Crinoline
Costumes I've
never tired
of wearing wonderful gowns such as these. It's hardly surprising
that they have never really fallen entirely out of fashion - they
are the ultimate in femininity after all, and what little girl
hasn't at one time or another imagined herself wearing one? And
they are still an enduring favourite with young brides.
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This
gown was
originally a designer wedding gown. I dyed the gown this colour,
discarded the bodice, and made a new one in printed velvet, also
adding the fitted lower sleeves. Skirt and sleeves have many rows
of tucks and lace trims. The poke bonnet and lace shawl set the
dress off rather nicely, I think.
This
gown has
bodice and lower sleeves of satin overlaid with lace, with silver
piping at the seams ; the skirts are satin with lace flounces.
Green glass beads surround the collar. It is full enough to wear
over very wide hoops.
The design of the sleeves makes it impossible to raise the arms,
so once done up at the back, I cannot take off the gown without
someone to unfasten me! Oh, for a maid to help!
I
designed this
dress as a fantasy costume with the fullest possible skirts of
tulle, inspired by the fabulous wedding gowns I saw displayed
in fashionable boutiques. The skirts comprise eight layers of
tulle, the hems edged with silver cord, with a taffeta lining
beneath - the lining also edged with heavily gathered tulle frills.
The bodice is a metallic silvery brocade, and the short puff sleeves
are shot organza. Over the skirt are 'petals' of organza and lame.
The matching headdress has clusters of flowers and beads.
This is a superb gown that was for a long time a favourite of
mine. I wore it over very wide crinoline hoops.
This
gown, in
mauve, aqua and pink, was inspired by fabrics I collected over
a period of time. (Whenever I spotted some attractive fabric at
a reasonable price, I would buy a length, confident that I would
find a way to make it into a beautiful outfit of some sort.)
This one began with the printed patterned lace used for the sleeves.
Later I matched this with some metallic brocade for the bodice.
The skirt came from an old-fashioned wedding dress I was able
to buy cheaply, and which I dyed, together with some lace for
the sleeves and many meters of tulle for the underskirts. More
layers of tulle I dyed mauve.
The bodice is boned and has a rigid busk. The skirts are supported
by layers of net petticoats and need no hoops. Satin sash ties
are fastened to each side of the waist, and are gathered into
a huge bow with falling tails folded to display mauve and aqua
faces.
How
about this
for a truly gorgeous gown?
(Either
of them!)
Oh!
for a handspan
waist!
Now
for the most beautiful crinoline gown that I possess - a gorgeous
confection of tulle, wit velvet bodice and sleeves, decorated at the
waist with garlands of silk flowers
