These are groups I like. They have some really great content on fashion and history, and they have photos that you can take as inspiration for your outfits or just to look at as eye candy. http://community.livejournal.com/bbccostumedrama/profile http://community.livejournal.com/dressdiaries/profile http://community.livejournal.com/corsetmakers/profile http://community.livejournal.com/corsetry/...

If anyone is interested about detail of La Folie, please go and see at dressdiaries I've had a wonderful time looking at all the pictures from Costume Con, but I haven't commented on all posts. So this is a collective thanks to all who has posted! Lovely gowns all around! If you haven't seen it, check out lamodeillustree They post some really unusual portraits from all eras I'm...

Can be found at dressdiaries

Posted in dressdiaries Some that I have already posted here, some pics of the mock-up of teh bodice.

Hello! I posted to dressdiaries  a few days ago a Victorian gown I'm working on for a friend who sings with a local Civil War band, which after doing my research is actually a band based a little earlier in the 1840s/50s. I'm now calling my dress the "Oops Dress" because it's got a great many flaws to it, adorable as it may be, and all because my research was sorely lacking. Not all of it...

{x-posted to dressdiaries and my LJ} The Elizabethan effigy pair of bodies I've been working on, is now done, bound, corded, and sitting on my dress form for the next phase. I thought I would share the final photos with the community. So here are the couple I took to begin with. I found that in order to fit the bodies onto my squishable dress form, I had to do a breast reduction...

Project Registration Form Project Title : Chiffon Pannier Short Project Description: A small hoop pannier to go under more experimental outfits, for a more rococo silhouette. Projected Deadline: same day Pattern(s) Used: None Materials needed : Ribbon, chiffon, hoop steel Challenges or obstacles : Should be really easy Project Completion Form Project Title : Chiffon Pannier Project...

{x-posted to my LJ and dressdiaries .} (from earlier today) I am wearing my effigy pair of bodies, and am amazed I was able to get the front to close within an inch or so to full closure, although I had to wait a bit for the bodies to warm up. The temp lacing strip is under strain, so I am glad I will be having my usual hand made ones. I did make this for a slightly skinnier me, but this...

{x-posted to dressdiaries , and to my LJ.} For my latest big project, I am working on a mid 1590s Elizabethan complete outfit, from the skin out, for an event at the end of April. I've been posting progress reports in my personal LJ , but I thought I would write this entry here to show and explain what I've done so far. This is my inspiration image for the entire project: I am starting...

(As seen on dressdiaries and advanced_sewing ) Tailoring was something I'd tiptoed around for years. Many of us avoid it because it seems so different, so technical, so dull. But this year I went and did it, so I thought you might like to see how it went. When an operatic tenor approached me to make a proper Victorian tailcoat suit for him to perform in, styled and made as...