Upcoming Costume Events

A lady in my local group emailed this out a couple weeks ago, and I need it here so I can refer to it. Also for the benefit of anyone local or semi-local!

May 16, 2015 to July 6, 2015 Wisconsin Women of Style, Prairie du Chien, WI
This clothing exhibit will showcase garments and gowns from the collections of the Wisconsin Historical Society in the various rooms of the Villa Louis Mansion.
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/calendar/event/4071/villa-louis-presents-wisconsin-women-of-style


June 20, 2015 to September 20, 2015 Dressing Downton: Changing Fashion for Changing Times,
Paine Mansion, Oshkosh, WI
http://www.thepaine.org/events/dressing-downton-changing-fashion-changing-times/


Thursday, July 16th 4:30-Dusk on the lawn of the Stillwater Courthouse Ice Cream Social and Amatuer Talent Show


June 27, 2015: 18th Century Picnic, 11 AM to 4 PM, MN Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN
Pack a picnic lunch and join us for a delightful afternoon in the gardens.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1387898418194063/


August 13-14, 2016 Pipestone Civil War Days, Pipestone, MN
The Pipestone Civil War Days brings the Civil War to life for visitors of all ages.
http://www.pipestoneminnesota.com/visitors/festivalevents/pipestonecivilward/


August 15-16, 2015 Home Sweet Home, Fort Snelling, MN
Recreating the Civil War troops coming home in July of 1865
https://sites.google.com/site/thesheepfarm/home


September 12-13, 2015 Civil War Weekend, LeDuc House, Hastings, MN
Civil War reenactment weekend
http://www.museumsofmn.com/leduc-historic-estate-dakota-county-historical-society.html


September 19, 2015 1890's (probably) Ball presented by the Historic Recreation Society, Triune Masonic Temple, St. Paul, MN
Dinner and dance in period clothing. More information to follow.
http://www.historicrecreationsociety.com/


September sometime Constitution Day 18th c event at the Leduc house.


Victorian Christmas Friday, November 20th 6:30-9 pm Saturday, November 21 10am-4pm Sunday, November 22 11am-3pm.

Little House dress: inspiration and plans

Ok, let's start with the fabric. I bought this on sale a couple years ago at work and since my plan for it was an 1880s dress anyway, I figured why not combine that plan with a Little House plan?



My primary inspiration photos are the printed cotton dresses from Fashion In Detail.



But I'm not making a direct copy, so a couple fashion plates from the Harper's book are helping to round out the missing elements.

( More images )

I am going for a c.1883 style; while not a direct reproduction of any of Laura's dresses described in her books, I do want to make something that she or someone in De Smet might have worn. Something nice but not too fancy. Even Laura's dresses for Sunday Best were still modest compared to some of the schmancy stuff that appeared in Harper's.

Undies: She describes her preference for a smaller bustle in one of the later books, set in the mid-80s when the bustle was at its peak, so I might wear my smaller lobster or possibly just a small pad.

So far I have the skirt just partway together. This project has stalled a little but I hope to kickstart it again this week.