My Victorian Costume

[beware_the_sluagh]

I wanted to post something in the gallery and I thought this wouldn't count, but the sub-text says "creativity" and this would count as creative I think.
The bodice needs boning in it. Then it wouldn't be wrinkled
The yellow insert isn't actually how I had planned it, but it isn't often that things turn out how I plan or imagine them
There are some beads on the yellow skirt at the front, but it needs more, which will also hold the pleats in a bit better. Also, I brushed against an exhaust pipe and the side-back of the skirt had black stuff all over it so we had to pin the blue skirt so it kept covering it (on the side in the photo) and the top blue skirt was slightly too long and got stood on pulling out one of the gathering threads making it hang down on that side and then it got run over thoroughly with a pram and got bitumen or whatever makes the surface of the road on the bottom of it along with a lot of dirt and then we had to pin that up too. I'd also transported it in the car, got it slightly crushed and then worn it for 3 hours in what I consider hot weather, by the time the pictures were taken.

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ME!!

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My Darling! I didn't make anything in his costume, but he looks very cute

[SomethingElse]

Wow, that's pretty amazing. How long in all did it take you to make?

Your husband looks very smart, even if you didn't make the costume. Dapper, indeed!

[beware_the_sluagh]

Thank you Benji
I'm not sure how long it took to make unfortunately - everyone always asks that question with these things so I really should keep a note of it. It was very intermittent so it is too hard to say.
I know that the two blue skirts took about 5 hours or something altogether - not very long. The yellow one took ages because of the pleating - I think the pleating (ironing and tacking it to hold it while I did other stuff to it) took ~5 hours, then there is a lining and waistband, weird stuff at the top at the back to make it less bulky and it was generally a bit of a pain to do. The bodice took ages because I had to make the pattern (well, I made all the patterns but skirts are not much to do - just rectangles) and it didn't fit too well and there was lots of hand sewing and I had to do the sleeves twice, etc, etc. I really want to get more efficient at this stuff. I lose a lot of time because I do things without much planning.

Men often look so gorgeous in this kind of clothing! We bought the hat while we were there (it was very sunny - blinding - and fairly hot).
He is growing facial hair because it is "Movember". I don't know if you have this anywhere else (probably not), but the "Mo" bit is short for "moustache" and it started of that men grew a "mo" for "Movemeber" with the purpose of the whole thing being raising awareness of prostate cancer. Now people get sponsored to grow one and the money goes to prostate cancer research charity. But lots of men just like to grow one anyway for this month, even if they don't donate money, or they just sponsor themselves for $20 or something. But it's an excellent idea because it is about men taking responsibility for their own health and learning about prostate cancer so it is found earlier, even if no money is donated to research into it. So there we go. It is a clever, creative and funny way to deal with something no one wants to talk about.

[SomethingElse]

How did you learn to make clothes/costumes?

I was in a school production of The Matchgirls and we had to dress in Victorian style (although we were poor matchgirls so it was all skirts and aprons instead of fancy clothes) and I thought my boyfriend looked adorable (even though he was also working class so dressed in shabby clothes). It's those kinds of things that make me wish I was male. They get the better clothes, damnit!

[Sophist]

WOW, you really look like you should be part of a Sherlock Holmes story or something.

[Aspen]

You and your darling look lovely.

That is an amazing costume.

[beware_the_sluagh]

How did you learn to make clothes/costumes?

I was in a school production of The Matchgirls and we had to dress in Victorian style (although we were poor matchgirls so it was all skirts and aprons instead of fancy clothes) and I thought my boyfriend looked adorable (even though he was also working class so dressed in shabby clothes). It's those kinds of things that make me wish I was male. They get the better clothes, *dam*!

I've been looking for pictures of Victorian women dressed as men or in masculine-styled clothing because I thought that would be a more interesting variation. Plus then I could wear a cool hat! Like a tophat or something.
Even now, men can dress up in formal clothes (suits and stuff) and look smart, whereas women... the only "formal" clothes are like evening dresses or something. There isn't any everyday stuff.

I learnt (am learning!) to sew clothes and costumes from doing (half of it doesn't work out), getting some tips from general sewing books, and stuff off the internet. The stuff off the internet though... that is more like research for what to do rather than how to do it. I probably pick up more stuff from the web than I realise though. General sewing books are good for finding out how to put zips in or the best way to attach pockets or whatever. I have some books that give information on "fitting" also, and also pattern-making. Both of which are kind of tricky; they would be perfectly and completely logical though, if only I could work out the logic. People seldom give sewing information in terms of logic though; most sewers seem to be highly illogical people. The people in the class I go to once a week (I don't learn much there, but it is fun) for a certificate in fashion are all idiots really. Well, there were a few people last semester that were clever, but this semester no one has shown any evidence of being able to think. I don't care that they are "arty" and "creative" - if they can't measure some lines and then use a ruler to make a right-angle, or follow ONE verbal instruction supported by written material, an explanation and a demonstration, I don't think they will get very far.