Jacket for undress wear

Preamble:  I try so hard, when I am at events, to not think too much about taking photos of my costume, since it makes it harder for me to stay in the moment and have a good time if I am keeping my eyes peeled for photo ops, and besides, everyone else is usually snapping them like crazy anyway. 

So I really shouldn't be disappointed when I find out later that the photos I tried to get my husband to take of me at home, beforehand, are all blurry, and I end up with one good one from the event, one with my tongue sticking out, and none of the back.

 

I swear it didn't look that wrinkly in front when I left the house. 

I closed the front with pins.  The front is straight; there isn't any shaping under the bust.  It just looks that way because I kept resting my hands on top of my bump and crumpling it there.  For some reason I thought it would be a great idea to ease the neckline seam onto a piece of twill tape to stabilize it and keep it from gaping, but I guess I got carried away, because it ended up a little bunchy.

The petticoat is from a couple years ago.  I tied it, and my pocket, up high over my bump.  The hat is the giant one I got from Jas Townsend.  I just box-pleated a little ribbon for around the crown and made 2 ribbon bows with a button in the center.  I tried wiring the edge but that didn't work for me, so I ripped the wire off and left it plain.  It was great for keeping the sun off!! 

The neckerchief is a bit of the fine cotton lawn I bought for the chemise dress, cut in a triangle and hemmed by machine.

Simple, comfy, somewhat accurate pregnancy costume, I think!

The picnic was great fun, even though we got about a million weird/rude comments from strangers. 

striped linen suit

There's my man!



( A couple more photos )

The stripe on this cloth is very subtle; it's a fine stripe in a dark brown that matches the vest.

There are 5 functional buttonholes and buttons on the coat and 7 more sets that are just decorative.  I made him a simple rectangular neckcloth out of some very lightweight cream-colored cotton sateen.  (Neither of us wanted to mess around with the whole stiff, starched stock thing.)

There were a few issues, but on the whole I think it worked out.  I definitely feel like I've accomplished something.  My HB describes the suit as both 'comfortable' (his #1 criterion) and 'dashing.'  What a dear.