1830's Day Dress: A New Project

The 1830s is an often looked over decade from what I've observed. It was smooshed between the unique fashion of the Regency era and the iconic looks of the Victorian era. However, due to this smooshing between two very distinct eras of fashion history, we arrive with a sort of concoction which takes favoured elements of the previous decade and new elements that will soon evolve into the iconic look of the following decade. It has a chaotic feeling to it which really drew me in.

It was the TV show, Gentleman Jack, which first introduced me to this decade. I think almost everyone -At least from what I've seen - can agree that the costumes in this show are beautiful. At the time when I started to plan this dress, I was watching this show for a second time. As it seems with a lot of other costumers, I fell in love this Marian's first dress in the show. I did a lot of research, coming across the original inspiration for the dress - an original dress from 1830, currently at the Met. I also found out where the fabric for Marian's dress was from but unfortunately, it was no longer stocked. I decided at that point to take influence from both dresses. I brought some silk fabric with a design that I thought appeared as if it was in the same family as the other dress' fabric... then it sat for a couple of months while I worked on my RALF.

About a month ago while reading through a book my grandmother had written on her father, I came across this portrait of my four times great grandmother, Rebecca Alexander. My personal family history was of the main reasons I started costuming. I wanted to know more about them and their lives. For me, wearing what they wore is how I do that. So my excitement was through the roof when I found this portrait. It was at that moment that I know I had to change my design. My dress was going to look like Rebecca's but with the silk fabric to incorporate the Gentleman Jack influence. 

This is an important costume for me. On both sides of my family's linage, my roots go back to Scotland. My Great Grandmother, Inga, arrived in New Zealand only knowing how to speak Gaelic. I am learning Gaelic now as it helps me understand my heritage better. I love learning about the people who came before me. I didn't know much before about two years ago, but since I've been learning, I feel so much more connected with my family. To make a garment based on something my ancestors wore makes me feel like I can walk in their shoes and understand how moved within their time. 

This costume will be my second one for my application to Toi Whakaari's Costume Construction Diploma.

For this project I need to make:

• A shift
• Stays
• A corded petticoat
• Sleeve puffs
• The dress
• A pelerine
• A bonnet hat

I have already finished some of these things and will try to put out blog posts about them in the next couple of weeks.

I will be using a couple of different patterns from different companies which I will attach when I put out the posts on individual items. I will also be drafting the stays myself which will be an exciting adventure into the unknown.

Since working with silk thread, I have fallen in love with it and will continue to use it for this project. 

Anyway, let's get into it! Time to cut some fabric!

I'll talk to you soon. Have a swell day!

-Maysie