Attempting the 1820s

Last month I had a work program that called for an early 1820s ensemble. Not having the free time to create an entirely new gown, I used this opportunity to continue the "sleeve trick" I started last fall.

As you may remember, I wanted my lavender c.1800 gown to have long sleeves, like the extant gown I had based it after, but the general consensus was that this wasn't the right fit for 1800 New England. So I used this chance to swap the 18th century 3/4 length sleeves for the long sleeves I had initially intended.

I made the sleeve pattern so it extends past my palm and runs longer than normal shirt sleeves. It's similar to this extant gown, though my sleeve lacks that "Anne Shirley" poof.

 Augusta Auctions, Pink & White 1820s Day Dress

 At my December 2013 work program

I needed a few accessories to pull off this look, so I grabbed a plain brown bonnet from Austentation and bought a chemisette from Mimic of Modes on Etsy. I also debuted a short cloak that I had started ages ago (more about that in a later post).

For Christmas, my husband gave me the Regency House Party DVD. (I know it's old, but it's a new show to me.) The scenes have me interested to attend a Genesee Country Village-type event and I tried to scratch that itch by taking a little walk on a sunny day after Winter Storm Janus.

 Check out those new, but vintage, leather gloves!