Jenny La Fleur

My Redingote is continuing to not go well. At all.

I don't know what is wrong with me and it's horribly frustrating. I fix one thing and three more problems show up. It's like that monster in Greek mythogy... whatever the name is... For all my effort so far all I have is a completely unusable set of toiles. To continue I will need to start again from scratch.

So after a finial fitting where I didn't know if I wanted to cry or throw things, I had a long talk with Mom (who was kindly helping with the fitting) and Bridget (via phone) and have decided for the sake of mental health to shelve the project. I just can't deal with it at the moment.

I want to believe I have the ability to do this but apparently I need lots of time to figure it out. I knew this outfit was going to be out of my comfort zone but not this brutal. I can't do it in 3 weeks - is just too much going on with work, family, church and making B something too. The part of me that is stubborn wants to dig my heels in and keep trying but I know if I try I'll only be miserable, unhappy with the results and possibly in a straight jacket at the end of it.

*sigh*

So I spent most of my Easter day going through files & books trying to come up with something else to wear. It took a little time but I now have a slight glimmer of excitement about this stupid event once again. I've decided to make a perriot jacket and matching petticoat along the lines of this:
http://www.chateauwhite.com/jenny/fashion/1790-rev69-cp2.jpg

Not quite "riding attire" but it will pass for a traveling costume. I'm using a lovely avocado green and chocolate brown stripe I had ear-marked for a Spencer. My 18th century need is greater at the moment... pics to come...

I had a spurt of energy this afternoon (didn't last too long blah) and worked on the redingote. I cut out a new toile and tried it on. The front doesn't look to bad I guess but the back needs a lot of work. Those wrinkles in the back, none of that is stress - that is the way it lays. So frustrating!

I think the seam angles are just wrong. I really like that curvy back seam line thing but it simply doesn't work on my body. Every time I've tried it this is what happens (to some degree). So back to the equally historic but not as "cool" straighter back seams. *sigh*

What do you think of the front collars, I know the back of the top one needs work. I don't know if I like them or not.

I think I've been looking at this project for too long. I wish my deadline on this wasn’t so close, I'd love to put it on the back burner. Of all the projects half started and mulling around in my head this is the one I want to work on least. And that is without the problems now facing me. I should have picked something less challenging and moved onto something fun. Costuming ADD anyone?

I'm so excited, it's finally time to turn my attention to my Coaching Days outfit! It took me a few months to figure out what I wanted to do for this project: there were so many fun options! A riding habit, a Brunswick, a traveling gown etc...


I've decided to throw caution to the wind and make a Redingote. It's really a little late in style for RCHS but I'm doing it anyway. I'll just tone down my hair and accessories to the late 1770s and no one will know. :>

My inspiration comes from a fashion plate from the Galerie des Modes, a portrait of Marie Antoinette and a dove grey redingote from the film L’Anglaise et le Duc. I'm not sure what is being worn under the film version but Antoinette’s sure looks like a chemise á la Reine to me. In fact almost all of the redingotes I've seen seem to have a lightweight white/pale petticoat underneath that could be a chemise á la Reine. Anyway that is how I'm interpreting it.

The Redingote will be made out of a dress-weight navy blue wool. The cuffs and collars will be faced in pale blue or pale pink silk (I haven't decided yet) and trimmed with period correct pewter buttons. There are so many great hat options that I'm going to get the garment made and see what strikes my fancy. A cane would be fun too.

My chemise á la Reine from the Great CC Chemise Day last year is currently in pieces. Once I saw koshka_the_cat's & demode_kvc's I liked how they constructed theirs better so I’m revamping mine. Also I decided I didn’t care for the stark white on me. White has never been my color but I thought I could live with it in this case. I can’t. So I’m going to dye my fabric, I’m thinking a pale peach or champagne color.

Oh two tidbits of interest -

1- I've heard through the grapevine that the CC Gala has sold out, although I haven't confirmed that myself. I don't have a ticket as I was waiting for birthday money. Moo. Any news on the tea, is it sold out as well?

2- Coaching Days at Stratford Hall is this April! It's an event they do every 3 years featuring coaches, horses and hounds. I just missed the event last time around (my first outfit wasn’t quite finished) so I'm jazzed to be attending this time around. I don't know if the public comes in costume to this (RCHS is part of the official entertainment) but there is a tailgating contest so I'm thinking it might be acceptable at this event. Pictures from the last event here and more info here.

So do I want to make a riding habit, a later traveling gown or a Brunswick? All of them are on my list and would be perfect for the event. I have some lovely navy blue dress-weight wool that would work for any of them... *ponders*