Skirt - h/a and a few other things

[LAVAGODDESSSS]

Ok, I feel like a post aholic today.

So, I said in a prev. post that we are prepping for a formal masquerade ball. Then I also said that I don't DO H/A, but I thought about it. While my stuff isn't H/A, I don't want to just completely disregard any semblance of ... well you get it.

So I have a bunch of gorgeous corsets that all have black in them. But I always wear a plain skirt (This is what I normally wear, though I only rarely pin it up):


This is what I was looking at and fell in love with (The skirt only):

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70061813/dance-all-night-skirt  I love that it has the underskirts showing.


I just bought this black skirt:

But I'm wondering if I need to tell her to make it bigger or longer if I decide to go the DIY route and get the understuff myself.

So do I have to tell her to make it bigger? And do I try to do it myself?

But I haven't seen anyone with under'things' like this at the faire (or I didn't pay attention, that happens too). Was it ever worn? Or did they just use hoops, etc.?

(PS, I know this could go into the sewing area, but...it's half and half).

What do you all think? Or do I plot down the 150 some dollars (she has a sale) and buy that skirt. *sigh*.

[gem]

I'm not really clear on what you're asking, and also, only one of your links came up (to the skirt on etsy). Can you clarify?

[isabelladangelo]

Dittoing Gem.  The skirt link that works it quite lovely, but it's 20th Century/21St Century semi formal Goth if anything.  I wore a similar outfit, in red, about 15 years ago to a Christmas ball.  Still love that dress.

There are ton of threads on skirts on the sewing side of the forum.  You might want to check out those.   

[LAVAGODDESSSS]

I'm not really clear on what you're asking, and also, only one of your links came up (to the skirt on etsy). Can you clarify?

Crap! And I spent a while finding those darn links:


This is the one I just bought (well, it is being made) and I'm not sure if I do get the crinoline skirt underneath if I have to instruct her to make it wider/bigger, etc:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77654059/black-full-length-costume-skirt

I'm asking for what normally is worn under skirts. THis is formal, so I'm not going for H/A, but I don't want to stick out too bad like a sore thumb.

I do get that that skirt is a recent modification. But I do know that in history, big full skirts are not just 21st century. I'm asking for a bit of history on what time periods and who would have worn something like that.

Thank you so much! Hope these links work.

[Betty Munro]

The description that goes with the skirt you bought says, "We make these skirts full, so you can use them with most hoop skirts."  I don't think you need to ask her to make it bigger to wear it with a crinoline.  But I am still confused.
What period / style are you going for?

[LAVAGODDESSSS]

The thing is I don't care too much about H/A. I just want to have the general idea. I don't have a time period. I was just sitting down and thinking about it, and frankly, it is mostly from ideas in my head...movies and books from when i was a child. So who knows, it could be a little odd

I see that she says things about hoops, but I have one of her skirts and I can't imagine having a hoop under it. Just doesn't seem to have enough fabric to it. Hm.

I've posted a thread in the sewing area to see if someone can help me make one.

I just want a nice full skirt to wear with my corset, elizabethan riding hat, etc. My corset couldn't be less H/A, it's a front lacing Damsel (though it is LOVELY). The skirt, I've seen plenty of full ones, I guess I just really liked the tulle underneath peaking out rather than doing a hoop.

My purpose of this was to A) find out if anyone thought it was wortht he money to pay for (I know that is subjective, but I don't know...I'm kind of tired of buying blind) and if anyone thought it'd be too ridiculous to wear to the ren faire's masquerade ball. Has anyone seen anyone at the faire wearing anything like this? (Not that that is a huge factor).

Just trying to get some opinions on it.

[Alphena Brennafax]

It seems like the look your going for is a mix of antebellum/victorian and modern gothic. The corset with the full skirt look wouldn't be specifically HA for either eras- more of mixing styles. But still lovely.

Full skirts with hoops during the civil war years




Victorian styles with the corseted style bodices

[Betty Munro]

I posted to your other thread.  I think you just want a 3 sectioned (1 & 1/2) circle skirt in a formal fabric, (taffetta?).  H/A would have silk taffetta.  Polyester taffetta is readily available in lots of colors today for a fairly reasonable price.
I think tulle is a recent addition.  I'd have to google that, but I'd guess in the last 50-100 years???  I have never seen tulle at a ren faire, but I suppose it could be hiding underneath.  If YOU like the look, do what you like.
Seems fun to me to mix it up ... an Elizabethan hat, a Victorian Corset, a Civil war era skirt with 1950's tulle.
LOVE IT.

