You know, those corded, lightly boned, white and embroidered contraptions.
I had my doubts before taking up this project, since I had tried out the 1820s pattern in Norah Waugh's Corsets and Crinolines a couple of years ago, falling on my face rather spectacularly with it. So many things were wrong with that project, from fabric choice to fit. So you'd think I had learned something. Apparently not.
I'm not going to show the second version to anyone, let alone post any pictures here, so just take my word for it, it's not pretty. Or well, parts of it are pretty (like the embroidery), but the fit is still wrong and weird, the cording pattern turned out annoyingly asymmetrical and it's very clear, and the stupid fabric which at first seemed like a good choice, stretched in odd places during the sewing and the cording. To top it off, I foolishly thought I could pull off trying my own pattern, but how wrong I was.
I think I might try to fix this some day when I'm not so annoyed and frustrated with it, but for now I've hidden it in the sewing cupboard and decided not to look at it for a very long time.
The primary reason for trying to make those wretched stays was that I wanted to finally make an 1830s dress. In retrospect the stays were all wrong, however much the museums and costume researchers try to convince me that these stays were worn with the 1830s dresses. I mean really. Stays with straps, when your dress has a low, almost off the shoulders neckline and sloping shoulders. I know, I know, the strapless corsets didn't (apparently) come along until the 1840s but still. It seems a bit odd to me.
So bring on plan B. Or plan F, or M, I've lost count. I'm going to try and make a pair of stays/corset along these lines, maybe trying to use this pattern, slightly modified. I've also started a corded petticoat, which is slowly coming together, since I'm handsewing it. The dress itself is going to be some sort of combination of these styles:
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| I like the bows and the low neckline with chemisette. Source: Kyoto Costume Museum |
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| This has always been my favourite 1830s dress. Source: Kyoto Costume Museum |
Other sewing plans include an 18th century robe à la Francaise which hopefully won't fail like my first francaise attempt. I dyed the fabric for it last weekend and I love the periwinkle blue colour!
I'm also participating in the Vernet's Incroyables and Merveilleuses project, so I'll have a secret Regency project to post about over the whole of this year. I haven't yet got any supplies for that, but I guess I should start tracking them down soon.
Hello Nora! I think this example might be of interest to you: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/82065?rpp=20&pg=1&ft=*&when=A.D.%2B1800-1900&what=Underwear&img=1&imgNo=0&tabName=related-objects I disagree with the date, I think it is later 20's and 30's, because of how the shoulder straps are. These are obviously designed for the necklines of gowns that are nearly off the shoulder. I don't know if this would help you, but I at least want to bring it to your attention. Best of luck!
VastaaPoistaUgh, sometimes this happens and it's really frustrating. Good thing you wrote about it, because often we only write and show about those pieces that went together successfully, but there's always much to learn from those challenging garments!
VastaaPoistaMelissa's link to the met collection is very good and I agree with her that the corset should be dated a good 15 - 20 years later as it shows the wide neckline, which appeared in the 1820s dresses, perfect match for your project!
Sabine
It stops seeming quite as odd if you look only at extant examples, and ignore a lot of interpretations and modern patterns. Actual corsets from the Regency (where necklines were often almost as wide as in the 1830s) through the 1830s show straps that angle out way to the sides - they don't sit on top of the shoulders.
VastaaPoistaGood for you, knowing when to put a project down and step away! Sometimes you have to.