Okay, so I’ve been totally obsessed with 18th-century fashion lately, especially the gothic vibes. I decided I had to try and recreate a look myself. It was… a journey, let me tell you.
Diving In Head First
First, I scoured the internet for inspiration. I looked at tons of portraits and museum exhibits online, trying to get a feel for the shapes and fabrics. I quickly realized this wasn’t going to be a simple “throw on a black dress” kind of project.
The Underpinnings – Oh Boy
The biggest challenge? The undergarments. Seriously, these ladies wore layers. I started with a basic shift – basically a long, loose linen dress. That was easy enough to sew. But then came the stays (a corset-like thing). I found a pattern online and, after a few very frustrating attempts and a lot of seam ripping, I managed to make something that resembled stays. It wasn’t perfect, but it gave me the right silhouette.
- Shift: Easy peasy, just a simple linen dress.
- Stays: The bane of my existence, but I conquered it (sort of).
The Outer Layers – Getting Fancy
Next up, the petticoat. I chose a dark, heavy fabric – I think it was some kind of wool blend? – and gathered it like crazy to get that nice, full shape. I did all the gathering by hand, so my fingers were pretty sore by the end. Finally made it, and was so satisfyed.
Then, the actual dress. I opted for a robe à la Française, which is basically a gown with a fitted bodice and a really wide, open skirt. I found some gorgeous black silk (okay, it was probably polyester, but it looked like silk) and draped it over the petticoat. I had no idea how to actually construct this thing, so I just pinned and tucked and prayed. I also was so carefull when use the pins, it is made of silk and I don’t wanna to broke it.
The Finishing Touches – It’s All in the Details
Accessories! I added some black lace trim to the sleeves and neckline, and I made a little black velvet choker. I also found a pair of old-fashioned shoes at a thrift store and painted them black.I also created a big, dramatic hairstyle with lots of curls and powder (baby powder, actually – it worked surprisingly well!).
The Final Result!
Honestly, it was a lot of work, but I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It’s definitely not historically accurate, but it captures the gothic spirit of the 18th century. It took me around 100 hours to made it, and I also spend aroud 200 dollars for all materials. I wore it to a costume party, and everyone loved it! It was super uncomfortable, though. I have no idea how those 18th-century women managed to wear all those layers every day. Mad respect.
