and clingy. I already wear a cottage core style so I'm looking into historical fashion and undergarments to see if I can find something more flattering and comfortable. Having structured undergarments would help gently smooth over my lumpy bits without the pinpoint pressure of elastics. But I don't know what era would work best for this.

My overall look would be closer to history bounding so I'm not looking for perfect authenticity but good quality pieces or things that could be tailored. I'm not able to sew due to chronic pain so "learn to make it myself" is not an option. I'm asking for resources or online stores that could get me started down this road to see if it would even work. For in person stores, I live in an area where NYC is a reasonable travel time, if that helps.

If I should be asking this question in the history bounding sub, just let me know but I chose to ask here specifically for advice on undergarments because all I've seen so far says that modern corsetry would not be my friend. I don't care about making my waist smaller, just smoothed out and structured. Thanks in advance!

Hello,

I'm watching this Gnagy's tutorial : https://youtu.be/_I2OIce0E9g?t=343 and he stitches pads (wool) to the green interlining such, that the curvature is with the pads facing out. But later on, he sews his outer fabric to the green interlining.

And I am confused how Gnagy got his curvature other way round after his pad stitiching? That interlining faces out, as well as the curvature.

(Here is the example of something making sense to me: https://matsukazesewing.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-next-piece-stripey-doublet-of.html John makes it that pads are facing in, whereas the cuvature is now out, together with the interlining. But sewing like that requires pads to be under and making difficult to follow their countours while sewing?)

I'd be grateful for hints.

Hi everyone. I'm from Malaysia, and my company's annual dinner has a “travel around the world” theme where we're supposed to dress as a country we'd like to visit. I've chosen Greece.

I'm trying to brainstorm ideas for an outfit that's recognisably Greek, fun and relatively affordable to put together.

I've considered recreating the traditional Amalia women's costume, but I'm also open to other ideas.

If you were doing this theme, what would you wear or how would you approach it? Are there any interesting Greek traditional outfits, historical styles or cultural details you think would make a particularly fun outfit?

I'd love ideas that I could realistically recreate with affordable clothes and DIY accessories, rather than buying a complete costume.

Thanks!

Some criteria of mine: Female outfit, no sleeveless or above knee dresses.

Fantastical Follies Costuming has a great tutorial on how she sizes up Patterns of Fashion and it SAVED me on this Cinderella because I was close to throwing in the towel tonight. ​Just in case anyone else is mathematically challenged like me! Obviously I will be making copious mockups but this is so helpful

I rarely get full photos of myself when I am in historical dress and at a party. But there was a Photo Booth at my friends Halloween costume party they we went to last week, and I was able to see myself in full length.

I made my entire ensemble. The gown is the Angelica gown from Scroop patterns. Basic silk petticoat underneath. My friend gifted me the fur muff (it even has a zipper with a hidden pocket!!!) I added a slightly ruffled black lace trim along the neck and shoulders.

For my husband, we got his outfit from Amazon. BUT, we did win best dressed couple!

Please ignore the buttons not doing up on my mannequin! I have a smaller bust size than the mannequin, it fits me perfectly! I’m really happy with how this came out but now I want to make a bonnet to match!

I have some hessian buckram that was given to me and I’ve had no idea how to use it until now. It’s a bit thicker than normal buckram however and I’m looking for any advice on how to get it to work? Also, I’m kind of torn between a big 1850s bonnet or a flatter 1860s bonnet. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Hi folks, first time posting here as i've finally decided on starting a project in order to finish it.

As the title says, planning an 11th century castillian noble outfit, based on the real life of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, commonly known as El Cid or Mio Cid.

This project starts thanks to my girlfriend who is also an avid history-buff and also wants to cosplay with me, i would'nt be making this post without her.

This project is also partially inspired by "Alex the History Guy" 's vid on a Norman nobleman's clothing.

So far i've planned to get a "Brial", "Sayo" and "Turnshoes" alongside asking for an option of the pants variety and possibly also hat.

And where to get them in Spain, my busget isn't that high as i'm starting to get into the labor force but i have a year to make it.

My first timestamp will be attending the medieval fair at Belmonte for next year around early/mid september (there's also a buhurt tournament) and the outfit must be finished by early october 2027 for Alcalá's "Cervantinas" the largest medieval fair in all of Europe.

Exactly what the title says. I figure the best way to make sure the stays will hold the ahem ladies in place, is to make sure that the mock-up has the same structural capability as the real thing. I got such amazing advice from the day, so I appreciate all insight you wonderful costumers (Is that the right word? LOL) can give me.

The Etsy page doesn't claim that this is even based on any historical design, the seller doesn't seem to have any focus on historical clothing, and it's a blend, but it's ridiculously cheap for a garment with any linen in it at all, and to my untrained eyes, it looks like it could pass for an actual historical tunic. Double checking here, of course, because I'm not experienced enough to say for sure.

I'm afraid I can't get any better images, the other four images consist of a sizing chart and three of this exact image badly photoshopped so that the shirt looks like the other three available colors.

Edit: yeah, after some consideration I will not be getting this.

hi, i got a good stick of olive tree roughly 1.70m long, i wonder if you know maybe some tutorial or tips on how i could turn it on a good stick for a spear or halberd from the ~14th century, i then plan to buy the metal parts on a renfair shop or to dedicated shops

I was wondering what fabric would be best for Regency era stockings. I know cotton and wool were popular choices. I live in a country that is hot and humid most of the year and doesn’t get very cold as other countries in winter (to me its cold but to most people it most likely wouldn’t be).

Any suggestions you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Hello all! I'm done with corset number 1 for Cinderella! The pattern was done by Michelle Fitzgerald aka Clockwork faerie and sewn by me. I'm so happy with it!

Notes and Fun

- I ended up using 10 yards of lacing instead of the 8 the pattern said. This was done for my personal comfort sake and because 8 just wasn't long enough for me.

-when i remake it in blue for a water fairy cosplay and purple for a Madame Leota one, I'll make sure to use a Dremel for holes in the bones to make flossing easier.

-yes I know my lacing gap isn't perfectly symmetrical, unfortunately God has cursed me with 52 inch hips to a 38 inch waist so no matter who has laced me or how many corsets I have done, my gap just hasn't been symmetrical. Perhaps one day when I hit my goal weight!

-also yes the chemise isn't the best, I am going to remake it now that I've made one. ​

I am soooo proud of this corset!!!

I’ve been working on my very first waistcoat and I’m about to start the real thing. One thing I’ve found I’m struggling with on the mock up and am worried about is the arm scye. I’ve decided to make the waistcoat out of linen so I will have to turn in the edges and I’ve been struggling (and always have) with folding over the edges of curves. I know you’re supposed to clip the seam allowance but I never know how deep or far apart to clip

Does anyone have any tricks they use to make finishing curved edges easier?

Most likely for the 1876 centennial re-enactment ceremonies in Philadelphia. Heavy wool and amazing construction.

Thick stencil “CPL 1st INF” corporal 1st infantry, and penned “W. H. Coffee” who must have been the actor. It’s in amazing condition considering where I found it. No major damage, just staining.

Any guesses on the value of something like this? Would love to get more info on it! Thanks!

I'm new to medieval costuming, I'm currently making an cotte/overtunic for my husband. I want to do this split sleeve design but I'm failing to find any actual depictions of this in medieval culture.

If this was a thing could someone point me to what culture this was prominent in and some sources to look at?