Back to the Library you shall go

Did you find any of the books I listed in the last book post?

See anything you liked?

Here is a list of more books to find

Napoleon and the Empire of Fashion is a very new book, you would be lucky to find it in your local library. You might be better off looking in book stores. I see that Powell's in Portland carries it in their online catalog. My copy arrived this past weekend (what an Easter gift!) and I do think it is a valuable resource for those with an interest in Regency era costumes. You can see some of the costumes here. I will tell you that there is a topless photo of a modern porn star in the book. I don't think it fits, but the photographer evidently did.

The Age of Napoleon: Costume from Revolution to Empire, 1789-1815  is another good book on Regency era costume. You are more likely to find this in a well stocked library. As you can see from the Amazon link, it can be rather expencive to purchase.

Jean Hunnisett authored several books on Women's costume with patterns. These are found in many libraries, so you shouldn't have a hard time tracking them down. For those interested in the 18th century, you will want the 1500-1800 book, for those interested in Regency, you want the 1800-1909 book, There are also two books covering outer garments If you have the time, after all it will be November! Cloaks, Capes, Stoles and Wadded Mantles is the first book, the second is Dominos, Dolmans, Coats, Pelisses, Spencers, Calashes, Hoods & Bonnets

Fashion Plates for inspiration

Just like today's Magazine stands are a source of Fashion Inspiration, so were the days of yore.

If you need some inspiration, or just want to kill some time, here are some resources!

You can find an enormous number of the 'Costumes Parisien' prints in the Maciet collection of the Musee Les Arts Decoratifs

• first select "consultation du catalogue". on the left
• the click "recherche simple"
• enter "Mode" under "Terms de recherche"
• Check "Album Maciet"
• Click "Rechercher"!

This will take you to the  list. To select one of the albums, click the blue number  the click "Voir les vignettes Maciet"
Click on the page you want to view, it will open in a new window (at least in Firefox)


Another place to look is the Bunka Gakuen Library
You may want to search by publication date.

Also check out the University of Washington's Fashion Plate Collection

Going through the stash!

like most who sew, whether it is craft, quilt, garment or costume, I have a stash!
This weekend I went through it  looking for suitable fabrics for the upcomong party! We have just over 6 months, so I best get sewing!

I have several that would be suitable for small children
I have 1 3/4 yards of The Merrimack Collection by Judie Rothermel  for the New England Quilt Museum by Marcus Fabrics

Mary's Favorite Blues C. 1800 by Mary Koval for Windham Fabrics

This is pattern # 21956-5

I have 1-3 yards (yeah vague)

Blue Print picked up at local JoAnn Fabrics

I bought 3 or 4 yards

Maybe it would work better for Dickens?

Blue Stripe purchased at JoAnns

About 4 yards

The husband thought it might look good as an adult dress, so I draped it up, I think it works better for a child.

Now for Adult pieces!

Williamsburg India Chintz 1730-1800 by Windham

Pattern # 27849-3 (I also have # 27857-3 somewhere, but I didn't find it, print size is suitable for a child's gown)

Jaipur collection by Bethany Reynolds for Blank Quilting.

On the left is 4927, on the right is4926

Last is a cotton voil saree/sari i picked up for $10 there is about 4 yards there. I would have to reattach the border to the hem if i used it as an adult regency. I also have a green version of this. For these photos, the fabric has been washed, but not ironed.

 Another option is to use it as a girl's summer dress for the crinoline era (mid 19th century)

 Baby hand and Mama hand showing sheerness of fabric

Pattern links for women's regency

Today I ran across this lovely resource t hat has complied most of the regency patterns on the market for women.
In the Long Run Women's Regency Pattern Directory includes some online patterns as well as those in books in it's list.

Other links for today include
Sensibility's comparison chart between S&S's original pattern and the Simplicity version. This link is to the internet archive of the page since it has been take off the main page. (no wonder I couldn't find it the other day!)

Oregon Regency Society's blog post on stays is a good overview of different styles available on the pattern market.

Homework!

I'm sending you to the Library!
All links will be to World Cat, so you can find a copy closest to you.

The first few books I think you should see are:
Fashion from the Kyoto Costume Institute it has been published several times, including as a 2 book set. It covers the 18th through 20th centuries.

Revolution in Fashion: European Clothing 1715-1815, also from Kyoto features most of the same 18th and regency dresses, but it has the addition of three patterns from Janet Arnold

Patterns of Fashion 1: Englishwomen's Dresses and their Construction 1660-1860 by Janet Arnold this book includes patterns for women's dresses on a graphed scale, from original antique garments. Sketches of the dresses are given, but no photographs.

Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Fashion in Detail from the V&A was previously published as Historical Fashion in Detail, You may also find it listed in your library as Fashion in Detail: Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century.

This turned into a series of books, Nineteenth Century Fashion in Detail has some Regency clothes, and Underwear in Detail has corsets from the time periods we are concerned with.

I think that is enough homework for now.
If your local library doesn't have these books, consider Inter Library Loan. or just spend some time in the costume history section.

Livejournal Links

Just wanted to share two sources of inspiration.
La Mode Illustree is an LJ comunity  where the members post Fashion plates, paintings and photographs spanning many centuries. Most members are good about taging the images with the eras they come from.
 So check out the tag page if you are not up to a walk through the history of fashion.

Historic Children's Clothing and Costuming is an LJ community to discus the many aspects of historic costume for children. This extends to Maternity and Nursing costume for mothers, as well as non clothing items for the children. The tag page will be helpful.

Both of these communities may have posts that are locked to members only.

doing a Scarlett

Yes Scarlett O'Hara the fictional charector who lived in the American Civil War.

What does she have to do with a costume party set in the 18th century/Regency?

She made a dress from curtains! And you can too if you choose the right curtains.

For regency you want to keep your eyes open for sheer cotton curtains, maybe with light embroidery on them like these from Target?

When it comes to the 18th century, you may want a quilted petticoat, keep your eyes open for a quilted coverlet of silk or cotton. Solid colors only.

You do want to stick with the natural fibers of Linen, silk, cotton and wool. you will likely find that the embroidery is done in a synthetic thread.

You can sometimes save money this way, though sometimes you may not. I would suggest you price the yardage first, then look at the premade curtains.