Early 1870s Summer Organdy Bustle Gown

[Vanessa]

Well, here's the gown I churned out in 5 days for this Sunday's picnic at the Banning Residence Museum in Wilmington. It's the first Victorian I've worked on in over two years now and also the first time I've used the ruffling attachment for my new Pfaff. And let me tell how, I love that ruffler foot. It's going to be my new best friend for Victorians.

I used 10 yards of white cotton organdy, 30 yards of 3/8" french lace, pink silk satin ribbon & a little trim on the bodice with pink ombre silk ribbon bows on a white satin ribbon.

I used TV201 for the underskirt, TV305 for the overskirt (matching the pleats on the front & back since the fabric was sheer) and TV400 for the bodice, cut off at the waist and with shorter sleeves.

I'm also wearing a new muslin petticoat from the TV170 pattern underneath and carrying a parasol I recovered in pink silk taffeta.









Heather & Laura - it's always a pleasure working with your patterns. Even without doing a muslin (since I didn't have the time) I knew they would work up quickly & with only minor (and my standard) adjustments.

[Miss Cindy]

You look wonderful! So, feminine and delicate. In only five days! I am so impressed!
I really like your hair and the hairpiece. Did you make it?
Beautiful ensemble!
Miss Cindy

[Lydia]

absolutely gorgeous!
and indeed i love your hair/hairpiece! please share your secret!

[Acacia]

Oh My! It's dream-like! What beautiful work!

[Danibelle]

A vision! How brave you are to go out in so much white! You look beautiful. Hopefully with your new ruffler foot we'll be seeing more from you! BTW, what bustle pattern are you wearing?

[Vanessa]

Thanks everyone - I think this may be my favorite Victorian outfit yet. It was so light and cool to wear.

Re: my hair - it's a 3/4 curly hairpiece that was on a large banana type clip. The clips were removed & barrel curls rolled & bobby pinned into place and the bottom left in ringlets. I secured it onto the crown of my head with crossed bobby pins & arranged my rag curled hair to blend the edges and wove curls in through the curls on the sides & top of the piece. I left the bottom of my hair in ringlets and blended those into the piece's ringlets. It's a great color match for my hair so it's hard to tell what's mine and what isn't without actually touching it.

I used Laughing Moon #112, View E for the bustle and made it in muslin & reed. I wanted an extremely light bustle to wear under this gown and it worked perfectly.

[Manon Antoinette]

Lovely! You look like you should be in a Tissot painting

[mentha]

Haha, you stunned me on another forum with that dress [didn't respond there yet though]! 5 Days! Unbelievable!

[diana]

That's funny because we were just there to do a fashion show for them on Sat Sept 19. I didnt hear about a Victorian picnic there! Oh well, we were at the Los Al Rossmoor Library doing another show anyway.

Were there planned activities?

[diana]

Where did you find the cotton organdy?

[Laura]

Oh Vanessa that is so perfectly beautiful. You do such a wonderful job doing the entire ensemble and finding the perfect location. Your an inspiration.
I should make time to do the same events this winter.
See you,
Laura.