1880s Bustle Skirt - It's Black, It's Shiny, It's Quick and Dirty

Playing dress up with a pseudo Victorian shirt and a velvet waist cincher

A very short time ago I found myself in a predicament, one that involved needing a black skirt to wear with my Steampunk stuff, and having just sold it off for another costumer elsewhere to enjoy.

I know it's sad that I only have one black skirt in my possession, but it's true. I had about a week to make a new skirt, and true to form, instead of doing something quick and simple, I decided to use one of my favorite patterns, Truly Victorian TV261, to create something really over-the-top for Steampunk.


I couldn't find any affordable dupioni, so I did a bad, bad thing and went with black satin. I know, satin is THE DEVIL, but it's so shiny and pretty and enticing! So this being Steampunk I went with the satin, and why the heck not. The plan for this skirt was to bust it out solidly but quickly.


And so I did. I made the skirt in three evenings, complete with 88 inches of pleated trim which really didn't take that long, and finishes this particular skirt in such a nice fashion. It's nothing special - all the seams are just zig-zag stitched on the inside, and did I mention it's satin?

White shirts and swiss waists are fun and all, but how about a matching black bodice?

The poufs are flatlined with net, which help it to stand out considerably, and also makes a crunchy noise when you move around. The pleats on the hem need a nice velvet ribbon to finish the top edge (it's just selvage now). All in all, however, it fits, I think it looks quite sporting, and it will look good with Steampunk stuff.

'Course, I can't stop there. Why not make a bodice? Black shiny immediately made me think of Sargent's famous Madame X painting, so that is the tentative plan for a curvaceous 1880s bodice over a tightly laced corset. Fun :-)

No, I will never look like her, but she inspires me :-)