[Lady Rebecca]

If you're planning to wear this at faire, I highly recommend against a full length tulle skirt or petticoat. It will catch twigs and leaves all over the place, and they will all get stuck in the bottom of the tulle. Tulle petticoats are also much more difficult to operate than a farthingale. You can get a very nice full look with a fathingale and bum roll. I like my Moresca farthingale, since it has enough ruffles on it that I don't need to wear a petticoat on top, but they are a little pricey.

[Betty Munro]

Oh yeah, tulle would be a weed magnet!
I think she was not only looking at the tulle for fullness, but to actually have the tulle show as an underskirt.  It might work for an indoor masquerade party, but I agree - nightmare to wear in a natural environment!

[LAVAGODDESSSS]

If you're planning to wear this at faire, I highly recommend against a full length tulle skirt or petticoat. It will catch twigs and leaves all over the place, and they will all get stuck in the bottom of the tulle. Tulle petticoats are also much more difficult to operate than a farthingale. You can get a very nice full look with a fathingale and bum roll. I like my Moresca farthingale, since it has enough ruffles on it that I don't need to wear a petticoat on top, but they are a little pricey.

I'm not a fan of the bum roll or farthingale. Sorry.   The look I'm going for cannot be achieved with either.  I have a really really long corset since I think I have an allergy to any corset that makes one's lower stomach look larger by pushing it down. :S   I like my corsets to cover my entire torso, without using tabs, etc. I think it looks lovely on many people (the shorter ones). Just not me. As for the tulle,  I wasn't using it just for the shape, but the actual look. I wear one of my skirts pinned up on the corner (kind of like I've seen ladies with the chemise straps), and to make it go from faire to masquerade ball, I figured having an underthing sticking out that was lovely would work well. I found a pic of a woman wearing a skirt with tulle underneath and fell in love, but wasn't sure if it was WAY too out there (though, that was a minor concern). Just not sure how to go about it completely. I put up a note in the sewing area, figuring maybe it would be an ok project to sew. I just am not a fan of the traditional underthings that I'm aware of. So this was multi-fold, to hear about the options (if there were any beyond the ones I knew about - hoops, farthingale, etc.) that may work better, to find out if anyone knew where to find black tulle underthings (I've found lots of white and I know someone linked to that), and to really decide if it's what I wanted.

I've had skirts that were weed magnets, but it wasn't that big of a deal.  The thing is, this is for a masquerade ball, so I won't be using it but for that. So I'm just going to do it, I think. Just curious as to where to find one in black, that is long enough.  I was hoping someone had a resource for purchasing (the one I had as an image was almost $200 !!! ) And was curious if anyone had seen it in anything historical. I see those photos provided by the lovely Alphena that it is a historic 'look' but perhaps not as historic as my ren faire. Ah well. I don't do H/A anyways since I don't wear the correct corset.

Betty & Alphena reaally really really helped me out. Thank you. And yes, now that I think about it, going to do Elizabethan hat, victorian corset, and civil war era skirt with 50's tulle, lol isn't the worst idea. I really am excited about the pieces that I think reading all the info about H/A stuff had me wondering if maybe I was bucking the system too much.  I'm grabbing my favorite pieces of the eras I think;)  Thank you Betty for posting in the other area. I think I'm going to attempt to make it. Just cannot freaking  find black tulle.

Thank you to everyone. I welcome further ideas, I really really do. This helps me not only with this project but with future projects. I think I freaked out a bit reading so much H/A emphasis that I for a moment thought I was doing something wrong.

[isabelladangelo]

So a few things:

Tulle is a 20th Century thing. 

The look you are going for is probably goth/steampunk -not Renaissance at all. 

A hoop skirt WILL give you the shape but you just want the tulle for looks -which is fine but we need this info up front.

I'm a bit confused on the money thing still.  You said you don't have enough to get your husband a new outfit in another thread -if I'm reading it correctly- but you are trying to buy a new skirt for yourself?   Because the skirt you are looking at is at least $150 in the store new.  Bespoke, I'd charge $300 because tulle is a pain to put together when you need it for fluffies.   (I love it myself for my 1950's dresses but oh my!   I hate it when I'm trying to gather it to an inside hem.)   It's a lot of money to be spending on a skirt.

