Wow, I can’t believe how long it’s taken me to get back to the details of my new Regency ball gown project. The ball was held early in December, and I finished the dress a few days before. And then apparently fell off the face of the planet. Anyway, I was quite pleased with the gown, overall, but the sleeves could be a bit poofier.
The gown wasn’t difficult to make, but I’m glad I started it so early because I ended up sewing most of it by hand. Just the bodice’s main seams and the skirt center-back seam are machine-sewn. The finishing, the hems, the sleeve’s drawstring channels, and even setting the sleeves into the bodice were all done by hand. With the gown I wore a new slipper-pink silk charmeuse undergown, about half sewn by hand. I think it really underlays the lavender cotton muslin (from Burnley & Trowbridge) beautifully, although I do want to try white under the gown, too.
I’m really pleased with how the gown glides over the undergown and with how the thing wore during the ball. The fabric’s movement is delightful. The muslin’s hand is a bit stiff, but it’s drape is very floaty, so it feels very diaphanous. The hem needs to come up a little bit on both the gown and undergown–I kept stepping on it when I moved sideways.
For the ball, I paired the lavender gown with what I call my “amethyst parure”: a crystal Duchesa collet necklace, my Dames a La Mode earrings, and a new jeweled comb, also from Dames a La Mode. I got tons of compliments, which is always nice.
Only about half the hair on my head that night was really mine. Well, technically it is all mine in that it all now belongs to me, but I used two braided switches of my great-grandmother’s hair. My mother used to use the switches to pad out her own ballerina buns when she had dance recitals. I feel really lucky to have inherited these pieces.
The big bun with a braid around the base is not one that I’ve seen in fashion plates or portraits from the Regency/Empire period, but it’s not too far off. It gave a vaguely correct look, and it kept my hair out of my face while dancing in a hot ballroom. Side curls would just have ended up drooping and sticking to my sweaty face. I may do a tutorial on how I ended up using the switches to make a huge bun; it’s a bit intricate.
Next post: some construction details on the gown, especially the sleeves.
Raven said:
What a lovely dress, and it looks like a fun evening!
Do you mind if I ask what Regency group you’re a part of? I’m a member of a Boston-based historical dance group and we’ve been trying to send other local Regency groups invitations (with a discount code) to our Regency weekend in April. I’d love to get one to you/your group!
Raven
LikeLike
Stephani said:
Hello, Raven, thank you for your comment.
There are several Regency-era dance groups in Connecticut, and other groups of people interested in Regency dances. I am a member of the Jane Austen Society of Connecticut, which I believe has received the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers’ info about the Regency Dance Weekend. We have posted about it on our Facebook page.
You might reach out to Susan De Guardiola, Regency dancing mistress, to promote your event to her students in CT and NY. She holds most of her CT Regency dance classes at Vinnie’s Jump & Jive in Middletown.
There’s also a group of English country dancers in New Haven who you might want to reach out to.
And then there are the good people who operate Teel House in Norwich, CT, where this Assembly took place. Shari Savoy is the owner, and she is a member of the NY Region of the Jane Austen Society. So if you have promoted your event to that organization, she probably knows about it. Teel House does not have a website, but it does have a Facebook page.
Best of luck!
LikeLike
Raven said:
Thanks, Stephani! Glad to know the letters I sending are making it somewhere 🙂 I know Susan, but I’ll take a look for the New Haven ECD group. Much obliged!
I’ll have to keep an eye on the Teel House page…that definitely looks like a fun field trip 🙂
LikeLike