lacy-edwardian-tea-dress-costume
In true Edwardian fashion, I had this gown photographed in a 1914 mansion.
I have finished my lacy Edwardian tea gown sewn with Sense & Sensibility’s wonderful pattern, and I can hardly wait to share the results! This fantastic design is wonderfully easy to sew, and I made a couple slight changes – shortening the sleeves, and sewing just one layer of overlay, using the whole skirt pattern rather than having a panel down the front that isn’t overlaid. Besides that, this dress gown is nearly identical to the original pattern.  

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victorian-lace-tea-dress-lavendar-gown
Scalloped lace at the hem adds a finishing touch to this silk gown.

victorian-christmas-dress-in-a-mansion

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I’m sure this mansion’s former residents must have held some grand Christmas parties here!
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By some miracle my hair stayed curled without any hairspray…
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This lovely dress would probably only have been worn for indoor tea parties, but it looks just as pretty outside.

 I had so much fun getting these photographs taken, and the mansion in these photographs was completed in 1914 – a very likely year for this gown to have been worn.  The fabric of the dress is silk shantung, with an embroidered tulle overlay and silk dupioni sash.  I like to imagine if the house’s Edwardian inhabitants would have ever worn a similar dress…  At any rate, I absolutely loved wearing this gown, and I felt as if I’d stepped back in time one hundred years in the grand old mansion!

Happy sewing!

Katrina

13 Comments

  1. *gasp* That’s a breathtakingly beautiful gown and you wear it so well!

    1. Thank you, Jeri! It was a delight to wear!

  2. Oh my word – stunning! My only question is – now that you have this lovely dress, where will you wear it? I would be so afraid of getting it dirty or catching it on something. How I wish women still had a reason to wear something like this.

    1. Thanks, Annabelle! Well, to be entirely honest, I have never made a costume for an actual event with the exception of my Jane Austen Festival costume. Before I had the blog I used to spend hours sewing a dress, have my pictures taken wearing it, then stick it in the closet. So at least now that I’m blogging, the dresses I make are useful for some sort of purpose. : ) I completely agree with you – we need more special occasions to dress up for!

  3. Your gown is beautiful! I love the lavender and white! Your hair is pretty too!

    Blessings!
    Allison

    1. Thank you, Allison! I’m glad you liked it!

  4. SOOOOO pretty! Looks like you are going to a ball.
    Great job, it suits your style perfectly. 🙂

    1. Thank you, Brielle! Yes, a ball did come to mind when I was making it! : ) I wish we had more occasions to need to dress up for.

      Happy sewing!

      Katrina

  5. Beautiful dress! Did you make the puffed lace for the bodice?

    1. Thank you, Katie! Yes, I puffed the lace myself, and it really went quite quickly.

      Happy sewing,

      Katrina

  6. […] had so much fun costume-wise since I was in England!  I’ve written more about my results here. Have a blessed day! Katrina I don’t know about you, but these photos left me all agog and […]

  7. How utterly lovely and charming! I adore vintage styles due to their sheer femininity!

    1. Why thank you, Sarah! Yes, I think women today have lost so much femininity in dress from the olden days when ladies dressed like this. I think it’s high time we bring back some of the frills and daintiness!

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