The Almost-Finished Casaquin Jacket

This little jacket (which ain’t so little, turns out) is finally getting finished, and just in time for the fundraiser event on Saturday, where I will be representing an 18th c. lady sketching in her parlour.

I have a confession to make.  I am an under-trimmer.  I do believe that simplicity is lovely and often a better avenue than frouf, but in the case of the 18th century, MORE is MORE.  Rococo, after all, is all about MORE, so on this jacket I have decided to pull out all the stops and go for it with the trims.

That means gathered ruffly-flufflies, pinked on the edges, all around the neckline, front edges of the jacket, and the entire hem, plus the ruffles on cuffles.  The jacket closes with three big green bows that tie over a stomacher that has two big yellow bows, placed between the green ones.  That is a lot of bows.

It’s about 1/3 of the way there currently.  I have something like another 100″ of trimmings to gather up and sew on, but I’m really happy with how this is turning out.  I also have a little bit of interior work to do still, with adding some bones for additional structure, but then it’s DONE.

This costume (casaquin jacket, stomacher, and walking skirt) will be the centerpiece of my first Boutique collection, and will be released later in November, along with other fancy bits and pieces, in the American Duchess Boutique on Etsy. Whee!