I’ve talked about 18th Century bedgowns here on You Sew Nice, but I haven’t yet talked about the garment one wears with a bedgown – the 18th Century pleated petticoat! Today the word ‘petticoat’ refers to an undergarment, but in the 18th Century, petticoats were simply the garments you wore on […]
A black lace mantelet is a foolish and fragile thing, one of the most pointless accessories in the history of western fashion. Of course I wanted to make one!
When life gives you dinosaur bone printed sheets and orange Ikea duvet covers, you make a witchy, wench-y take on 18th Century Pastoral Fashion!
One long piece of white lace trim with a moth-nibbled middle makes… two short pieces of white lace trim! Here’s a tutorial for a pair of 1790s chemisettes – one with ruffles down the front and one without, suitable for any early regency sartorial vibe!
In this tutorial, I turn a glass-and-brass necklace into a DIY Georgian parure.
One of my favorite 18th Century costume references is this portrait of Olive Craster by Sir Nathanial Dance-Tolland. I love the puffy blue stomacher bows. I love the enormous pearls worn high on her neck. I love her pet squirrel. But mostly I love the lace mantelet that she is wearing over the top of all of it! When I found this embroidered silk fabric I reckoned it was MEANT. Let’s see if i can make the blonde silk gauze mantelet from the portrait!
Last spring at a workshop, I came across a silk sultana hanging on a peg. I tried it on – and I wanted it. I didn’t NEED one, so of course I immediately went fabric shopping and found a piece of suitable-enough silk shantung – just enough of it for a midnight purple silk sultana.
Remember when I made a rhinestone 18th Century Stomacher Brooch? Here is a tutorial for making a pair of 18th Century Girandole Earrings to match!
In the collection of the Victoria & Albert museum in London, there is a stunning antique Portuguese brooch. Thanks to an aliexpress seller who likes the piece as much as I do, today we’re going to make our very own 18th Century Stomacher Brooch!
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it another wrapping gown? It’s the Fitting and Proper Chintz Banyan! Let’s talk about how to put it together.
