Amphorae

Just married and heading out on our honeymoon! Before I go though, I promised the Dreamstress a while ago on the Russian Grand Duchesses  post that I would show photos of my wedding dress, so here are a couple taken by our guests. See you all in ten days!

My heart and my prayers go out to the people of Norway. I was at Virginia Tech during the shooting there several years ago, but I can only imagine the grief and shock they must be experiencing at this time. This is the very meaning of tragedy.

I hope you will all forgive me if I am absent for a week or two. I am getting married on Friday and will then be off to the Mediterranean for my honeymoon. When I return the mad sewing of many projects begins, so I promise you lots of photos and research will resume. Wish me luck!

 This is what, as a costumer, inspires me to always strive to be better. The fact that people like Ninya Mikhaila  can so accurately reproduce works that they look almost indistinguishable from original paintings and extant garments.  I stand in awe of her talents, so I thought I'd share her website with you so that you may go drool over the many fine works that she, and her coworkers, hath wrought. Wish you could make these garments as well? You are in luck! She is also the co-author, with Jane Malcolm-Davies, of a wonderful book called The Tudor Tailor , which I very highly recommend. You want patterns? It has them. Want to know what colours were most in demand by what strata of society in England in the 16th century? Check. Want to see all of the layers and how they were worn together in various combinations. Check. Want to ooh and aaah over really pretty costumes and accessories. It's got you covered. Plus links, how-tos, history, research, sizing, and more. ...

There is an entire series of Austen novels/films set in the Regency, and plenty in the mid-late Victorian era, but one period of time that gets less attention is the 1830s. Maybe this is because the balloon sleeves and elaborate hairstyles lend themselves more to parody than romance, but in the series Wives and Daughters the BBC manages to balance style and accuracy within character and image in a way that is very appropriate. The series is based on a novel which was published in England as a serial between 1864 and 1866. In it a young girl by the name of Molly visits the home of the local nobility with some family friends and is accidentally left behind. The family takes pity on her and sends her to rest in the room of the former governess, Miss Clare. The governess forgets about Molly, but her father, a country doctor, arrives to get her. Fast forward seven years and Molly is a young woman entirely devoted to her father. Her father, Dr. Gibson, is encouraged by local gossips ...

Recollections  is a web-based store featuring ready-made costumes from the Regency to the Roaring 20s, in a variety of style for day and evening and in a wide array of fabrics. One of the theaters I work for used pieces from them for a show and we were well pleased. It arrived looking just like the photo, was sturdily-made, and the price was good for our never-quite-enough budget. Best of all, it integrated well with the intricate and well-researched costumes that we had made and borrowed from some of the best costume sources on the east coast. I love their hats and accessories, and you can expect to find virtually anything  from underpinnings to pocketwatches, mourning clothing to parasols. I should mention that their menswear section is a lot smaller, but still well-made and priced. When I am next putting together a costume, especially a Victorian one, I will be revisiting their site.