The Ornamented Being

Here I am trying to take a break from the Directoire/Regency/Empire/Early 19th century in general and I find this.

*whimpers*

ca. 1809

ca. 1809

The Met says: “Fine Indian mull was cherished in this period where the sheer quality was the most important aspect of everyday dress. This particular mull gown, with its tambour embroidery, would have been highly valued by its owner.The Empire silhouette is readily identified with its origins in the chiton of ancient Greco-Romans, which was a tubular garment draped from the shoulders and sometimes belted beneath the bust. Several re-interpretations have occurred throughout costume history but none have been as notable as the period bridging the rectangular panierred skirts of the 18th century and the conical hoop skirts of the 19th century. The neoclassic style was adopted in all forms of decoration after the French Revolution and was upheld during the Napoleonic Wars partly due to Napoleon Bonaparte’s (1769-1821) alliance with Greco-Roman principles. In fashion, the style began as children’s wear made from fine white cotton, but was adopted by women in the form of a tubular dress with skirts that were gathered under the bust with some fullness over a pad at the back. As the style progressed the skirts began to flatten at the front and solely gather from the bodice at the center back. The style persisted until the 1820s when the waist slowly lowered and the skirts became more bell shaped.”

This is the last post I’ll make about yesterdays lecture. Ms. Garbett brought in some of her own costumes which were absolutely beautiful! I really want to work much harder now and to improve myself.

I’m not sure which costume I was more enamored of, the turquoise pelisse or the yellow ball gown! Which do you like?

The top photo is once again shamelessly stolen from a classmates. I’m just randomly in the back of all of her photos!

Natalie Garbett brought some pieces from her collection yesterday to show us during the lecture. 

The fans were absolutely AMAZING! 

(The first two are shamelessly stolen from a classmate because my camera died at this pointxx)

;} Can you guess who our visiting lecturer was yesterday?

Pelisse from MA: Made of ivory silk taffeta, with narrow sleeves set well into the back of the coat, fine pleating below the back bodice panel, the edges and back panel embroidere 1795