This past weekend I attended a lovely event where a few members of our local costuming group, Great Basin Costume Society, were invited to dress in 1860s costume to represent the founders of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a national philanthropic organization that supports women’s education.
The sisterhood was founded in 1869, but the closest I could get was my recent Purple People Eater day dress with the gored skirt. I finished the elliptical hoop and a dedicated petticoat (not shown) the night before the event, and am pleased that it’s done its job, and saved me from the dreaded “lampshade hoop.”
I hope you enjoy these few snaps of the whole ensemble put together – photos courtesy of my Mom <3
13 Comments
Esther
January 26, 2015 at 9:34 PMI just love this dress!! It's such a beautiful color and the design is stunning. The new hoops look wonderful! I've not yet ventured into hoop-land, but someday I suppose I'll have to. Getting in the car sounds so painful though!!! It's bad enough just with petticoats! 😉
Lauren Stowell
January 26, 2015 at 10:37 PMHahaha, I wouldn't recommend driving in hoops, but a few of us did it that day, one of us even in a stick shift! It's possible, but tricky – skirts and petticoats fly everywhere!
Lora Martin
January 27, 2015 at 4:18 AMJust wanted to say how lovely this dress is. I am not a costume maker, but I do sew and always love seeing what you've created. Have family in Sparks and hope to be in town visiting sometime when you have an event.
Lauren Stowell
January 27, 2015 at 6:53 PMThank you!
Anne Elizabeth
January 27, 2015 at 8:04 AMYou got the proportions so right, especially the higher 1860s waist. And no wrinkles and creases in the bodice – very impressive!
Lauren Stowell
January 27, 2015 at 6:53 PMThanks! I need to revisit the corset for this dress, with the lower 1860s bustpoint, but otherwise I'm happy with the overall effect
Trinny T
January 27, 2015 at 9:21 AMThis turned out beautifully! I do love it. You're inspiring me to do eliptical!
Lauren Stowell
January 27, 2015 at 6:54 PMThank you! It's an interesting period, as all transitional periods are – a little "weird," which is what I like 🙂
Cathy Raymond
January 27, 2015 at 3:11 PMThe dress is exquisite! I don't care for the hat, but then few fashions are loved by everybody.
La belle inconnue
January 27, 2015 at 10:05 PMWhat a beautiful dress. I really love the smooth lines of the gored skirt and the fabric is stunning. So far I have only made a Walking Cage and a bustle but seeing your pictures makes me wish I had an elliptical cage too! I may have to come up with a new storage solution for cumbersome steel contraptions first though!
AuntieNan
January 28, 2015 at 1:54 AMI don't know if its possible with elliptically, but I've been able to store my Elizabethan hoops collapsed flat and hung against the wall.
Auntie Nan
Masha
February 27, 2021 at 11:48 PMAs a P.E.O. Sister myself, I think this looks wonderful ! Your hair styling and make-up is terrific. It's pertinent to me since I'm interested in creating gowns for our upcoming Founder's Day luncheon. Our chapter would surely be the stars of the show.
admin
May 16, 2021 at 6:04 AMThank you so much! We had a lot of fun that day.