Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Thoughts on the striped robe à l'Anglaise

I didn't want it to come to this... But it did... I realize that the striped robe à l'Anglaise has got way too many issues for me to ignore them any longer. So among a lot of other things, I've been thinking about revamping it for a while. The issues aren't so obvious you could tell them from photos right away - but I surely can spot them when I look at the photos. Most of them are caused by lack of patience to fit and finish the dress properly and carefully. But revamping yet another dress doesn't make me feel very excited. It makes me feel the opposite way. I don't feel like taking it completely apart just to sew it back together the same way it used to be.

However, some time ago I stumbled upon a similar striped robe à l'Anglaise on Ebay - someone probably linked it on Facebook but I can't remember who it was - and it gave me some good ideas about how I could change the construction techniques for the better as well. I really like that the seam allowances are turned on the inside of the dress. It has got at least two benefits: The bones can be put into the channels created by the seam allowances and, since my fabric is quite sheer, the seam allowances also won't be seen through the fabric on the outside of the dress like they do at the moment.


I pretty much know how to fix the problems with the fit so it wouldn't be too much trouble. But... Meh. The dress has been worn out to an event twice by now and I'm starting to get tired of wearing it already. I hate to feel that way but it's how it is. And it really should be mentioned that there are also a couple of stains on the outside of the bodice and they won't wash off so it can't be left as it is. So what should I do? Give the dress another chance? 

...Or should I make something completely else from it...? There's probably a couple of meters of the striped fabric left in the stash so I could definitely do that as well. And since I have very high expectations for the pale blue robe à la Polonaise, one option is that I could make a sort of "practice" version of the polonaise from the striped fabric so I wouldn't have to worry about something going really wrong with the pale blue one because I will be able to tell the things that need to be changed from the first version. And don't you just love the striped polonaise from Kyoto Costume Institute...? And wouldn't a striped pet en l'air jacket be so cute as well?

At the moment I'm still working on the stays and the next part of the tutorial will be up probably later this week. I just can't stop thinking about the striped robe à l'Anglaise while I'm working so I wanted to write this down and ask what you think about it so maybe it will be easier to decide what to do with it.


Also, thanks to Isis, I received this new book in the mail yesterday! It has got several patterns, too. Some of them are available on the net - here - but there are also many that aren't. I wasn't expecting the book to have quite so many patterns so I'm positively surprised. Yay!

9 comments:

  1. I would do something completely different. Not that the dress doesn't deserve a revamp. It's beautiful. Perhaps even my favorite of yours, even though the lovely saque is giving it a good competetion. :) But because you might feel happier having a new dress in some future event. Pet-en-l'air would be super cute! And why not the Polonaise as well, as long as you don't think the fabric is too heavy for it.

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    1. Yes, having a new dress for a future event is a tempting option... and the spring masquerade is only a few months away! ;) It is actually quite light fabric so it would be just fine for a Polonaise. I'm only worried because you just made striped robe a la Polonaise and it wouldn't be fun to make something too similar. :/ But I've got to finish the stays and also a pet en l'air outfit for Ida first anyway so there's no hurry in deciding. :)

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  2. From reading your post, I think you really want to make something new. If you're no longer in love with it and you've already worn it out twice, there's more of a chance that it would just hang out in storage. I know sometimes we feel like the things we create are like children and we feel guilty if we neglect them. In this case, I think creating something new and beautiful out of the fabric would respect the original and spark your creativity at the same time.

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    1. You're probably right. :) I still love the concept of the original design but I've had to revamp so many of my earlier dresses and it starts to feel quite tiresome. Thanks for commenting, it really clarifies my thoughts to hear other people's opinions :)

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  3. I think that you should make something new from it! Maybe a jacket with matching petticoat? Pet-en-l'air seems like a great idea :) The dress is really pretty and I don't see any issues with it but if you are tired of wearing it then it will be pointless to put much work into revamping it.

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    1. After reading your comments, I'm starting to feel increasingly assured about making something new out of it :) I just had a vision about demi-polonaise this morning so now I'm considering it :D Well, I'm not going to start making it anytime soon so I have time to consider... :) I'm the kind of person who really has problems deciding things like this so I tend to change my mind every other day...

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    2. It's a good thing that you take your time to consider it :) After all, you are going to cut things - there's no way back!

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  4. I was wondering what patterns the book has that are not available online? I was thinking of tracking the book down if I can (though I won't be able to read it) but I wasn't sure if the cost out weighed the benefits (since the patterns would be the only part useable for me at this time). Do you think you could give me some idea about that? Thanks!

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    1. Hello! I'm sorry for not replying earlier! I've been completely inactive here on the blog these past two months. Here's a list of patterns in the book: Mantua (1695-1709), wedding dress in English fashion (1766), robe à la Francaise (1740-1750s), another robe à la Francaise (1778), robe à l'Anglaise with skirt (1770-1780), Piemontaise (1780-1790), floral round gown (1780-1790), caraco (1780-1790), silk damask jacket (mid-1700s), Jacket with flared skirt à la Suzanne (after 1785), Stole/a mantilla (1695-1709), pocket hoops, shift, Kimono style jacket (beginning of the 18th century), three patterns for men's coats, breeches, shirt and a boy's gown and a suit. I believe most of these aren't available on the website so I hope this was helpful for you. :)

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