Reenactor Gown Remake: Because I am Dumb and Impulsive

[heidilea]

A lady downstate was selling some clothes on the 18c Reenactor's facebook page, and I snagged a silk taffeta round gown close to my measurements for $50. I had asked her a time period and she told me she wore it for F&I events. I should have taken heed to "worn to." When I bought it, I planned on changing the front to a robing style and assumed the

Comments

[justawench]

Yeah, I don't think that ever fit in at and F&I event. It says late 80s, early 90s to me. I wonder why she chose that style for F&I

[heidilea]

I think I may heed your advice and keep the edge-to-edge closure. As far as I know, it appeared sometime in fashion in the 1770s, but Hallie Larkin cautioned against them for Revwar period. She points out that a campfollower wouldn't worry about fashion; but I can make allowances, I think, since I come from Philadelphia. I think I will make other working gowns with the robing front, but not this one.

The sleeves are long, but not long enough on my arm. It fits weird in the forearm, but I have big, long arms for my body size. Hacking them off is more of a comfort/fit thing. I think I may add some of that shirred white "mousselline" that you see in late 1770s prints. Do you think that stuff was soft like voile or stiff like organdy?

I've started removing the skirt and hoo-EY! It was NEVER inteded to be removed by the look of the stitches. It'll take a while, but will be worth it.

[justawench]

I think it must have had some body. I don't know if voile is appropriate for anything 18th C, as even the sheerest fabrics seem to stand on their own. Gaze upon the images in this blog post: http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-fashionable-silk-saturday-at-colonial.html

[mandie_rw]

I like the fabric! If you're up to it, I think it'd be worth it to remake.

[heidilea]

Thank you! Here's to hoping this actually works....