Nahant 2015

I'm realizing I have old pictures I never put up. These are a couple from Nahant... I don't have a lot of pictures of that, but Julia and I did awesome matching hair and blue and white outfits.

Formal Tea

The next big dressing occassion was formal tea. I wore an old (but still beloved) project - my lavender and white striped trained skirt. Then I made a brand new hat to go with it, covered in rose velvet with a giant blue shot pink silk bow on top. Unfortunately, I failed to pack the intended blouse, but I made due with what I had. I lent Julia my even more fabulous black and white trained skirt. They are made from the same pattern, but I installed an enormous thick and wide black ruffle in that one, which really makes the train look fabulous. I think I either need to do the same for the lavender and white skirt, or maybe I can get away with making a really fantastic petticoat. Either way, I better get on that. I also made Julia wear a fabulous three plumed hat I made, even though it freaked her out when the wind kept blowing them. Mother wore a lovely linen skirt with pretty flanges (they look really good in motion), and I trimmed a hat for her at the last minute with pretty yellow striped silk and a plume of ostrich feathers I dyed orange.

Fabulous skirts

And more!

Matching skirts, but hers looks better

Nice hat, Mother

This landscaped pond is easily the prettiest thing on campus

I couldn't pick a favorite

Protect the hat!

Pretty pretty

Nice hat on Adrian, too.

Walking home, looking silly...

The New Velvet Hat "The Shirley"

With so many Titanic events coming up, everyone knows it is all about the hats. I love this 1910 advertisement, because it shows how much of a difference your hat-trimming can make. In fact, you could find or make just one hat, preferably in black velvet, with a modest crown and brim, then tack up one side of the brim. Now you can slap on a flower or a bow and have a different hat for every event you attend!

Hat, Not a Hat

Today we're going to play a fun little game. I have no idea who this girl is or why there are so many fabulous pictures of her in spectacular hats, but I think it is wonderful. I am personally suffering from an excess of hat inspiration at the moment, so I understand that hats make us do stupid things. I also understand that some Edwardian hats are just dumb looking (but delightfully so!). Nonetheless, I think you will have to agree with me that not all of these really count as hats. Are you ready to play? It's time for, "HAT or NOT A HAT!"


Excuse me, Miss, but you appear to be wearing a bundt pan on your head!

Hat of Grapes

I have finally gotten around to watching Downton Abbey. I've heard incredible things about the hats, so I was watching for them. In fact, there was not one hat that I adored or that particularly inspired me, but I do love the variety and quantity of them. One hat that struck me in particular is this one, not because I think it is pretty (or even un-stupid), but because it reminds me very much of an original in the Met costume collection. See for yourself.

Seaside Tea Dance at the Rotunda

I should have posted this back when I was doing all the Newport stuff, but I misplaced the pictures. Here they are! This was another afternoon event at the Newport Vintage Dance Week, and it was quite lovely. The Rotunda ballroom had beautiful views of the sea, we danced, and then we rode on the carousel and danced some more!

Formal Tea at Linden Place

For a spiffy afternoon event, check out these pictures of Wednesday's Formal Tea at Linden Place. Also, we had a trolley drive us from the school to the place. Neat. I wore my (newly completely ruffled!) lavender and white striped trained skirt, and a new hat. Julia wore a matching hat, and mother made her a brand new and super amazing pink eyelet skirt, all coated in tucks and pleats and lovely details. It is really super spiffy. While you look at the pictures, be sure to note my strange hobby of jumping into low trees while wearing trained skirts (Look! It's me in a tree!), and the cute boar statue. I liked him.

Truely Completed Hat

A while ago I made that hat with the pink woosh on the crown and the pink ruched underside. But the poor thing was still aching for more trim! "I need flowers!" it cried.
So what do you think?

New Plaid Silk Hugenot Skirt and Temporary Hat

Plans just didn't work out today. First, we were going to go to a birthday party picnic for a friend in Boston. A medical situation canceled the picnic. Then we thought we would go to a different event, but it started raining. Not wanting to ruin the lovely new skirt I had just finished, I didn't want to wear it out in the rain, so we canceled those plans too. Bummer.

On the other hand, I had a delightfully productive morning because of these potential plans. I finished this new plaid Hugenot skirt. I started it on Wednesday, finished cutting pieces on Thursday, completely assembled it Friday, and then woke up to throw together a hat to match! Remember how into Tissot and the Tissot-bow-hat I am. Well, this is made from scraps, and I intend to re-do it later and do it more justice. But for 20 minutes work, not bad at all.I also, this morning, put most of the eyelets (I couldn't find enough! Boo hoo!) into this gorgeous blue plaid silk Edwardian corset I made. It's been sitting around, finished except for eyelets, beautiful but totally unwearable, for ages. Now it can be worn, and I am inspired to add the last four eyelets soon! So please enjoy the pretty pictures and forgive the slight weirdness of the lacing... I just adore the shape of this corset. The pretty swoops over the hips are so pretty. It is a Past Patterns pattern... check out that company for some lovely things.

Titus Sparrow Park, and a New Hat

Today I did a dance performance with the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers. Some very nice gentleman donated the money for a beautiful fence to be put up around this park. It is very lovely, so admire the fence.To celebrate the new fence, there was a dramatic and lovely opening event, and the organizers hired us to do a dance performance. There were lots of other things going on as well - antique bicycles, horse and carriage rides, Louisa May Alcott - but the main event was a large orchestra playing Strauss music, which was just wonderful to listen to.

For the event (which I took very few pictures of, apologies), I decided that I needed to trim a new hat. So last night, I pulled out a random scrap of obnoxiously slippery pink fabric, and plain straw hat, and did this to it!
And here is the outfit as a whole, if you were curious.