1840’s Dotted Dress, Photos

I think this is my first costume photo set of the year. How wild is that?!

These were taken a location we visit often – conveniently right next to a busy street where people can stare, and unruly patches of poison ivy. But there is fence and sometimes cute horses, so sacrifices must be made.

These photos are of my 1840’s dotted dress, which I made over the course of a week and have spent the last month blogging about. You can read about the construction in more detail here, here, and here!

This project was based on examples from the 1840s, and made from eight yards of quilting cotton using a self drafted pattern.

Unfortunately my giant organza petticoat wasn’t done at the time I photographed this – so the skirt is lacking some of the fullness I had hoped for. But I don’t think that takes away from the pictures too much. Or at least I hope not!

1840.red.dot (2 of 13)

1840.red.dot (6 of 13)

1840.red.dot (7 of 13)

My least favorite part of this dress is the back – I feel like the fit problems I mentioned in my making of posts are a lot more obvious here. Taking it in at the back seam would help a lot, but the waistline should be raised slightly too.

Thanks to the way I stitched the skirt on, that would be an easy fix. I don’t like returning to “finished” dresses, but maybe when the weather cools down I’ll be  motivated to do that – and re photograph it with my fuller petticoat!

1840.red.dot (10 of 13)

1840.red.dot (1 of 13)

1840.red.dot (9 of 13)1840.red.dot (13 of 13)

Despite my annoyance with making the bonnet, I do love the profile it has!

1840.red.dot (12 of 13)

And I like this photo almost enough to ignore all the rippling at the back (okay, not quite, but close)!

1840.red.dot (11 of 13)

And that is it!

Thank you for reading, and for all the comments on my posts about making this. I’m looking forward to sharing some other photo sets (and progress posts) very soon!

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12 thoughts on “1840’s Dotted Dress, Photos

  1. Kelley Gaston says:

    Oh Angela! It turned out beautiful! I think the crispness of the fabric helped it with the fullness for your photo session. I also do not like having to re work finished projects. I can’t tell you how many I have put away in frustration for a few weeks or months only to take them out and completely re work them. YOURS only needs a few little adjustments in the back, as you said, and it is devine! Thanks for sharing your projects. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next. 🙂

  2. Helen says:

    Amazing, creative, proper in style!
    You are really talented.
    Plz, continue to make me happy with your adorable test in colors snd shapes

  3. Bea says:

    It’s so gorgeous! It would be lovely for a photoshoot among fall leaves, too, if you do decide to adjust it and photograph it again. Someday you should make a compilation video of clips of you twirling around in a whole bunch of the various historical dresses you’ve made, I’m sure it’d go viral on Youtube! You probably have enough to do a 200+ Years of Fashion in completely self-made garments.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Another beautiful dress.It is lovely and I really like your bonnet. The photos arrived today. Thank you. I will make room for them on the hutch doors.

    I took the patterns to Church yesterday, even the men were impressed.

    Thanks again.

    Grandma

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