Halloween – Fashion Through Herstory

Handmaid’s tale (photoshoot)

Published on September 4, 2018 by fashionthrougherstory4 Comments

I think no one have missed the awfully good series that is Margater Atwoods “The Handsmaids Tale” – and I say “awfully” because it is So good and yet so horrible when you think about how close such a future might be.
And if you haven’t seen it, Do! you will be moved, and angry, terrified, and totally addicted.

With hate and misogynous thinking creeping back (or maybe it never really disapered to begin with) into our minds.
With les than a week left to the Swedish election for parliament, I actually fear that we are going backward, and instead of learning from history, we are headed head long into Atwoods dystopian future.

So, to show my opposition against the hate and backward thinking of these parties, I wanted to do a “Handmaids tale” photoshoot.

For this shoot I’m wearing My 1550s Kirtle with apron and cap, a bumrol, embroidered shift, mittens and most importantly my red “riding hood” cape.
I also managed to get a few shots with my baby girl E (her clothes are all modern).

“Freedom, like everything else is relative” (The Handmaid’s tale 2017)

“Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it” (The handmaid’s tale 2017)

“Under his eye…”

“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum/ Don’t let the bastards grind you down” (The handmaid’s tale 2017)

“They should never have given us uniforms, if they didn’t want us to be an army” (Handmaid’s tale 2017)

“Ordinary is what you’r used to” (the Handmaid’s tale 2017)

“Better never means better for everyone…It always means worse, for someone.” (“Handsmaid’s tale 2017)

“Stop! Don’t touch my baby girls rights!”

“Praised be, bitch!” (Handmaid’s tale 2017)

Photos by: Maria Petersson

Halloween Theme: 1850s portraiture

Published on October 29, 2017October 26, 2017 by fashionthrougherstoryLeave a comment

Another theme for this Halloween countdown:

Modell: Matilda Tengdelius

Halloween Theme: The Hour of the Witch

Published on October 28, 2017October 26, 2017 by fashionthrougherstory1 Comment

Something les gruesome (then yesterday), but still pretty suggestive and mystical:

Modell: Pernilla Anderzén

Halloween Theme: The execution of Anne Boleyn

Published on October 27, 2017October 26, 2017 by fashionthrougherstoryLeave a comment

The Halloween themes continue:

Warning! There are some gruesome pics in this post…

Modell: Ebba Petrén (& Elin Evaldsdotter)

Halloween theme: Lovers Re-united

Published on October 26, 2017 by fashionthrougherstory2 Comments

I found some photos from a Halloween photoshoot I did with some friends back in 2015 that never got posted

Here are the first batch: Modells: Denise Hernstöm & Pernilla Anderzen

2016 in Review

Published on January 2, 2017 by fashionthrougherstory2 Comments

2016 is one of those years we will always remember for it’s tragic events, raising lack of humanity/ compassion for the most vulnerable in our society (and world).

But for me, 2016 will always be one of the mot important years in my life – it’s the year my son was born.

Thus a big change in my priority’s (and time/energy) leaving my sewing somewhat on the backwater.
And taking into account that I had a 6 months hiatus from sewing last winter(Oct 2015 – April 2016) there is a miracle I managed anything at all. But I did actually finish a few items both before and after my delivery in June.

And here they are:

1790s printed Roundgown:

Viscose 1790s Roundgown (both with and without baby-bump)

Regency Petticoat

Babyclothes:
Modern:
Jackets, bodys, pants, hats and rompers several of each.

Historical:
A hat and shirt for a newborn

Halloween:
Henry VIII Costume

Menswear:
(not yet posted about)

Medieval shirt:

Regency Shirt:

1950s turquoise viscose dress:

1450s Italian Gown:

1400s Chemise

1450s Italian Court Gown

1550s Elizabethan gown:

Brocade gown

Quilted petticoat

I’ve also finished a few minor projects like, hemming skirts/pants, sewing curtains/pillows, adjusting dresses etc.

