Sewing for the 1890s when you're used to the 1880s bustle silhouette is quite a change. There's no 'scaffolding' to change the shape... right? Well, sorry Shakira, but thanks to the awesome extant garment known as the Scott Hip Pad, and the loveliness of yet another stranger, my 1890s hips are definitely lying. I was… Continue reading The Scott Hip Pad
Category: Victorian
Muff Love
I have to say, I have been more than a little obsessed with muffs lately. I've wanted an excuse to make one for ages and I recently found one. I absolutely love it and hope that I have more reasons to use it while it is still winter (or a cool Spring day...) I've found… Continue reading Muff Love
The Shippensburg Bodice
A couple of years ago, thanks to Pinterest, I stumbled across a blog post about a dress held by the Shippensburg University Fashion Archives and Museum. I think it was pretty much love at first sight - there was definitely something about the bodice that made me just want to sit and look at it.… Continue reading The Shippensburg Bodice
The Coach House
In April this year, The Coach House Museum put on a Skills and Trades of Yesteryear Open Day. This sounded like a fun day out as I hadn't visited the museum and they were inviting people to dress in period dress (bribing them by holding a best-dressed competition). I already had a couple of dresses… Continue reading The Coach House
Capers on the Kapiti Coast. Part II
Last Sunday, after our steam train rides (read about those here) we drove down to Queen Elizabeth Park with plans to picnic and pay a visit to the Tramways Museum. But, even the best-laid plans can get interrupted in the most incredible way. As Liane, Hannah, Dina and I were about to discover. As we were… Continue reading Capers on the Kapiti Coast. Part II
Capers on the Kapiti Coast, Part I
When I first heard about Steam Incorporated's Kapiti Coast Express Family Fun Day I immediately thought it would be perfect for an excursion in period dress. It didn't take much convincing to get Liane on board and, as the day fell on her birthday, she also thought that it would be a fun way to… Continue reading Capers on the Kapiti Coast, Part I
The Antique Rose
There's no denying that I love the fashions of the 1880s, and I haven't always been a huge fan of the 1890s. Until my parents gave me a couple of 1890s patterns for Christmas. The next thing I knew, I was buying new books about the fashion of this new decade (The Keystone Cutter and… Continue reading The Antique Rose
The City of White Stone
No... I'm not writing about Gondor... this post is about Oamaru, that beautiful little city in Otago which annually feeds my historical costuming addiction. This beautiful city holds the Victorian Heritage Celebrations every year in November and I have been attending for nearly 10 years. Not only is it the biggest and best historical costuming… Continue reading The City of White Stone
A Mad Dash About Caccia Birch
I was really hoping to be posting about my 1890s skirt project today but, it turns out that applying and sewing about 18 metres of Russian Braid takes quite a while! Not to mention, I now have the oh-so-exciting task of hand sewing the hem facing in. So, while I can't yet write about that,… Continue reading A Mad Dash About Caccia Birch
Tea For One
A photo shoot featuring the Rose Wine Dress.
Miss Temby 