A Late Date with the 1830s

Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum, 1835.

Is it finally time to venture into the 1830s? I've talked about it for years; I've seen my friends do incredible 1830s gowns and even reproduce the wacky and wonderful 1830s hair. And all along the way I've been touched by a little jealousy....those 1830s ensembles sure look fun!

I've only ever made one 1830s dress and it, well, it really wasn't. I did a few things wrong, such as cutting the sleeves way too narrow and using a front closure (in my defense, I had no one to dress me at the time, so this was a necessary adjustment, but not historically accurate. I no longer have this dilemma).

But that weird red cotton dress was loads of fun to wear (plus I have a lot of fabric to make a new bodice proper) and I think it's time to revisit the experience.

2014 - My only 1830s dress could have been better...luckily I have enough fabric to make a new bodice, which will be a good mock-up for a version in silk later on.

What scares me a little is that I've spent *so* much time in the late 18th century that now I feel trepidation at taking on a new period. What intrigues me, though, is the similarities and differences to be discovered between the last quarter of the 18th c. and the 1830s. We still don't have the sewing machine in the Romantic Era, and there was only a generation or two between Georgian mantua-makers and those of the 1830s. How were skills potentially passed on, improved upon, and did any fall into disuse?

So. Here we are again.

Onward!

Beret sleeve, why can't I quit you? LACMA, c. 1830