Coming Soon.....

Hello again!  I am finally managing to get out from under the process of moving and back to the clothing.  Unfortunately I don't have much to post today, but things will be coming soon.  I'm finishing the trim on my Caraco, still working on a Robe a l'Anglaise, looking for buttons for my 1790s jacket, and should get to a pet-en-l'air by Christmas.  I'm also attending two workshops this month:  1780s gowns in two weeks and stays the week after.  I'll make sure to take lots of notes and pictures and try to get up some comprehensive information and instructions soon after.  

On a side note, I did get to attend a lecture by Caroline Weber on her book "Queen of Fashion".  Slap me on the wrist, but I haven't read it yet.  I promise I will soon!  I was impressed to find that she has origins in French history and self-taught the fashion history just for this book.  Listening to her rattle off French terms made me very glad to have minored in it!  Some of the most interesting information she discussed were the Poufs.  That oddly wonderful three foot tall hairstyle which acted as a 18th century billboard.  Now, I've seen images of women with ships on their poufs, but that was only the beginning!  Those were termed "Poufs de Circumstance" having to do with current events or politics.  On the other side are your "Poufs de Sentimente".  This could be A la Trouche, with ostrich feathers, or even A la jardinier, with vegetables!  She mentioned one headdress made of a cabbage surrounded by root vegetables.  I can't imagine the weight of that!

There was much more discussed on Marie Antoinette's phase with wearing men's riding wear, the infamous portrait in the gauze gown, the colors of the revolution, her fashion designer Rose Bertin, and her final days in jail.  I was told, if you speak French, to check out the book "La Modiste de la Reine".  Now, if I can just find it.