1896 blue-brown tartan dress

Last year I made this dress for an annual Belle Epoque event in the zoo of Antwerp. But beacause the weather was to hot for the dress I could not wear it that weekend. 

It was almost a year later when I could wear it for the first time. This was for Elfia at Haarzuilen in the Netherlands. Sinds then I wore it three times, last weekend was the last time. Now temperatures rising again I think it was the last time for a couple of months or longer before I can wear it again.

So I made the dress last year around this time, but the little cape is an addition from last spring as an inbetween project. It is made from Truly Victorian TV590. I made a little adjustments in the front. I have combine view 3 with view 2.

Making the cape was easy as cake, the base of the cape I mean.... The base was in a couple of hours ready. But making all individual flowers, sewing them, the little roses and pearles was a work of couple of days, and I mean days... For such a little piece of the dress, making it was probably the peice I work longest of them all, from this dress. 

But the result was satisfying.

Photographer: Henk Rijssen

The dress it self is an walking dress where I used the Truly Victorians patterns TV496, TV491 and TV296 for. They come together very well, as known. As always I have to adjust the length of my bust to shoulder, because that part of my body is shorter. Problems of a short torso...

Photographer: Gerry De Jonghe

So when I made the dress I was a bit in a hurry, because of that the hem of my skirt is an rolled hem. I want to adjust that in the future. But also I want another skirt, same pattern only other colour brown and in linen, for when I want to wear it on hotter days. The skirt is more for the winter, and the jacket and blouse more for summer days. 


The man next to me is Pedro a friend of mine that helped me several times with his knowledge of historical dressing up. He is also known as the Baron (shown in picture), but also as the Barones (when he has help for make-up and hair) and believe me, you would't recognize him. :)

Photographer: Pedro Konijn

Overall, I'm not so happy with the skirt, there is a lack of length on the front and is a bit uneven parts in the backsides. Last thing I could adjust. But the front problem I could not fix. So things I would change for the skirt: another Hem and adjust the uneven parts of the skirt. 

The bodice I'm very happy with, it gives an slim figure, fits very nice. Movements are good and the blue fabric, where I was suprised for, fits nice with the sillhouet. 

For an fabric that I received as an gift, and I dind't now what to do with it, turn't out as one my favorite dresses.