Right before I left for Europe, I was all a twitter over 18th-century costumes. This was inspired by a GBACG event in June 2006 at a Sonoma winery.
I had finally settled on a caraco jacket made out of a black linen embroidered with blue vines, found on eBay (the seller offered 4 yards literally minutes before the shuttle picked us up for the airport! but I bought it via PayPal in Berlin — ah, the wonders of modern technology ;-). The skirt would be either black or more likely I’d pick up the blue/green color in the embroidery.
However, in Vienna, I got An Idea. Oh noooooo! I was inspired by a black fabric folding fan printed with white musical notation (which I bought, of course). Cosi Fan Tutte — an 18th-century gown made of fabric printed with musical notes! Because yes, I’m just that silly. Twisted Historical speaks to me so much more strongly than straight historical. On the long train ride back from Salsburg, I sketched and made notes for this costume.
black & white music-print fabrics
Black music-print cotton polonaise skirt with the bodice in solid black cotton, stomacher in white music-print cotton. Either white music-print or solid cotton ruffles at sleeves and neck. Under skirt in solid white cotton with white music-print cotton ruffle at hem. For him, a white music-print cotton waistcoat over his black shirt, and I’ll make black breeches which he’ll wear with white stockings and black shoes. If I get really fancy, I’ll make him a black tricorn trimmed in white. Might also make myself a teeny white hat (tricorn, ideally), trimmed in black. And I’d like to hunt down some music note charms in black and white to make matching jewelry for m’self.
I may have to buy the Period Impressions polonaise pattern, as I don’t think I can tweak ye olde Butterick one quite as easily. Dunno. I may want to make it work over a bumroll too, as I like big butts and I cannot lie, ehem. More accurately, I like the way cartridge pleating sits over a bumroll, and I like doing cartridge pleating (I swear, it’s the only hand-sewing I can stand doing because I adore how it looks!). Is that period? Seems like it would be, but then I keep seeing flat pleating in the skirts of that era. Hrm. Whatever.
I have the materials for the 18th-century corset Donna will make me. May need to make a new chemise (I only have a Victorian chemise and the neckline won’t be right). I still have those white court shoes from the long-ago Constanze costume (kept meaning to dye them; didn’t get to it). Also have some suitable black shoes. Would need white stockings. Found all the music-print cottons quite cheaply at Hancocks. The store had all cotton prints half-off before 10am on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so I dragged my sorry ass down to Oakridge and bought a ton of yardage (also, some 99 cent Simplicity patterns; I’m so addicted).
Of course, I still have the black embroidered linen that would make a nice caraco. What shall I do about that? Hmm… well, I’ll add it to The Stash and see what develops. I swear I never intended it, but I’m definitely on my way in the “she who dies with the most fabric wins” contest.