Some other ideas for your husband -Jareth from Labyrinth.  This could be a fun theme for both you and your husband.   Check out some thrift stores in your area from some really neat pieces that you can dye/distress/change up.  A long velvet jacket with a "I don't wanna be a pirate" (Seinfeld) shirt shouldn't be too difficult to find for him.   You also might find a neat vintage dress or even a wedding dress (anything can be dyed) that you can change up yourself.   

I think you have a picture in your head of "I want this but I don't want to be laughed at but I'll do it anyway!"  We all get that way sometimes.     What you want is a very modern formal.  That's fine but it should be called what it is.   It seems you might have tried on some incorrect stays in the past as well.  You might be like me and just be long torsoed -which means finding a proper pair of stays/pair of bodies is next to impossible. 

Basically, before you spend too much, check out the thrift stores with an open mind.  See what they have and you might be able to snag a tulle 50's number for way cheaper than $$$.

[LAVAGODDESSSS]

Betty & Alphena have been kind enough to pretty much resolve this for me. Betty had it pinpointed, I have Elizabethan, edwardian, etc. The tulle is just a small twist on a skirt that otherwise would work with pretty much any time period.

English is not my first language, so sometimes I don't quite get out what I mean. So if there was confusion I'm sorry.

My intention was: I do not like H/A underpinnings for skirts, I have never found anything that made me excited. So while the skirt I have is H/A, the underpinnings are not. That doesn't bother me. The picture inspired me and I finally found something I think I could live with.  I was a bit nervous walking in with such a pouf beneath my skirts. But I'd be that way with a hoop too.

This is a masquerade ball (formal) at a Ren faire, so I'm not about to go buy a wedding gown from Goodwill, for instance. I have 90% of my garb ready, and it is ren wear, not goth/steampunk. Someone mentioned it is not ren at all. That isn't true, just one element of it was a bit different.

As for the money thing, the reason why I asked about this skirt is because I didn't want to shell out so much for a skirt. Normally when people come here they get all sorts of suggestions on what they are looking for. Betty and af ew others really did answer that for me. I wasn't looking for anything else.

My husband's outfit (in reference to the comment about how someone was confused how I could be 'wanting' to spend money on myself and not him) isn't quite accurate. We are very conscientious about money, as most are right now, and my husband's outfit we've been spending money on the last few years. We aren't going to totally change his. There is no need. I'm not sure where that came from. There were just a few things we are missing that I had wanted some input on.

As for the comment that I'm looking for non-Ren wear completely, that's not true. The only thing non-ren is the tulle.  And that is just a substitute for the hoop and other things. It was just finally something that coudl emulate fullness that I liked the look of. I'm not all out for H/A, but I am not going for a gothic look of today. There is a way to pullf rom different times and not be modern. I've no inkling to buy all new things, I have some, just was looking for some input on this one piece. I really don't want to go to goodwill and find a whole new outfit. 

Anyways, I'm grateful for everyone' help. My intention has been fulfilled. I have no idea about some things, fabrics, etc. and wanted an idea from the knowledgeable masses as to what it takes to make something like this (maybe to explain the price), ideas for where to find an alternative that is still similar, and some other feedback to try to stay in budget.

So thank you everyone who got me in the right direction!

[Betty Munro]

Thanks for the shout out.    Glad I could help.  I still struggle with a lot of sewing issues myself and for what little I have really nailed down I'm quite happy to share. 
I learned some new info on this thread too, thanks to all the posters! 

Please please please post pictures of your finished outfit.  I would love to see the concept image realized.  I struggled with posting my own pictures on the forum boards, but have finally figured it out.  I have a photobucket account dedicated just to that purpose, so PM me if you need help posting the photo. 

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I have a hoop skirt (farthingale) and also a bridal crinoline slip that I bought at Goodwill for $6 or $7.  It was for under a bridal dress.  I wear either one for faire, depending on what I'm wearing and what kind of shape I want to have.

The hoop makes things go out and stay out round.  The crinoline gives a little fullness, but it moves and swishes when you walk, so it is not 1 continuous bell shape like the hoop skirt.

Nobody has ever said anything to me as to what is under my skirt.  No one sees it, and it's none of their business!

When I read your original post, this seemed to me to be the question you were asking.  If I got it wrong, then I apologize.  By the way, the skirt is very pretty, and I like it a lot, but it's rather pricey at $175.