Eye candy for 1920s fashion fans

I recently had a chance to see couple of episodes of an Australian TV series "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries", in which the Honorable (and sassy) Phryne Fisher solves murders and crimes in the 1920s Melbourne, Australia. The series is based on Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher Murder Mystery novels.
Although I've never been much of a fan of crime series or novels, I confess that I do like Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple both on the page and on TV. Miss Fisher is of the similar stock, but with a slightly lighter and fashionable twist. I think the episodes are well written and the set design and the costumes are true to the period.



    



Pictures from the ABC TV web site, no copyright infringement intended.

It's strange, really, the 20s fashion seems to be an acquired taste; I didn't really use to like it before (except the hats and the shoes), but now after a lot of exposure I've begun to see what's so great about the twenties style. I still adore the hats and the shoes, and the gorgeous fabrics and embroideries are another thin.

So, if you have a chance, I recommend  Miss Fisher, even if it's only for the fabulous clothes :)

Bath, are you ready?

Let's begin with a massive beret. I finally found fabric for (unintentional alliteration, I better stop before it gets ridiculous...) a beret (phew!) that matches the pelisse. When I say matches, I don't mean it's exactly the same colour or even purple because that's just too matchy-matchy for my taste. That's what always bothered me with the bicorn hat, it's purpleness and too closely matching colour. So, a long story short, I found nice rosy satin, not too shiny or artificial looking and the colour looks very nice with the pelisse.
The beret has no particular pattern, I cut a circular piece, ca. 60cm in diameter, a headband that fits my head, pleated and sewed the beret piece on the headband, added lining, and folded the headband lenghtwise and sewed the edge. The feathers aren't sewn on, because I use them with other hats and headwear as well. Some photos of the whole get-up:

I have to adjust the feathers, they're not drooping the way I intended.

I kind of like the chemisette with the collar open like this as well

 There's my promenade costume all finished; can't believe that the Jane Austen Festival is less than a month away!

I've also been sewing some 18th century things. This was my first attempt at robe à l'Anglaise and at first it seemed that I had managed to fail spectacularly at it. I had cut the back too  long but luckily I was able to shorten it from the neck edge and now it looks the way it should. I still need to attach the sleeves and the trimming but the biggest part of it is done.
The pattern for the gown came from the Costume Close-Up by Linda Baumgarten. You know, the pink Williamsburg anglaise. I followed the pattern and the instructions quite closely and I like the result.
Note, this is NOT a pink gown. When I started sewing historical clothes I swore that I'd never make anything pink because that's just too cute and girly and just not my thing. I don't wear pink, period. So this gown, however it may appear, is not pink. the fabric has narrow red and white stripes and this makes it look, well, pink. But it's not :)

I want to make a white petticoat to go with this gown.

I really like the polonaise effect here. There are tapes on the inside of the skirt which are tied together to lift the hem.

See? Not pink.

Who am I kidding. It's pink. :P

 

An event post!

Today I had a chance to go to an actual event, and not 40km from where I live! I had a lovely day at the 18th century fair in Isokyrö, thanks to lovely musicians of the old music band Muskotti, fabulous costumers and re-enactors from Tampere and a campful of assorted soldiers. The pictures aren't that fantastic, but there was music, dancing and just perfect weather and beautiful scenery. There was a big battle between Sweden (Finland belonged to Sweden at the time) and Russia during the Great Northern war (1700-1721) and that's why they have the fair in Isokyrö.

Thus endeth the history lecture. Some pictures below.

Old music band Muskotti

This little girl went around the fair ground on stilts hour after hour

Assorted soldiers doing  demo with cannons

There was a big BANG and then smoke

Kyrö River

In the stocks

Fair grounds and the old Medieval church of Isokyrö, from ca. 1513

Picnicing

Tarot reading

Me at the church door

The clothes were very comfortable, even the new chinoiserie stays held up very nicely. The jacket is my version of the Swallow tail jacket and I made the cap yesterday

There were many 19th century graves in the church garden

The soldiers' funny hats

Muskotti playing dance tunes for us

The stays after I took them off tonight :)