Sunday, February 9, 2014

A Regency Winter Walk

A member of our local costuming group was having a birthday, and desired a Regency Winter Walk in Philadelphia.  Since I had no cold weather Regency wear, I had to get sewing!

My gown is the Period Impressions 1809 gown.  The only changes are that I switched out the front skirt panel for the Simplicity 6630 so it could be flat front, and I had to take out about half the back skirt width because the velvet I used was so thick that it wouldn't fit into the bodice otherwise.

                 
 


With my gown I am wearing a cute brooch I found on Etsy


I also retrimmed a bonnet I made a few years ago from the Timely Tresses Virginia pattern.





Here is my inspiration for the gown 


I love that the lady in the portrait has a brooch on her gown that looks like mine!



A warm gown was not enough.  I needed a warm pelisse, too.  I used the Wingeo #255 Pelisse and Spencer pattern.  The drawing is a little misleading because the sleeve heads are very full.  Much more like this


I LOVE the military looks, so I was inspired by many paintings and fashion plates that depicted braid trim on pelisses and spencers



But I was very happy with it and it went together very well.  The pattern comes with very little instructions, so previous experience with putting together a coat is needed.


I also made that reticule.  I followed the pattern from HERE but made mine 4 sided instead of 3 so I could fit as much as possible inside.


Here are the photos from our day out!  We visited The Betsy Ross House, Christ Church, Independence Hall, and had an AMAZING lunch at City Tavern and got to meet its famous chef Walter Staib, who treated us like royalty (sadly, chef not pictured).