so far, so good

[elizabeth_mn]

Put in a little time on the 1860s ballgown this weekend.



I am just holding it closed in back. After this photo I put the bones in the front and it smoothed out quite a lot. The neckline feels crazy high to me. Thoughts?

I was shooting for 60s but it really looks earlier to me, maybe because my hoop is small, or just because it is so plain. It still needs puff sleeves, piped facing, back eyelets, and bodice trim. Maybe it will look a little better once it's more together.

Comments

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

I like it! Before the 1860s ballgowns went to the straight waist, there really is very little difference between them and 1850s. The biggest difference is the sleeve style and particularly the berthe.

[ashamanja-babu.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I chose the puff sleeve over the flounced one for a later look. But yeah, I was having a hard time figuring out what differentiates those decades.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Oh! The other big thing that would make it be 1850s is a flounced skirt. The number of flounces decreased, as their size increased, throughout the decade; I think they were done in 1860. The ball given for the Prince of Wales that year showed all two big flounces, and I think that's it. So keeping the skirt un-flounced is the single biggest way to keep it 1860s. :)

[ashamanja-babu.livejournal.com]

Well that should be easy for me as I am being lazy and leaving this skirt totally plain. ;)