Her Naked Skin

One of the reasons that I am so busy and not so blog-e these days is due to four projects running at the same time. My most imminent deadline is costuming a workshop performance of the play Her Naked Skin by Rebecca Lenkiewicz. The period is Edwardian, the year 1913 and the setting is the Suffragette movement in the UK.


Even though a workshop performance is not fully costumed it is still an involved role to design and source. I have been researching lots of different sites and found amazing images. One picture library that our school librarian directed me too was the Mary Evans collections and I found the Museum of London to be really great too.

It really is an amazing time in history and an often overlooked civil rights movement.
If you want to see the performance information on dates and how to book is here

Corset tools

One great thing about making corsets is that you get to use tools! Specifically heavy duty wire cutters. Instead of whalebone nowadays we use plastic and steal boning for corsets and the cutters nip through them in a jiffy. Then its sanding them on each end to make them smooth (so not to pop through the fabric when under strain).

I finally got the perfect fabric for my 1750 corset and made my own bias binding from a silk scrap that I found in the costume workshop. This is the second item of my mid 18th century costume, I made my chemise a few weeks ago. I will post a photo when its finished.

I am using modern methods to create this for the stage (sewing machine) but in the 18th century it was all made by hand. One blogger Carolyn Dowdell of Rockin the Rococo has finished her masters project where she made all her I8th century garments by hand, she will be exhibiting her items on her site soon so keep a feed out on her site or you can read a quick interview here.

It is hard enough to make them using the sewing machine and tools so congrats to her :)

xx

Return to the house of refashion

I want to look good when I am dreaming in my day bed... and this refashion may still be around when I actually have a day bed.

If the fabric looks familiar that's because I have already used it in one of my previous refashions, the Scrappy ReFlapper... but i still had some of the floral material left over. So with some fabric from my stash and an opshop pattern, TA DA a nightdress was created. You can read more about it on Wardrobe Refashion and see the comfy pants I made to go with it.

I am now going to wear my refashions and go to sleep and dream of day beds.

xx

Links

During my research for my major work on my costume course I came across these three blogs that I thought were worth sharing.

Fashion - 18th century blog - Fashion and culture from the 1700s - very dedicated blogger to all things 1700, I love the illustration for her site too (above). Great links and inspiration.

Rockin' the Rococo - not only are the costumes being made in traditional 18th techniques they are being made by either natural or candle light, just like they would have been before the electric light.

Diary of a Mantua maker - see how 18th century fashion items are made reproduced.

My costume is just about past the design stage, will post up pictures once they are ready for the world to see :)

xx