OT Help with Edwardian dress info

[Syrilla]

I know this is OT, but I need someone with good knowledge on Edwardian gowns to help identify a dress that I now own.  Thanks renmail or other

[Aunty Lou]

Since all historical garb is my passion, maybe I can help.  The Edwardian period was from Queen Vickie's demise to Teddy's demise in the early 'teens.  Maybe a little overlap, as George 4 didn't have a great impact on the decorative arts, and QV was ossified into the period around Albert's death...  But I digress.  What does your dress look like?  Does it have any machine-sewn elements?  What is the color and fabric?  What shape and length are the sleeves?

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Think TITANIC and you have Edwrdian. 1901 to 1915. By 1915  Blouses were getting looser and Skirts were getting a little shorter as women were scoffing corsets for a more relaxed style that would became the Roaring 20's.

[Syrilla]

Sorry, I have been offline, but will contact about the dress soon.

[verymerryseamstress]

Syrilla, hi

Can you post a picture of the gown?  I collect antique clothing as a sideline hobby and would love to see it! 

[Syrilla]

I will post a picture of the gown tomorrow.

[Syrilla]

This is the gown.  The shirt is on the dress form backwards.  There is a slight train by a Godot.  The pleating is wonderful and there doesn't' seem to be a any stains or holes.  The waist is 26" so tiny!  I have a great pattern, once I enlarge it to fit me.    So, what should I call this when I try to sell it? Underwear? Summer wear?  1900's I need to study more.

Thanks for the help.

[Tygrkat]

That is LOVELY!

I am by no means an expert on Edwardian clothing, but your skirt & blouse makes me think of an ensemble I saw on a website specializing in early 1900's reproductions (and SteamPunk clothing/accessories - Thank You, Rani Zemirah!   ).

Here is a link:

http://tinyurl.com/ndlnsy

This may not be what you have exactly, but it could be a good point of reference - HTH!  


*edited to placate my anal-retentive spacing and punctuation issues*

[Syrilla]

Thank you for the link Tygrkat.  That is what I thought it was when before I got the outfit.  But now that I have it, it seems to thin and plain to be part of the Lingerie dress line.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Evening wear.

This is a pattern from Laughing Moon Mercantile that I have used for my Edwardian dresses for Day or Evening. A great pattern that can be tweaked to get a variety of looks.


Day wear

[Aunty Lou]

Wonderful!  I love old linen dresses!  Anyway, it's a little earlier than Titanic, I'd guess more of a 1890's, mid-decade.  The sleeves were narrower, then, and the waist had not begun to rise...  The godeted train makes the skirt that bell shape of the Gibson Girl era, and the fabric makes it a summer dress.  Think of it with a Nile Green ribbon around the neck, a bunch of violets at the throat, and a straw boater with ribbons floating down your neck, as you trail your hand in the water while your beau is rowing...

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

The upper part of the Edwardian Gown I made to dress as Molly Brown. With my dear friend, Franni Franken, wife of Minnesota Junior Senator, Al Franken at a fundraiser in 2007.

[Syrilla]

Aunty Lou,  it would have to have a lot underneth so as not so *ahem* show the assets.  It is almost transparent.  One reason that I thought it would be and undergown.

thank you lady K... Your pictures are lovely!

[Aunty Lou]

Oh, of course!  Layers and layers!  Let's see... drawers and chemisette, corset, corset conver,  & petticoats (2or 3).  I don't know how folks did it, in the good old summertime, without dying of the heat!