That black gown is cool looking - too bad they mucked it up with the
back lacing! A stomacher front like that means the fit is adjustable
where the stomacher is pinned to the gown, thus no need to have it
lace like that.
Anyway, sorry to be Devil's advocate; I know some people claim a
medical problem when they just don't want to wear a certain thing,
and it's not up to someone else to insist they can. But what about
people who can't take the pressure of stays / corset? What are they
to do?
While stays help the overall posture, there are some loose 18thC
styles. They tend to show up in the 1720 to 1750 time frame, so it
depends on if this fits the lady's purpose.
A bedgown is a casual sort of garment that would work.
http://www.costumes.org/HISTORY/18thcent/lacroix/fig206.jpg
There is also a more voluminous wrapper sort of gown, robe volante or
robe battante, I think. It's an undress (casual) sort of thing, not
for a ball, but out of a nice fabric can look good.
http://cgfa.floridaimaging.com/chardin/p-chardin8.htm
http://marquise.de/en/1700/glossar/volante.gif
http://marquise.de/en/1700/womenguide/g18_2.jpg
http://marquise.de/en/1700/pics/1727_1.shtml
http://marquise.de/en/1700/pics/1723_1.shtml
A feature of fashionable 18thC wear is that the neckline is low and
the bust is high, so both converge at the point of the bust (which
has been raised by stays). Is there anything she can wear to get that
lift?
Otherwise the loose wrapper may be the way to go, with a good
hairstyle, jewelry, and absolutely fabulous shoes.
Correct baggy is much better than high fashion that has not been
neatly fitted.
-Carol
> Okay, this is weird request I know. I have someone who wants me to make
> her a "sort" of accurate gown -
> This is an example of what she is looking for:
> http://www.azacdesign.com/items/clothing/custom-special-order-clothing/lady-versailles-gown-lvg-detail.htm
>
> Problem is, is she is a size 28, and doesn't want to wear corsetry due to
> a medical condition.
> I have explained the whole - it isn't going to look right without the
> right undergarments....but I was looking for some examples I might show
> her.
>
> So I am looking for pictures of larger women who may not be wearing proper
> undergarments. Even if the style isn't the same -
>
> I showed her this as an example of a larger woman who was wearing proper
> undergarments:
>
> http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions/past/holbein_400.htm
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sg
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