Last weekend when dressing for the “Mikelsmäss” I spent 1 hour on my hair (curling, styling and tying the turban) and the remaining 10 minutes to get the rest of the costume on.
This was not a good way to do it, since I usally count at least 30 minutes for the dressing. So I ended up going “half dressed” to the event, and needed help with getting the fichu right and to close the dress when I arriwed.
The reason why it takes so long getting dressed, are of course the many different layers of clothing you need to get the right look of your costume. And tying a back laced corset on your own takes both skills and time.
So here is an other “un-dressing” post – Regency style.
Lets start fully dressed in: Gown and fichu, whit a headress (turban) and some accessoares like mittens and a shawl.
You could also wear a open robe or a spencer over the dress, and a few more accessoares like a riddicule (bag), muff, fan or a parasol.
Lets take away the accessories.
By now you could call yourself dressed and be on your way. But you would need some small items/accessoares to compleate the look of your costume.
Once we take the gown of, we reveal the complete fichu, the petticoat and the some of the corset.
The fichu is a pice of sheer fabric shaped as a rectangel or a tiangel. Ladies used it to cover the neck and bust, and pined it on before putting on the gown.
Removing the fichu we now view the top part of the corset and the petticoat.
The regency lady could also have worn an extra under-dress on top of the undergarmnents, to prevent see-througness in verry sheer gowns.
And then we are down to the underpinings with the corset, chemise, stockings and shoes.
The chemise are worn to keep the swett and dirt from the body away from the corset.
The corset could also be in a short style (ending right below the bust), or in a wraping style.
It is important to remember to put the shoes on before the corset – since it is very difficult to lace or attach buckles while fully corsetted.
Fashion Through Herstory 