The Regency Era Gown

This was the second vintage garment I made. The gown is a replica from the Regency Era which was from about 1790 to 1820. Depending on the fabric of the dress, it could be worn as an everyday dress or a ball gown.

I used cotton fabrics featuring a very tiny floral print. The flowers are pink and tan with dark green leaves and a nice dark brown background. For the sash, I used a medium to dark green. This particular dress pattern, Simplicity #4055, is loose-fitting as well as floor-length with a slight train.

The neckline needed to be altered as it was rather immodest. My grandmother helped me alter this by using a partial blouse pattern that replicates an undergarment from the Regency Era. We took cream-colored material, cut out the top half of the pattern and then attached that to the top of the dress. We then accented it with white pearl-finished buttons on the back. It looks like the pattern was created that way.

Something to remember...always wash cotton fabric prior to using it. Unfortunately, I did not do that and the dress shrunk significantly the first time it was washed. Needless to say, it didn't fit me.

While the Titanic dress was my favorite style, this gown is my next favorite.

The Titanic Dress

This dress represents the Titanic Era. I used a pattern from Sense and Sensibility-- "1912 Kimono Dress Pattern". This dress would probably have been worn to travel or for going to church.

This is a cotton fabric. It has small pretty brown, tan and sage green flowers throughout the print. For the sleeve cuffs, I used a light sage green leaf print and also for the top front insert. It has a two-layered tea length skirt and has 3/4 length sleeves. It is slightly form fitting.

The dress was not exactly easy to make because it took a lining and there was a glitch with the fabric directions. We had to alter it quite a bit for the top to fit right. Also, it was one of my first vintage creations. Overall, I was happy with the end result.