Eighteenth Century-inspired costumes
As friends were launching New Ceres Nights at last Swancon, set in a future world which has taken on the social rules of eighteenth-century Earth, I helped out by making some costumes to wear to the launch.
The four on the left in this image are the ones I put together:
Don’t you love our wigs? Utterly realistic-looking!
The red and purple are the same design; I made a bodice with v-shaped insert to mimic the laced bodices common in the second half of the 18th century, but made with stretch velvet for ease of construction and wear. It’s got boning at the edges of the v-shaped panel to give the impression of a corset being worn underneath, and lace edging the neckline and flared wrists to indicate a chemise under the gown.
The skirts were two layers, three if you count the bolster-cushion bustles! The underskirt was a simple elastic-waisted tube of the accent velvet, covered with a gathered velvet overskirt which tied at the waist. Here it’s shown without the bolster/bustle:
Since I was completely sick of stretch velvet by the time I’d finished the purple and red costumes, the burgundy and black costume consisted of pieces I already had on my rack: a stretch velvet bodice and black satin skirt constructed from a 19th century pattern. Historically it didn’t match the rest, but it fitted the ovall look okay.
As I didn’t want to look at any more velvet by this stage, my dress was more of a day dress in light cottons. We found some sprigged cottons in Spotlight and a light voile with a dobby stripe for the petticoat, and I picked up Simplicity 3723 to modify.
I also whipped up a corset from the Laughing Moon Dore pattern to wear underneath in cream damask, as the others I had were all dark colours. To make it slightly more suitable for 18th century wear I took it in at the bust to make it slightly more flat fronted.
The dress needed a different bustle than the others, as it had side panniers. To give these more shape, I made padded cushion shaped panniers and attached them over the corset before the petticoat and dress.
The dress ended up being all in one, with lace at the neckline and contrasting ruffle to the sleeves to imply a chemise, and the underskirt attached to the overskirt and bodice. In a nod to being slightly more correct, I laced up the back instead of inserting a zip as the pattern did. The contrast of floral and striped cottons worked well to create the right “look”, I thought, and it was a fun costume when wig and accessories were added!
