Dames a la Mode

New Shoes from American Duchess!

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:58:02 -0500

I am SOOOOO excited about the new shoes from American Duchess! Not only are these historically accurate, but they are so damn cute! Can’t wait to wear them around the office! I’m getting the brown, but I’m tempted to get a pair of the white and paint them some lovely color!

As you may have noticed, I haven’t been on tumblr much in...

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 18:15:00 -0500

As you may have noticed, I haven’t been on tumblr much in quite some time. Unfortunately my new job no longer allows the time to curate the ole blog anymore, but I have been keeping up with my millinery. Another adventure I’ve embarked on is seeking out historically appropriate ribbons to use with my bonnets and hats and to provide them for other costumers and reenactors. Here are some of the offerings available in my Etsy shop. I hope you’ll keep me in mind if you are looking for vintage and historic ribbons!

Dames a la Mode on Etsy

Cabinet des Modes, April 1786.

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 23:25:40 -0400

Cabinet des Modes, April 1786.

Cabinet des Modes, February 1786.

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 23:23:02 -0400

Cabinet des Modes, February 1786.

Bonne d’Enfant, The Workers of Paris, 1824, by Georges...

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:16:32 -0400

Bonne d’Enfant, The Workers of Paris, 1824, by Georges Gatine.

The Nanny. Great detailing in this one- make sure you click through for the big version!

Gallery of Fashion, March 1798.

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:25:27 -0400

Gallery of Fashion, March 1798.

ellysnowe: Fashion plate.Le Follet. Courrier des...

Tue, 22 May 2012 10:46:00 -0400

ellysnowe:

Fashion plate.
Le Follet. Courrier des Salons.
Probably circa 1840.

Elly Snowe’s private collection.

ellysnowe: Fashion plate.Le Follet. Probably circa 1840. Elly...

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:40:42 -0400

ellysnowe:

Fashion plate.
Le Follet.
Probably circa 1840.

Elly Snowe’s private collection.

ptp-rlc: Fashion plate originally published in La Belle...

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:31:13 -0400

ptp-rlc:

Fashion plate originally published in La Belle Assembleé issue no 26 of the New Series on 1 November, 1814. National Museums of Scotland.

The Follies and Fashions of our Grandfathers, June 1807. What a...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:10:18 -0400

The Follies and Fashions of our Grandfathers, June 1807.

What a magnificent cloak! Yellow on yellow is a great combination and such a striking color! (Also: He’s hot)

loquaciousconnoisseur: Emma, Lady Hamilton, dancing the...

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:46:05 -0400

loquaciousconnoisseur:

Emma, Lady Hamilton, dancing the tarantella

by William Lock & Mariano Bovi, London, 1796

Not a fashion plate, but too gorgeous to pass by…

A request...

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:06:05 -0400

Hi folks, I have a request. If you pin one of the fashions plates I post on pinterest, PLEASE make sure that you carryover the title of the publication and the date. I keep seeing a lot of my fashion plates without the details, and while they do link back to the source, I don’t think people should have to take the extra step to see what they are looking at. Dates and sources are incredibly important for folks doing research, so let’s not make it harder for them to find the information they need.

Thanks!

Taylor

Now here’s a picture of me making a funny face in a historic costume:

Gallery of Fashion, July 1798. Another yellow court gown. May...

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:53:26 -0400

Gallery of Fashion, July 1798.

Another yellow court gown. May I take a moment to point out the most epic feather in the history of feathers.

La Belle Assemblee, Dress of the Court of France, 1819. Another...

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:31:03 -0400

La Belle Assemblee, Dress of the Court of France, 1819.

Another beautiful court gown as an apology. I don’t typically like yellow very much, but this is such a bright and cheery color that I can forgive it!

Gallerie des Modes, 1781. My apologies for my lack of posts,...

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:28:58 -0400

Gallerie des Modes, 1781.

My apologies for my lack of posts, readers. My new job is frying my brain. I come home and can barely put a coherent sentence together, so tumblin’ is dropping off the to-do list. I’ll try harder.

As an apology, here are some magnificent court gowns!

cuppa-darjeeling said: Thank you for the expeditious reply! I honestly didn’t mean to set it on...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:58:03 -0400

cuppa-darjeeling said: Thank you for the expeditious reply! I honestly didn’t mean to set it on anonymous! LOL. I most certainly will keep you updated. I’m glad it’s so much cheaper than my 1770s fabric allotment.

Yes! That is the best thing about doing early 19th century after spending a decade in the 18th century! So much cheaper! Also, if you aren’t following the Dames a la Mode Facebook Page, some of my readers over there have offered advice as well! Take a gander!

Hello! Generally speaking, how much fabric is needed for an 1812 period day gown? I'm looking to make something none too flashy, or over the top for a camp follower impression. I'm a good deal shorter than most at 4'6, but I have a feeling my girth would make up for the height discrepancy as far as amount of fabric is concerned. Thank you for your time, Lilly

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:08:23 -0400

I tend to purchase 4 yards of fabric for a standard 1812 gown. If it is narrow (45”) or if there is a stripe or some other type of pattern to preserve I will usually err on the side of too much. Four yards is usually plenty, and I am 5’6, so a full foot taller than you are. It will also depend on the fullness of your skirt, but if you are going to a basic campfollower gown, then you’ll probably be just fine with 3-4 yards. If you are new to sewing and you are worried about making mistakes, just get an extra yard. Spending a little bit more is worth it if it means you don’t have to worry about cutting something incorrectly!

Keep me updated! I’d love to see what you are creating!

Gallery of Fashion, July 1796. The green gown is a gorgeous...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:30:54 -0400

Gallery of Fashion, July 1796.

The green gown is a gorgeous color, and what an unusual bonnet she has!

The Follies and Fashions of our Grandfathers, Morning Dresses,...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:16:52 -0400

The Follies and Fashions of our Grandfathers, Morning Dresses, August 1807.

Oooh! What a lovely parasol!

I bid a teary farewell to Titanic and her passengers…

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 23:50:15 -0400

I bid a teary farewell to Titanic and her passengers…