Late 19th century masquerade costumes

I posted the clover costume in my last post, but I thought it would be nice with the whole series. These images have been living on my hard drive for some eight years, so I have no clue where I once got them. They are lovely, though and I love that you can see the back too.

I have always been fond of 19th century versions of the 18th century.

Fraulein Frauke presents La Belle Paris

It's time again on March 10 and this time Fraulein Frauke is themed La Belle Paris, giving us the choice if we want the "La Belle Epoque" or the roaring twenties. For some odd reason Fraulein Frauke always seem to take place the weekends I work, but I will take a tired Sunday again and go- it's worth it. I have always had a lot of fun, the atmosphere is great and the entertainment splendid.


I'm so, so tempted to make a new dress for it. I think I will have a go at it, but have a back-up plan as I know that deadlines isn't good for me. I could, of course, make a 20's frock quite easily, but my figure isn't really suited for that silhouette and I will probably just feel frumpy. La Belle Epoque on the other hand... I have been looking as pictures of Anna Held, Ziegfield's common-in-law wife and star and would love to make something along those lines.

An 18th century birthday party

As I told you yesterday I went to an 18th century birthday party last Saturday. I had great fun, there were plenty of sweets, cakes and wine as well as dancing and games. I forgot my camera, but my friend Caroline kindly let me borrow some of her pictures.

Here she is in brown, with the equally lovely Nathalie in blue. Caroline's French gown is actually quite ingenious- here it is shortened to fit over pocket hoops, but can also be worn over a grand panier.



Anna, the beautiful birthday child, in a brand new gown to honour the occasion, and her husband.





Me and my darling. I'm in the unhappy position right now that almost all of my 18th century clothes won't fit me. Not that I don't like my pierrot, but it isn't particulary festive.



And I had mislaid my false rump...



A better view on my darling in his national suit.



Dancing and the back view of Anna S in her French gown, the one I told you are one of the most beautiful 18th century gowns I have ever seen.



You can see a glimpse of the front in this picture.



Playing "Domaredansen" ("The Judge Dance") a game probably invented to give people an opportunity to hug each other.



You play it in forming two rings, the inner has all the men, the outer all the women and one woman is the stand in the middle. You can change so all the men is in the outer ring, but you must play in with equal numer of men and women + an extra woman, or man, to stand in the middle. One rings walks clockwise and the other counter clockwise, while singing a special song, but when the music stops then everyone in the outer ring is to grab a person from the inner one. As do the one in the middle. The person who doesn't manage to hug someone is the one who has to stand in the middle the next round.

Saturday, er, Sunday blogaround

A friend of mine had her 50th birthday bash yesterday, and an 18th century one to booth. So yesterday I was a bit too busy hunting out my clothes, ironing them and doing some neccesary repairs to blog. I had great fun and really wish I had brought a camera. I hope I can borrow some pictures from friends, because there were some truly beautiful clothes to be seen. Especially a French gown that I think is the most beautifully executed 18th century gown I have ever seen- and I have seen some outstanding examples.

But here are a few links to this weeks most inetresting blog entries.

The Lingerie Addict debunks a few myths about corsets.
Wearing History gives us a nice resource overview of fashion history studies.
Tuppence Ha'penny is havinga a colour theory week. Several great posts about an interesting subject.
An introduction to hairstyles in 1912 from American Duchess.
A stunning 18th century hair as weall as a Frencg gown at An Historical Lady.

Saturday blogaround

Last year I did a weekly blogaround that was quite popular, but then I was ill for two months and lost steam and stopped. Now I’m starting it out again. There are so many great posts out there and so easy to miss the good ones. And as it makes very happy whenever someone point at my blogs, I hope to make some other people happy in return.
Tea with the Vintage Baroness does a wonderful recap of her vintage year. Her 1930’s wardrobe simply marvelous.
Another great 30’s blog, This Old Life, shares how she made her aviatrix coat.
And to keep up with the vintage theme, Diary of a Mantua Maker do sew other things than just 18th century.
Lots of teens fashion can be seen at My Happy Sewing Place.
Rowenna asks if if re-enactors really are mean (no, we are not) and makes some interesting points.

And to bang my own drum a little, perhaps some of you would enjoy this little overview on the fashion silhouettes from the Edwardians to the 1950’s.

My 17th century shift

I finished my 17th century shift a while ago and here are, finally, some pictures. Unfortunately there are very few 17th century rooms in our flat, so the settings isn't quite right. I used a pattern in Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion 4, a smock that supposedly have belonged to Charles II's queen Catherine of Braganza, or some of her ladies-in-waiting. The original is lavishly decorated with lace, but I made mine plain. I wanted to use this particular pattern as it has an oblong neckline that fits well with a 17th century gown with an off-the-shoulder neckline. It also have rectangular inserts cartridge-pleated There is a more eloquent post about the pattern here. to the sides instead of the usual triangular ones, which I wanted to try just for the fun of it.

How to do a Georgian do

Locks of Elegance is a great little blog that solely gives tutorial on a variety of historical hairstyles. The girl behind it has very long hair herself, but you can use the instruction on wigs or with the help of fake hair. The most recent post gives a very clear instructions on a classic Georgian hairstyle.

Check it out!