This spring I’m initialing some changes to my page.
The first step was the namnchange, which I’m sure you’d noticed by now.
Also I’m going to get better at changing up the “Header” picture, once in a while.
I currently have 10 new ones, that I’m dying to show you…
The second bigger change is going to be the “Shop” section of this page.
I’m currently working on some stock items that would serve as the base for my costuming business
(can you say 18th century Anglaise or Regency Evening gowns).
This will take some time to sort out though, but soon you’d be able to purchase your very own dress/costume right here.
To give you a feel of what’s coming, and of what it takes to get one item up in the shop – here is a quick behind the scenes of the “Fashion through Herstory” headquarter…
My name is Åsa and this is my one* person business
Me, writing a blogpost while still wearing a Spencer mock-up I just fitted on myself…
*I do depend greatly on my two sisters (for photoshoots among other things), and my boyfriend for support.
And could not do this without any of them.
And of course my soon to be 2 year old son for all the “Help” he gives me;-)
“Look mummy! Your button box fits perfectly on my head…”
If you’d ever sewn anything yourself you know there is quite a lot time and thought in every project.
For me, almost everything starts with drafting a pattern (either from scratch, or combining different ones to a new shape)
Then I cut and stitch the garment.
Cutting several garment at the same time to save some time.
If it is intended for someone special I also make a mock-up to check the fit.
Testing a paper mock-up over the right undergarment to see the over all fit.
Adding lace to a 17th century headdress.
Once the garment is finished, I mount it on one of my dressforms to take some Product shots.
Then it’s time to call in the cavalry to get help with the photoshoot.
We usually try to photograph several pieces at once, with multiple dress-changes and a lot of planing (like “who’s wearing that petticoat when?” and “Which hairstyle need to be photographed first?”) behind.
18th century hair for my sister.
I’m also getting pretty used to making crazy hairstyles 😉 
Making sure everything fit as it should, and that the boobs are properly pouffed up 😉
Me photographing my sister – once that done it’s her time to take some pics of me/my dress.
Among about 300 photos I then select about 10-15 to be edited and uploaded to this page.
So even though I’ve been sewing and photographing for a few months, It’s still going to take some time to get everything up and running in the shop.
The third thing I’m working on for this page is to update the “Portfolio” – both with my new stuff, but mostly to re-arrange and make the page more user friendly.
I’m going to chop it up into more easy to view portions, and take a good look at what I’m preenting here altogether.
A new page for early history-Medieval times.
I also plan make a page for “Tutorials” and “Tips & trix” – like “how do you best make those eyelets?” and “You used what?”
Please do tell if there is sometinmg particuar you’d like to learn more about.
Finally I’m going to start the cumbersome work of updating pictures and adding sorces to my old blogpost.
(This might be seen as a work in progress for a long time, but I’ve been far to lax with stating sources and saving links to other peoples work, and I really want to remedy that).
I think that was that 🙂
Now back to my sewing and usual posting.
It’s going to be an awesome event – be there if you can 🙂
For the HSM2017 Challenge nr 1 – First and last, I made a fast and simple Regency Apron, from fabric i had in my stash.
The first piece for her 1860s ensamble, was made in a beautiful light green cotton satin from my stash.
While I was on it I made one for me to in a flowery coutil I had bought for just such a project a few years ago.
I made the whole thing a bit smaller by taking out the added guesets, and a bit more comfortable by removing 2/3 oft the boning. So much better!
For the HSM 3/2017 – Outdoors, I made a Regency Spencer n a lovely burgundy and black colored wool.
To complete my sisters 1860s underwear I made a Huge orange Crinoline (and petticoat) out of a cotton sheet and some (a lot, actually) bits of metal pipe cleaners.
For the HSM 4/2017 – Squares and rectangles, in made a Grecian chiton in an (totaly inapropirate and hiddeous) poly satin.
To finish of my sisters ensamble I made her a 1860s evening gown from a teal colored curtain sprinkled with silver sparkles (each attached by hand, by me). This gown also fitted the HSM Challenge 5/2017 – Literature, and since I teqnically finished (I made the final touches and added the belt) in may, I say it works.
I just couldn’t resist the lovely purple bedsheet when I found it on sale at my local chain store. The urge to turn it into something crazy (like a 1820-30s dress) came soon after. And I just love how quirqy and colorful the whole ensamble looks.
Another one I’m shoe-horning into the HSM – nr 7/2017 – Fashion Plate, since this needed to be worn in June, but since I found the perfect fashion plate to mimic I knew I had to enter it. This dress is yet another one made from beddings.
My original plan for the HSM 6/2017 – metallics, was this jade colored 1-hour dress, maybe decorated with some silvery gems, but once finished I liked it as it was and I decided to leve it bare.
So I ended up using one of my long stashed sequnied fabrics for this sparkly bit of 1920s evening dress – Which fit perfectly into the June challenge.
I made this dress as part of “Romantic Recollections” Regency challenge where you where asked to make something from the Regency era and then emelish it. I’m really happy about how it turned ot and the matching bag (where I tried my hand at silk embroidery for the first time) is one of my favourites.
I started this project about 3 years ago and finally took the time to finish it this summer, and I’m so happy I did. It’s so joyfully over the top that it fit perfect for the HSM 8/2017 – Ridicuolus.
I’m so happy how this dress turned from something “Not even worth selling” to “I’m keeping this one for me”.
Yet another “over the top” dress, this time for the HSM 9/2017 – Seen on Screen. I made this dress to wear at an Baroque ball tis fall, but once my planes fell through I still managed to get it finished in time for the HSM.
Both to challenge myself for the HSM 10/2017 – Out of Your Comfort zone, and to add another few pieces to my ever growing stock, I made 3 Regency Wests and 1 Pair of pantalons.
For a friends 1920s themed Halloween-party, I made a black velvet skirt and a blue/black ribbed Cocoon coat, which sadly never got worn due to my whole family getting sick with the flu.
For my dance teams annual Regency ball I updated my old evening gown with some gold leafs and added a Court train (cut short for dancing).
The first batch of long and short sleeved T-shirts for my little boy.
I begun the work on the apron on this fashion plate back in December and it will be both my first entry into 1810-20s (late Regency), and possibly the last piece of this ensemble I can finish this year (even though I would love to make the dress and bonnet as well).
The dress is worn during the coronation styled with a massive coronation robe and beautiful regalia.
Pros:
The familiar scenery of Söderköping.
I really need to do something about that neckline (or work a bit more on my posture)…
Fashion Through Herstory 
