Explorer's Hair

I was washing my hair the other day, and putting on conditioner made me think, if i didn't use it my hair would tangle and eventually become dreadlocks.
So if I were a Victorian Explorer I wouldn't have access to conditioner but i might have dreadlocks.
A lady wouldn't cut off her crowning glory after all ;)

I shall create some dreadlock hair falls from wool roving and dye them with henna to match my natural colour. i might add in some synthetic hair or chunky knitting yarn to add bulk.

I shall probably wrap some of them in leather thonging or wire and decorate them with beads or silver bands, I might even add some lace as if i have ripped some off a petticoat to keep my hair order.
I shall probably hold them in place with some hair sticks.

These are some of the places that have inspired me

Etsy

Layla's Locks

Hair Extensions Forum

Hats

My hat for the Sunday Promenade is going to be art deco inspired, so I shall be using abstract shapes rather than the traditional feathers and flowers.

It's going to be a round, fairly flat hat, which will perch on my head at an angle, I shall probably use strips of sinamay, tubular crin, curled quills arrow quills, maybe porcupine quills and, as a nod to the Orientalism of the time, some kanzashi which I feel are stylised enough for the look.

I may add some veiling or guaze depending on the exact placement on my head.

Like the dress it'll be white with black accents.

Fabrics

Well I had a look round United Textiles today, and no sign of any toile de Jouy, or any suitable flower prints. Instead I am quite tempted by a white fabric with narrow black stripes.
If I chose this I shall make the godet at the back from a black fabric with white dots, just for fun.

I have seen the black lace I want in Asim's and I already have some black velvet.

The only things I haven't sourced are a ready ruffled trim and hooks and eyes.

I also found a fabric that I might use for the Gorey skirt, grey with woven stripes, however there was another fabric which was grey with white flowers woven in that also looked nice, but was a bit heavier, also the stripes wouldn't go so well with the pintucks in the pattern i want to use.

Sunday Promenade patterns

Simplicity 864o is almost a perfect copy of the 'flying gown' but it is almost impossible to get hold of, so I am going to mash together an outfit from the top half of View C of Simplicity 3723
and a simple skirt that I will draft by hand.

In terms of authenticity it's more a facsimile than a replica, but the overall look is recognisable as 1910s.

Vintage Vixen has a article on the key points of 1910s fashion and I have a few of them covered

I don't think my fabric print is very authentic, I don't if toile has ever been in fashion for clothing.

The overall silhouette should be fairly 1910s, although the waist will be lower than was fashionable as I'm short and have bosoms so it'll make me look dumpy. A lower waistline will acutally look more authentic as the proportions will be closer.

The elbow length sleeves and square neckline of the Simplicity pattern are correct, but the body shape less so I will have a cummerbund-like sash probably made from velvet to give more horizontal layers.

The skirt will also have a layer of black lace on it in a similar shape to the flying dress, I might try the lampshade shape, I'll experiment.

Shape wise my skirt will be quite narrow, I'll probably put kick pleats or just slits at the bottom so I can actually walk. might show some shocking ankle though ;)

I won't be wearing a corset, but might purchase a waist nipper just for some structure.

The full information from Vintage Vixen is here

Moodboard - Gorey's Girl

For this outfit I have been inspired by the Victorian engraving style of Edward Gorey and the morbid cuteness of Gothic Lolita.

This fits in with the neo-victorian side of proceedings, as Victorians pretty much invented the concept of childhood and of course they were fascinated with death and the macabre.

My outfit will be in tones of black and white to reflect the monochrome style of Edward Gorey.

I will wear a black shirt that I already own and I shall make a Gothic Lolita style skirt using narrow black and white striped or grey fabric, I shall trim it with black lace and self ruffles.

I shall wear knee high socks in either black or grey and low round toed shoes.

I would like a cameo brooch to wear at my throat, but I am undecided.

I will have to wear my black crochet gloves to detract from the henna on my hands.

I shall wear slightly more make-up than usual as it's an evening, but I won't be doing full Goth makeup. I shall probably have lots of mascara, a little eyeliner and a light lip colour to emphasise my eyes.

I also haven't decided whether to have my hair up in high bunches or in a more edwardian style (as often seen on the younger members of the Russian royal family) with a fat bow.

Moodboard - Explorer

For the main part of the Festival I shall wear an outfit that has the feel of a Victorian adventurer and naturalist.

I have been inspired by vintage pictures of women hunters, Annie Oakley, adventurers such as Isabella Bird and naturalists such as Charles Darwin and Beatrix Potter.


Depending on the weather I shall wear a tilley hat with goggles perched on it, or just the goggles perched on my forehead. The goggles represent travel either in a new fangled motorcar or a open airship, or maybe even on a Camel in the desert.

I shall probably wear my hair in a messy bun, which gives a bluestocking feel. I might have a pair of glasses, but I will have a magnifying glass and a hand lens.

I will not be wearing much make-up, just the usual mascara, and maybe a little brow and lip colour. I will however have hennaed hands which shows that I have picked up interesting foreign habits while travelling.

My top with probably be an off white blouse, and I shall wear a large amber coloured necklace that a friend made for me.

I would like to have a short corset or waist cincher in a brown colour as a nod to feminine propriety.

My skirt will either be a green one I already own, or a pair of green denim trousers I have taken apart. If it's the green denim I will probably add tweed godets to make the skirt fuller and as a nod to the tough and tweedy women of England.

On my feet I would like to wear a pair of sensible shoes in brown, either brogues or old style walking boots, I will be scouring ebay and the charity shops for these) if I can't find any I will wear my LARP shoes.

Depending on the weather I will wear either knee high woolly socks or leg warmers that I can take off if I get hot.

I will be carrying a canvas bag with a field notebook, field guides and other essentials.

Moodboard - Sunday Promenade

This outfit is the least steampunk, it's pretty much going to be a modern recreation of a vintage style.

I have been inspired by the dresses in Titanic, especially the White and purple boarding suit, and hte shape of the Navy velvet dress.


I liked the striking black and white look of the ascot dress in the film My Fair Lady, but also the art deco inspired shapes of the late edwardian era, which were utilised by designers such as Erte and Poiret.

I am going to use a black and white toile pattern with an overskirt of black lace, and a black velvet sash.

I shall accessorise with a black lace choker, white gloves (as my hands will be hennaed for the previous day's costumes) and a round perching hat.

My hair will be up with a few tendrils down, period styles were still as complicated as the previous decade.

Wearing bright make up would not be authentic, but I shall wear a bright lipstick and eyemakeup so my face is not lost under the hat. Also it needs to be as dressy as the rest of me.

I shall wear seamed stockings and black high heeled oxfords, I may carry a parasol depending on the weather.