I thought I would start working on the most time-consuming project
first, and the Edwardian ensemble is going to take quite some time. Maybe not
in construction, but definitely in research, as I haven’t done anything
in this era before.
The project will be called the "Estes Dress."
My inspiration is Estes Park, founded in the early twentieth
century and located less than an hour from where I live. The Stanley Hotel (yes, that Stanley Hotel)
was finished in 1909, and the Estes Park Theatre, the oldest-operating movie theater in
the western United States, was completed in 1913. I'm digging the color scheme of these buildings, and will probably replicate the colors and some architectural motifs in my design.
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| The Stanley Hotel via enjoyestespark.com |
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| Estes Park Theatre via historicparktheatre.com |
I’m aiming for a 1913
silhouette, and need to make an entire set of foundation garments, a dress, a
hat, and need to find suitable shoes.
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| Loving the far right silhouette (via tuppencehapenny.co.uk) |
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| Foundation silhouettes by year (via dentellesetmacramees.wordpress.com) |
First, I’ll start on my foundation garments, of which I am a little intimidated. I have two corset patterns at my disposal: the 1911 corset
on page 86 of Waugh’s Corsets and
Crinolines, and the 1914 corset on page 87 of Salen’s Corsets. The 1917 Austerity corset on page 91 of Salen’s book is
also very similar in silhouette to both of the earlier examples, so that may be
an option as well. The desired shape (though there were slight modifications year by year) was a svelte, willowy figure with a minimized waist to hip ratio. As I am super hippy (13" w/h difference), I hope I don't end up looking boxy and/or like a sausage. Fingers crossed on this, guys.
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| 1911 corset via Corsets and Crinolines page 86 |
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| 1914 corset via Corsets page 86 |
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| 1917 corset via Corsets page 91 |
For the chemise, I may augment the Edwardian Underthings pattern from
Folkwear Patterns, or I may just fudge one from scratch.
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| image via pinterest |
I am quite hesitant to venture into this time period, as the fashion called for underbust corsets, and that freaks me out for some reason. I think I would feel awkward even with several layers over my chemise, though a bust improver or early brassiere might help.
Until next time!
Meg
