I don’t have enough 18th century gowns. I have jackets and things, and I do love jackets, but when it comes to full gowns, I have, like, one (soon to be two).
So time for a new one! I found some lavender taffeta online and thought it would make a great 1790s roundgown, paired with a huge black silk sash, and giant black Gainsborough hat. I’m not settled on the style, but here are my initial sketches:
This gown will be “Robe Royaliste,” if we were in France in 1790. Both the purple and the black were royalist colors, and add in a little green or yellow and the statement would be obvious!
I’ve been perusing fashion plates from Dames a la Mode, to find some inspo. All of these would also be Royalist gowns, in France, and will help decide a final design for my Robe Royaliste:
Journal des Luxus, April 1792. I adore this, the gown, the hat, the belt. I like the interesting combo of redingote and gathered front, like a gaulle.
From Kyoto Costume Institute – not a fashion plate, but one of my favorite 1790s gowns, and would be a savvy design for what I’m thinking.
George Romney Unknown lady, ca. 1786. – with the redingote collar and button cuffs. The front looks gathered…? A little earlier than my target dates.
From LACMA, the back of their stunning 1790s redingote. I adore the huge mannish collar(s) on this one.
Marie Louise Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun. Marie-Louise of Bourbon-Sicily. 1790 . I like the idea of redingote details, but I want the skirt to be closed. The gathered-bust and long sleeve gaulle styles are also enticing, if the taffeta I bought will work that way.
It looks like for the gathered front on the fashion plates the waist is tight, and then the poofs start at the bust, so it's kindof a midriff thing going on, if that makes sense?
I love this post, a whole page of pretty dresses to drool over. I thought of you when I went to Killerton House in Devon recently as there were tons of gorgeous dresses there on display (I blogged about it last week if you're interested pop by http://lesleysgirls.blogspot.com/2012/07/fashion-history-exhibitions.html)
Looking forward to seeing your project! I admit I'm rooting for seeing something gaulle-ish (not to be confused with Gaulish…ha!) as I've seen few recreations of these and would love to see your process with one!
Love the lower bodice and full gown in your sketch! It may just be me, but I'm a sucker for buttons and a sash 🙂 Can't wait to see what you come up with! Whatever it is I'm sure it will be gorgeous. You're right, a girl can never have enough gowns….I'm working on my first 18th C gown right now, with more to follow!!
The information in your blog is very informative. Keep up the good work. WLCI School of Fashion Technology offers various courses and programmers in ? Fashion Designing, Fashion Marketing & Merchandising, which are very interactive and prepares students for real fashion world.
To Know More Information Visit: http://www.wlcifashion.in/
14 Comments
Sassy Countess
July 22, 2012 at 1:23 AMIs the bustline higher, perhaps empire? Or, is the sash that I am noticing?
Lauren Stowell
July 22, 2012 at 10:42 PMIt looks like for the gathered front on the fashion plates the waist is tight, and then the poofs start at the bust, so it's kindof a midriff thing going on, if that makes sense?
Lady Carolyn
July 22, 2012 at 2:10 AMLove all the sashes, many thoughts now on what to do next to update my gown to go with red Kensington's.
Unknown
July 22, 2012 at 9:08 AMI love this post, a whole page of pretty dresses to drool over. I thought of you when I went to Killerton House in Devon recently as there were tons of gorgeous dresses there on display (I blogged about it last week if you're interested pop by http://lesleysgirls.blogspot.com/2012/07/fashion-history-exhibitions.html)
Lauren Stowell
July 22, 2012 at 10:43 PMGreat blog! Thank you for linking – I will add you to my blog roll 🙂
Mutemouia
July 22, 2012 at 9:32 AMOooooh that will be so pretty !!! I love the idea of a Robe Royaliste!!!
Lauren
July 22, 2012 at 4:34 PMOne can never have too many gowns or jackets 😀 I can't wait to see what you make!
Rowenna
July 22, 2012 at 8:13 PMLooking forward to seeing your project! I admit I'm rooting for seeing something gaulle-ish (not to be confused with Gaulish…ha!) as I've seen few recreations of these and would love to see your process with one!
Lauren Stowell
July 22, 2012 at 10:43 PMI'm leaning that way too, but I'm not sure if the taffeta will want to do it, y'know? I really love the one in The Duchess, though….
BeckyK
July 22, 2012 at 9:19 PMLove the lower bodice and full gown in your sketch! It may just be me, but I'm a sucker for buttons and a sash 🙂 Can't wait to see what you come up with! Whatever it is I'm sure it will be gorgeous. You're right, a girl can never have enough gowns….I'm working on my first 18th C gown right now, with more to follow!!
Lauren Stowell
July 22, 2012 at 10:44 PMButtons – I love them, too, lol. And thank heaven for the 1780s and 90s for using them to great extent 🙂
Little Mothball
July 24, 2012 at 2:11 AMYou might have already seen this blogger, but the Kyoto Institute dress you posted reminded me of this dress she made.
http://augustintytar.blogspot.com/search/label/Robe%20%C3%A0%20la%20Turque
WLCI FASHION SCHOOL
August 7, 2012 at 11:35 AMThe information in your blog is very informative. Keep up the good work. WLCI School of Fashion Technology offers various courses and programmers in ? Fashion Designing, Fashion Marketing & Merchandising, which are very interactive and prepares students for real fashion world.
To Know More Information Visit:
http://www.wlcifashion.in/
Unknown
August 16, 2012 at 2:18 PMThis comment has been removed by the author.