Just a reminder for anyone who doesn't already know, that the Metropolitan Museum of Art puts many of their publications online; some with fully-downloadable text! Go to this link to search for your favorite textiles topics, like
The Age of Napoleon: Costume from Revolution to Empire, 1789–1815.
As I mentioned last time I am working on a version of the outfit to the left for an event coming up soon in July. I wanted something with a hat to shade my face, and not too hot since we are going to be outside in the middle of a Virginian summer. The fabric gods were not kind, when I went to my local fabric stores. There was really nothing in the right weight, color, pattern, fiber, or amount; especially the amount since I need about 8 yards for the undergown and 10 yards for the overdress. Part of the problem is that there are no waist seams, so each piece has to be cut from a long continuous length of material. Also, those sleeves are about four yards by themselves. I resigned myself to ordering online, which I hate doing because it's so hard to be sure of the color etc without seeing it in person, and by the time the fabric arrives often there just isn't time to send it back and get something else. I went first to an oldie, but a goodie; Thai silks. I knew they would...
The wonders of the web, at its best the most fabulous resource.
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My pleasure, I'm glad you found it useful.
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