Regency Wheat Sheaf Fever

I think wheat sheaves are super pretty. So imagine my delight at finding all these fabulous fashion plates which use wheat as decoration! Whether you stick it in your hair or on your bonnet, what a lovely accessory. Some of these are obviously a little late to call regency, but oh well. I am very inspired to incorporate a wheat motif into a regency ensemble.

1830 Fancy Dress Mystery

This is an 1830 La Belle Assemblee fashion plate. It clearly states that these are fancy dress outfits (and indeed, I would believe nothing else). BUT WHAT ARE THEY? Gosh, I wish I knew. What do you think?

Crazy Ribbon and Cross Necklace

First I found this cool La Belle Assemblee fashion plate of a girl in an armlet, with this super-funky necklace. It looks like a ribbon loop, joined at a heart, with a hanging ribbon and a cross at the end. Weird and interesting. Then I found another fashion plate from the next month, with the same odd necklace. I thought that perhaps it was just a weird July-August of 1825 trend. But then I found another necklace that looks really similar from July 1829. So... cool! I guess if I find a big cross I should make one some time.

An 1825 Armlet

Ooh, look! Another armlet! This is a 1925 La Belle Assemblee fashion plate, thanks to the Los Angles Public Library. They have an incredible database available for you to check out. I wonder how popular armlets were and how long they were around for. Interestingly, this one appears to be to be a single armlet, but she is also wearing a pair of bracelets. Interesting interesting. I always feel like bracelets should come in pairs, so I was all ready to believe the same of armlets, but I guess it is more complex an issue than that. Also, that is one seriously fascinating necklace. This girl has got some wild taste in jewelry.If you are behind on the armlet saga, check out this post.

Modes Revolutionnaires, Paris, Sept. 1789

How fun! I've been going through a big Scarlet Pimpernel phase, and reading a book about fashion in the french revolution. In honor of that, I bring you this very cool plate courteosy of the New York Public Library.

A Women's Regency Garrick

This is from Journal des Dames et des Modes 1817, and is an illustration of a "garrick." It is the same concept as the men's coats I've been posting (here and here), except that this one would look cute on me! I kind of love it. In fact, I could probably have been calling those garricks too, but I'm not sure how common the word is (since I haven't run across it until now), and "overcoat" is good enough for me. I can't count the cape layers confidently, since they are just too fine and delicate, but I think there are at least 5. I have no immediate plans to sew one of these, but now I kind of want one of my own...
A reminder, for comparison:

My Philosophy of Steampunk Dress

Robin asked me some questions (in response to my bustle posts) so good that I thought I would handle this in an actual post. Of course, then I didn't get around to actually posting it. Mostly, let us boil this question down to "What is Steampunk (in terms of clothing)?" First, a disclaimer: Steampunk is often about do-it-yourself-ness (and then sometimes it isn't!), and there is huge variation in how the term is used. Anyone can call something Steampunk, so I dare not claim to be an expert on what Steampunk is. Instead, I present my vision of what Steampunk should be.
The theory of Steampunk that I support is an alternative history, where steam technology in the 19th century allowed for incredible machinery and futuristic technology to develop beyond what happened in reality. In my mind, then, Steampunk is a best-parts version of history (usually the 1870-80s to be extra specific, but I count anything in the 19th century as fair game) with a heavy dose of science and machinery thrown in. In terms of clothing, then, my favored approach is to start with something legitimately 19th century, then make it in a strange fabric or add science-y or mechanical details. A bustle dress plus goggles says you are a 19th century woman... who might also build incredible steam machines. A tailcoat plus a mechanical arm means you are a 19th century gentleman... who lost his arm in battle and now sports an incredible steam-powered killing machine in its place.
I say there are two basic options. You could go heavy on the technology, building fantastical theoretical steam machines to wear or amazing metal and leather accoutrement. Personally, I am not talented in this area, so unless I want to buy things (check out Brute Force Leather for some great examples of this approach), I will never look truly stunning. The second option, more within my grasp, is to do the 19th century well with an amazing and mostly accurate ensemble, then accessorize and branch out with things that are not accurate. I personally love the idea of having a great 19th century dress which is historically accurate to wear to a ball, but which is fun enough to wear for Steampunk. One outfit, with a multitude of opportunities for wearing it. On the other hand, I also like how friendly Steampunk is, with its lack of rules (despite everything I have just said).
So, in direct response to Robin, I see two ways to use the bustles I had collected pictures of. One is to wear them correctly, under appropriate clothes, for the 1870s-1880s silhouette. You may stop there, or accessorize with fantastical or mechanical or scientific accessories. The other way is to wear them inappropriately for the 19th century, because for steampunk that is OK. For example, you could wear an exposed bustle, which would be scandalous and inappropriate in the real 19th century, but might be quite reasonable in your Steampunk alternative history. You might be an Airship Pirate, with an eye towards fashion but unable to wear long skirts while climbing in the rigging of your steam-powered war-zeppelin. You might be a Steampunk Saloon Girl, scantly clad while you serve drinks to rowdy scientists and mechanics. Perhaps you are a well-bred 19th century lady, but you've taken to a life of Steampunk adventures and so you do whatever you please, which happens to be walking around in your underwear (after all, a chemise, corset, and bustle can be fairly presentable). Who is to stop you?
So some steampunk clothes have little to do with history, while some are close cousins of 19th century clothing. My heart belongs to the 19th century, so for me Steampunk is a just a nice outlet to do things that are "wrong" for real history (like make a pattern-test dress out of shiny synthetic polyester). For other people Steampunk is an ever-evolving concept, completely separate from its initial Victorian inspirations. I have told you what I like , but I do not mean to suggest that is the only way - just my favorite.
Regardless, if any of this spoke to you, you should probably come to the Technocrat's Ball in Porter Square this Saturday. Hit your closet, pull out something cool, and wear it proudly. After all, all it really takes to be Steampunk is attitude.

A Fancy Dress Fashion Plate

October means Halloween, and Halloween means costumes. But because my whole life is costumes, this has got to mean something a little more specific. Right now, I am very in the mood for some pretty fancy dress pictures. Of course, I haven't got any time while I am at school for sewing (too busy with physics... bleh!). But that won't stop me from getting some pretty pictures! Here is a cute fashion plate, then.

American Hats, Spring 1902

Now, you are absolutely sure that "milliner" is no longer a viable career option, right?

Check out the really cool hat with the bow and trailing ruffles in the back. Neat. This is from the Claremont Colleges Digital Library where they have a fashion plate collection. Cool.