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.
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
*gasp* That’s a breathtakingly beautiful gown and you wear it so well!
Thank you, Jeri! It was a delight to wear!
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.
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!
Your gown is beautiful! I love the lavender and white! Your hair is pretty too!
Blessings!
Allison
Thank you, Allison! I’m glad you liked it!
SOOOOO pretty! Looks like you are going to a ball.
Great job, it suits your style perfectly. 🙂
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
Beautiful dress! Did you make the puffed lace for the bodice?
Thank you, Katie! Yes, I puffed the lace myself, and it really went quite quickly.
Happy sewing,
Katrina
[…] 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 […]
How utterly lovely and charming! I adore vintage styles due to their sheer femininity!
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!