Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Regency Slippers - Planning Stages

For the Regency Ball next month, I'll need appropriate footwear.  Or at least a reasonable facsimile.  I have this pair of dyeable satin slippers:


With a bit of customization I think I can come up with a decent pair of 1810-1820 style evening shoes. I've found the following images of flat or low-heeled rounded-toe slippers from the time period I'm aiming for:

1812 Metropolitan Museum of Art
1810-1820 Manchester Art Gallery
1812 Metropolitan Museum of Art
1820s Augusta Auctions
1800-1810 Manchester Art Gallery
The main thing I've found in common with all slippers of this era is the side seam, usually covered in some sort of trim.  Also, most examples have a combination of pleated ribbon trim around the throat of the vamp and some sort of bow or pompom on the toe.  I am currently playing with ideas of dyeing and/or painting the shoe itself, and various ribbon decorations for the toes.  I'm thinking these shoes will end up in the blue color family, as the dress I'm planning is going to be pale blue and white.

I will be using these helpful tutorials on painting/decorating the shoes, as well as referencing more inspirational images from my Sweet Slippers Pinterest board.  

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Regency Madness

I found out yesterday that there is to be a Regency ball only an hour away from where I live, and the day after my birthday!  Having absolutely nothing remotely acceptable to wear and barely a month in which to fix that, I got started right away.  First I tore my well-ordered (haha) bedroom apart in order to determine if I had any amount of suitable fabric to make a ballgown.  I came up with the following:

3 yds light blue cotton, 2 yds white cotton voile, 1 yd white striped cotton voile, 3 yds eyelet trim, 1 yd blue velvet ribbon
I then logged onto Pinterest and went on a Regency pinning frenzy, which I carried on again this morning when I woke with the realization that I would need a bonnet.  Also shoes, but I have that covered.  I may cannibalize a modern jacket in order to make a passable spencer.  We'll see how ambitious I get.  Remember I can't buy any fabric!

Edit:

And it'll be perfectly timed for the Historical Sew Fortnightly Stripes challenge, too!

Friday, February 22, 2013