Last week’s purple velvet aestheticism inspired reception gown / tea gown proved very popular, with many of you commenting that you loved it because you could actually imagine wearing it. It ...
https://thedreamstress.com/2017/08/rate-the-dress-a-butterfly-ballgown-ca-1865/
Rate the Dress for last week was a ’20s frock in avante garde red and lilac. The colours were a little too out-there for some of you, and there was a bit of discussion about whether you liked...
https://thedreamstress.com/2015/01/rate-the-dress-sparkly-ballgowns-ca-1820/
I know I already have two submissions for the Historical Sew Fortnightly ‘Modern History’ challenge, but I’m quite excited about showing you two more items, because they are my only HSF sew...
https://thedreamstress.com/2015/01/modern-historical-kimono-wrappers/
Last week I showed you a ca. 1890 high-society half-mourning dress. Some of you were totally behind the dress, until you saw the behind of the dress (yes, I have been waiting a whole week to us...
https://thedreamstress.com/2014/12/rate-the-dress-mid-century-plaid/
Last week I showed you a luxurious silk frock inspired by simple folk embroidery. The scores were all over the place: mad love, complete revulsion. Quite a few of you expressed doubt that it ...
https://thedreamstress.com/2014/12/rate-the-dress-a-visit-to-paris-ca-1890/
Sometimes having friends who point out things that you might be interested in is fabulous. And sometimes it is…dangerous. Like when you are just going along, minding your own business, not fi...
https://thedreamstress.com/2014/11/the-downs-self-adjusting-corset/
Last week I showed you a rather ridiculous (in a practical sense) 18th century riding outfit in white and pale blue-green. You thought the hat was a bit skunk-y, and the lapels a bit rumpled, a...
https://thedreamstress.com/2014/11/rate-the-dress-rich-wrappings-ca-1840/
Last weeks I showed you a Hattie Carnegie dress in pale pink & green, as worn by the 60ish Electra Havemeyer Webb, sparking an interesting discussion about colour, age, and when is pink too pink....
https://thedreamstress.com/2014/11/rate-the-dress-1870s-elaborations-on-a-theme/
When I was a child I was given Tom Tierney’s ‘Ballet Stars of the Romantic Era‘ paper doll book. Though I enjoyed the occasional girls ballet book, I wasn’t ballet obsessed. This was ...
https://thedreamstress.com/2014/10/a-time-travelling-ballerina/
Well, it’s been almost a week since the Katherine Mansfield talk, and I am mostly recovered, and most of the stuff is washed and put away and life is mostly back to normal! I’ve seen some of ...
https://thedreamstress.com/2014/10/clothing-the-world-of-katherine-mansfield-2/