And as always I have a few things on their way which I didn’t manged to finish before the new year (but which hopefully will be completed in he following months).

Al in all I think I did pretty well with my 3 mayor project, which all has been on my wishlist for quite some time.

Henry the Eight – Don’t be such a baby

Published on December 13, 2016 by fashionthrougherstory7 Comments

2 (or 3 months) ago, when deciding on projects for Halloween (Elizabeth I for me) I realizes that this would be the first (of many?) costumes I would make for my baby, and that I really wanted it to be special.

So what would I dress my chubby redheaded infant as for his first Halloween…?

The answer came to me pretty fast:
Hernry VIII – of course

Portrait by Holbein d.y. and the one I used as reference for my baby costume.

I started by taking a close look at the inspiration/reference pic, and flipping through the pages of “The Tudor Tailor” I found what I needed.
Male Tudor outfit.

Then I hit the fabric store in search for some suitable fabrics.Left to right: Brown fake fur (stash), burgundy/red singel Jersey, grey/silver printed Jersey, white knitted leggings and golden trim.

Since this was to be a costume worn (once) by an infant I decided to make it as easy and wearable (read soft/comfy) as possible, using Jersey fabrics and omitting anything complicated (like slashes) or small/sharp (like beading and pearls).
I also decided it was totally acceptabel to cheat as much as possible 🙂

My first move vas to get a pair of white leggings/tights from a well known clothing store.

Then it was time for the actual sewing.

I started with the body using a baby pattern I used previous and knew and liked. I stitched it up using my serger and a double needle on the edges.

The finished Body:I like that it is usable as a modern/regular piece on its own.

Next piece was the “skirt”, which was made from a lenght of fabric which I hemed and pleated to a elastic waistband.

The finished skirt:

Then it was time for the main piece – the cape

I cut a rektangel from the red fabric, folded it over cut it open at the front and pleated it at the shoulders. Then I stitched on some decoration.

The sleeves was made from rectangles stitched together, decorated and gathered at top and bottom. Ignore the wonkyness – I stitched this with my baby sleeping in the carrier on my belly, so not the best attention to detail.

Then I cut the fur collar from a piece of stash fabric.

Pining and stitching the fake fur to the cape.

The finished Cape:

Lastly I made a small hat/beret from a circle and a strip of black jersey.

The finished hat:

This was such a fun project and I really love how the little coat/cape came out.

and finaly

Here’s some photos of my own prince wearing the outfit:

“Eat all the things…”

And some pics with the two of us together (Elizabeth I and Henry VIII)

Photos: Elin Evaldsdotter

Elizabeth I – Photoshoot (Movie inspired)

Published on November 22, 2016November 20, 2016 by fashionthrougherstory2 Comments

Once everything for my “Elizabeth I” was finished I dressed up for the photoshoot – which just happened to be on Halloween 🙂

I’m wearing my Elizabeth gown accessoriced with my fake ermine cape, Tudor jewelry, neckruff and plastic crown and septer (and a hideus plastic wig).

Then I removed the regalia to try to resemble the cleaner, more innocent (?) look earlier in the movie, and the edgy cover photo.

This pic would be perfect for any historic harlequin novel – don’t you think

Photo: Elin Evaldsdotter

A Royal Cape – Fake it ’til you make it

Published on November 20, 2016 by fashionthrougherstory5 Comments

To turn my Elizabeth I dress into something a bit more royal, I decided to make an ermine cape.

I originally wanted to make a coronation robe like the one my inspiration painting (below), but since I only got scraps left from the dress fabric, I opted for a simpler (and more theatrical/fake) style.

I used my old cape pattern, and a soft white fake fur I bought a few years back to made a short cape.

Then I cut small pieces of a black fur trim I had in my stash and placed them on the cape to get the ermine look.Testing the spaces of the black “tails”.