Based on about 6/8 items in my antique inventory that this garment is trying to emulate, bodices in this decade of the new pattern are always boned...in addition to having the corset boned. The relaxed look would only be seen in the reformed dress (sans corset) and probably never in such a formal garment. The poufffs at the hip seem very contrived; and the shoe topper skirt is showing too much shoe (and horrors! an ankle) it is true that skirts were somewhat shorter in this time period, but I think not for formal attire.
My two cents worth, based on real garments that I have seen and inspected... Kathleen ----- Original Message ----- From: "Elizabeth Walpole" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Historic Costume" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 12:26 AM Subject: [h-cost] Simplicity's new natural form era gown, opinions? > I was just browsing Simplicity's website (I got a free pattern for > submitting a sewing tip to their 'idea exchange') and I found that they have > a new historic costume pattern, > http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=4244 it looks like a bustle or > natural form period gown, they may be trying to cash in on The Phantom of > the Opera (though it seems a bit late) as their model does look quite a bit > like Emmy Rossum (who played the main character, Christine) although they do > already have a version of the costume she wears when she does her solo on > stage for the rest of the film she wears typical late 1870s to early 1880s > outfits. > Anyway, onto my point does anybody have an opinion on how authentic this is > and whether any inauthentic parts would be fixable? The bodice doesn't look > too bad it's got 2 darts at the front and princess seams at the back, it > reminds me of a polonaise except for the back drape. It would need fitting > to be worn over a corset but otherwise I can't seem to pinpoint a flaw (I > admit I don't like the look of the back of the skirt but I don't know if > that's because it's inauthentic or I just dislike the style). Then again > I've only done a little research into this era, so for those who have more > expertise in natural form era outfits what is your opinion? > Elizabeth > -------------------------------------------- > Elizabeth Walpole > Canberra Australia > ewalpole[at]tpg.com.au > http://au.geocities.com/e_walpole/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > h-costume@mail.indra.com > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
