Ok, it’s actually not entirely done (stomacher problems etc.), but since we took some photos and they turned out allright… ;D I want you to know that I am well aware that this look, with the tricorne and all, is not in any way historically correct – it’s not meant to be. Also, I did not have a mirror when dressing and I didn’t notice that it wasn’t very well fitted until I saw the photos when we came home. *Doh* Anywhooooo, I am EXTREEEEEEMELY pleased with myself!!!
Instead of using my inspiration for the pet-en-l’air the last time, I started with the chemise/shift. I’m doubting the fabric actually is linen though… =/ It totally looked and felt like the linen I used for the lining of the pet-en-l’air when I bought it, now it kinda doesn’t, I think it’s 100% cotton… Hmmm… =/
I also started the hat making process the day before yesterday, yesterday I finished it! With a lot of ugly swearing and PMS-tears (PMS really sneaks up on ya, doesn’t it!?) it came out better than I could have imagined actually.
The finished product! It’s totally the look I wanted, it’s a bit uneven, but after a little decoration I’m sure no one will notice! ^^;
And just for fun – crown on an old lingonberry jam bucket… XD
I have come to peace with the thought that my tricorne may not be suitable for all 18th century occasions. This though, has resulted in a problem that has been haunting the back of the 18th-century-clothes-making-part of my mind ever since… How to get hold of more accurate hat without spending more than I can (need). – Wow, this has really become a quest for the cheapest way to make an as accurate as possible 18th century outfit, hehe ;P I’ll have to try and write down exactly how little I actually have spent on this project! =D The shoes cost no more than 50 SEK btw – about $5 I should think. ;D
Anywhooo! My favourite fellow Swedish rococophile Madame Berg just put up a super awesome tutorial on how she made her hat out of round place mats! I am sooo going out right now to look for round place mats!
She allways make everything look so easy – and you don’t even have to make the crown as high as hers. I rather want something smaller and lower, I’m betting that’s even easier! =D
I feel a little bad for not keeping up here, mostly for myself, cuz I really miss the blog, hehe… ^^; But I have my reasons – I’ve just started my practical training in the teachers program, this is my final year of 5 and it’s a pretty big deal for me, hehe. I’ve been coming home from the school where I have my training and just sat myself down on the couch and then I’ve just been like glued there – I’ve been so mentally tired I haven’t been able to decide if I should put on the tv or make myself some tea, so I just don’t do either. But it’s a good fatigue! I’m haveing such a good time with the students, both the students and the other teachers are becoming like a family to me, hehe.
Anywhoooooos! I’ve anwsered all comments and read some of all the posts on other blogs. Right now I don’t feel much like reading, but I thought that since I’ve had photos of me in that wig I bought for like forever, at least I could touch them up a bit and put them up here!
When I first got the wig I was horrified! It was so small, way too small for my head… And then it hit me that it might be one of those wigs where you actually aren’t supposed to have it cover your like hair line in the forhead (what ever it’s called in English). So I put it a bit longer back and tried to comb my bangs up. My bangs are black though, so it looked kinda awful, then I thought: “Why not do it the 18th century way and try some powder?” – I had no great expectations that baby powder (don’t ask me why I have that at home!) would cover the black very good, but it actually blended in very well, the wig is a bit dark itself. As you might notice my bangs are a bit spiky there too, but I bet it’ll look better if I try to curl it a bit to follow the waves of the wig. =) I used my handmade jewellry to top the whole thing off! ;D
Whaddaya think? ;D
Oh, here’s a bonus picture of the wig and the hat! ;D
Since I started this project I’ve made sooooo many new friends! Love it – love YOU!
I got to talking to the girl I bought the wig from and I thought that I should advertise her a little bit. She sells more 18th century related products on a Swedish auction site – could be of interest. I’ve also now learned that she’s thinking of starting a site or selling her wigs on Ebay – so I’ll get back to you about her! 😉
I’ve been pondering wheter or not to use modern fake flowers or not for decoration of hair and hat. The flowers I put on the hat has a plastic base and the fabric in the flowers is probably synthetic too, they look nice – but not very natural, hehe ^^;
Today I got myself StumbleUpon and after just two clicks I found something useful! It hit me that I could use what I found as a very natural way of having something more natural as decoration for my little project (real flowers doesn’t look good a whole day and are expensive during winter time, hehe ;P). Have a look at this tutorial on how to make roses from maple leaves!
The perruque of perruques of the 18th century must have been the ship wig of Marie Antoinette:
Just now I found a wonderful and easy way of having a ship of your own in your hair! While surfing “rococo” in deviantART’s jewellry category I found this:
Isn’t it wonderful!? ^.^ I have been thinking about the possibilities of making something like this with a diadem, I’m definetley gonna “steal” this idea and make something like it in the future!
And talking about wigs… For those of you playing The Sims 2: Some time ago I made four Louis XVI wigs to download for your game here. 😉
Eleonora Gustafa Bonde af Björnö by Jakob Björk
Maybe I could pull two sides down… I’ve seen paintings and fashion plates of women with hats like that and it wouldn’t be hard at all. The thing is: I like it as it is – very much! *Frustrated* Oh well, it’s a solution if it comes to that… XD
Maria
Fuchsia's 18th century dress 