In a message dated 3/25/2008 5:41:20 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I haven't seen anything extant that looks like the PI Tea Bodice, but I've hardly seen every surviving original garment from that time period. My own experience with that pattern line is that they are basically modified modern patterns--the shoulder line, armscye, side seams, and back construction are not consistent with the cut of garments from the time periods they are attempting to portray, so I don't use this particular line. I suppose it depends on if you're looking for a costume or want to make a reproduction that's consistent with extant clothing examples. If you want to make a costume, it doesn't really matter. If you want a reproduction piece consistent with the cut and tailoring of the time period, you won't get it from this pattern. I second LuAnn's comment and would further add that if you are serious about constructing a dress like this, you are better off drafting the pattern from Patterns of Fashion 2 than using the Period Impressions. The Period Impressions pattern is NOT copied line for line from the one in the book. Be prepared, because a properly made reproduction isn't going to be cheap and its a style that isn't highly common or appropriate for all situations. The original the pattern draft in the book was taken from is silk, and one which would have been expensive even in its time, and IIRC the dress is fully lined in silk as well. There isn't really much of a way around it--its a high fashion garment, made out of high end fabric, worn by a woman who had the means to wear such things. If you're willing to devote the time, money, and patience to recreating this dress as it really should be, it would be kinda cool to see at some sort of indoor living history event if your impression is of a wealthy upper class lady who regularly wears expensive, trendy clothing. If, however, the draw to it is the trim emulating a jacket and you want a dress for at a battle reenactment, IMO you would be better served in making a dress of a lightweight (i.e. tropical weight, challis) wool dress with a regular high neckline and trimming it to look like there's a jacket. The postillion back wouldn't be inappropriate here, either. This shows up in fashion plates, but more importantly, you see it in CDVs and original garments. That would more common than the Watteau necked bodice in POF2, and would be more serviceable for event wear, especially out of the lightweight wool depending on what region of the country you're from. The Period Impressions #403 is seen en masse at most events around the country, and 9.5 times out of 10 out of a cotton calico fabric. Frankly, they just look wrong to a trained eye because the style is taken out of its context and made in the wrong fabric off a poorly drafted pattern and its being worn in the wrong setting. And to be more to the point, cotton doesn't drape and fit a figure like a period silk would. So like I said, if you spend the money to make it out of silk, it would be downright gorgeous to see if all of the variables fit to your impression. But the style doesn't lend itself to battle reenactments and after the investment you'd put into it you probably wouldn't want to, either. Just my $.02, Joseph **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom00030000000001) _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
