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| Playing dress up with a pseudo Victorian shirt and a velvet waist cincher |
A very short time ago I found myself in a predicament, one that involved needing a black skirt to wear with my Steampunk stuff, and having just sold it off for another costumer elsewhere to enjoy.
I know it’s sad that I only have one black skirt in my possession, but it’s true. I had about a week to make a new skirt, and true to form, instead of doing something quick and simple, I decided to use one of my favorite patterns, Truly Victorian TV261, to create something really over-the-top for Steampunk.
I couldn’t find any affordable dupioni, so I did a bad, bad thing and went with black satin. I know, satin is THE DEVIL, but it’s so shiny and pretty and enticing! So this being Steampunk I went with the satin, and why the heck not. The plan for this skirt was to bust it out solidly but quickly.
And so I did. I made the skirt in three evenings, complete with 88 inches of pleated trim which really didn’t take that long, and finishes this particular skirt in such a nice fashion. It’s nothing special – all the seams are just zig-zag stitched on the inside, and did I mention it’s satin?
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| White shirts and swiss waists are fun and all, but how about a matching black bodice? |
The poufs are flatlined with net, which help it to stand out considerably, and also makes a crunchy noise when you move around. The pleats on the hem need a nice velvet ribbon to finish the top edge (it’s just selvage now). All in all, however, it fits, I think it looks quite sporting, and it will look good with Steampunk stuff.
‘Course, I can’t stop there. Why not make a bodice? Black shiny immediately made me think of Sargent’s famous Madame X painting, so that is the tentative plan for a curvaceous 1880s bodice over a tightly laced corset. Fun 🙂
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| No, I will never look like her, but she inspires me 🙂 |
9 Comments
Steph
March 19, 2011 at 3:56 AMI can't wait to see you do the Madame X. Really cool skirt, I'd like to know how you did such quick pleating! (have you seen a ruffler foot? It does tiny pleats easily by machine…)
Lauren Stowell
March 19, 2011 at 5:53 AMHi Steph, thank you! 🙂 I pleated in knife pleats just by feel, about 1", and just went through it, pinning and pressing as I went. It took maybe an hour or a little more? I don't have a ruffler foot, although I promised myself when I got my new machine last December that I would get all the cool and useful special feet, but that hasn't happened yet, lol
Unknown
March 19, 2011 at 1:05 PMGorgeous skirt, but I'd also like to know more about the blouse. Got info?
Jenni
March 19, 2011 at 1:55 PMLovely skirt! I've always liked Sargent's paintings, and am excited to see one of his 'come to life' so to speak. I think you kind of look a little like Madame X…. 🙂 Especially in the picture of you (sitting on the stool) above her.
Lauren Stowell
March 19, 2011 at 11:29 PMMelissa – I bought the blouse in a Macy's back in 2008. I didn't make it, but I wish I had, it's lovely :-).
Jennie – I WISH I looked more like Madame X, although I imagine that face was both a blessing and a curse. Strong features, that lady! Something to aspire to in grace and poise, though 🙂
Lydia Elizabeth Burnwell
March 20, 2011 at 3:49 PMLovely!! Just lovely!! (As is everything else you do!) And you made the satin work without bunching? That is usually my own downfall, and why I hate working with satin!
Lauren Stowell
March 21, 2011 at 7:05 PMLydia, that's why I have trouble with satin too, the tension stuff. I admit there are some long seams that have a little bit of puckering, and it does irk me, but I'm just going to have to live with it. For the bodice I found that very careful hand-mounting of the satin pieces on the foundation layer works nicely to prevent puckering, even though it takes forever. I might try some interfacing or backing the satin with cotton flannel, not sure yet….
Jenny
March 25, 2011 at 9:35 PMYou look tres chic and lovely. 🙂 But you appear to be wearing few few or no petticoats? Scandalous! Or is it the fashion of the time? Not too up on late Victorian….. :-/
Lauren Stowell
March 25, 2011 at 10:27 PMHaha, I am wearing one petticoat beneath this skirt, and a bustle pad. The petticoat has layers of lacey ruffley bits on the back, to act as a dust ruffle. The front of the skirt is straight, but you're right, it does look a little deflated, so the plan is to put some horsehair brain at the hem, to help it stand out a bit 🙂