gallery

notes

pattern:
draped by me, based on my pierrot jacket & first ruffled jacket

fabric & notions:
cotton, cotton sheet (lining), Rigilene, hooks & eyes

inspiration:

The inspiration for this outfit came from a jacket & petticoat in the Colonial Williamsburg Collection, a copy of that same outfit in the film The Duchess and similar jackets in period engravings.

general notes:
This style of jacket, so popular in the mid to late 1780s, is my favorite style of late century jacket. I'm not sure why but it is a flattering look for me, if I do say so myself! Designed to be a cool and comfortable outfit for the summer (long sleeves = no sunburns!) it's made out of my find of the century: a lovely light cotton print found at Hancock's Fabrics for $1.87 a yard! *happy dance*

I really threw this outfit together, not having time to plot or plan or take progress pics. This was my second try at the style so I was able to fix all the things that had bothered me about my original attempt - yay! I managed to get the jacket into wearable condition (and get a decent night's sleep the night before!) for Fort Frederick's 18th Century Market Faire. Paired with a petticoat from the dress-up closet, I was a cool and un-sun burnt at the end of a warm and fun day.

After seeing pics from the faire I decided the sleeves were a little too big so I took them off, trimmed them down and re-sewed them. A private party and Costume Con 27 a week later saw the addition of a matching flounced petticoat, a new hat and the outfit styled in the early 1790s.

Unfortunately the petticoat hem ended up too long (no idea how that happened!) so that has to be fixed but honestly I am over the moon with how this outfit came out. It's one of those rare occasions in costuming that the outfit comes out exactly how you saw it in your head before you started. It was such a joy to wear - I can't wait to don it again!

construction pics: