Join me as I create a fantasy ball gown for Venice Is Sinking, an 18th-century-inspired event! This project includes drafting my own patterns, selecting fabrics, and sewing everything from the chemise to the robe à l’anglaise. Follow along as I bring this vision to life!
Creating a historically inspired gown is an intricate process, requiring thoughtful planning and careful material selection. In this post, I’ll walk through the initial stages of my 18th-century inspired fantasy gown project, including fabric choices, construction techniques, and the overall vision for the finished piece.
The Concept
This project is centered around an 18th-century Robe à l’Anglaise, with a celestial-inspired overlay. While the final design will embrace historical silhouettes and techniques, certain modern adaptations will be incorporated for aesthetic and structural purposes. This blog post covers the planning phase. So far, I have only completed the chemise, and much of the sewing process is still ahead.
Fabric Selection
Choosing the right fabrics is essential to achieving both the historical look and the desired level of structure in the garment. Here are the materials I’ve selected so far:
-
Black Matte Satin – This forms the base of the external gown. Its stiffness allows for beautifully structured cartridge pleats, which will be a key design element.
-
Black Chiffon – This lightweight, sheer fabric will be used for the chemise. While historical chemises were commonly made of linen, I opted for chiffon to achieve a soft and flowing effect. The sleeves will remain visible in the final outfit.
-
Black Broadcloth – A tightly woven cotton fabric, perfect for the lining of the bodice and the interlining of the corset. Its breathability and stability make it an excellent choice for structural garments.
In addition to these fabrics, I am awaiting two key materials:
-
Champagne-colored Jacquard Striped Satin – This will be used for the petticoat. In the 18th century, all underskirts were referred to as “petticoats,” regardless of whether they provided volume or not.
-
Embroidered Organza – This will serve as the celestial overlay, adding a delicate, decorative element to the finished gown.
Structural Elements and Construction Plans
To achieve the correct silhouette, I will be wearing paniers under the gown to create the appropriate shape. The corset will be constructed with a combination of spiral steel boning for flexibility and flat steel boning around the grommets for added stability. The bodice of the gown will be boned in a similar manner. I got these bones from Wawak. Incredible shipping from Wawak by the way!
Although I have only completed the chemise at this stage, the next steps involve constructing the corset and petticoat before moving on to the gown itself. Each layer plays an essential role in building the final ensemble, ensuring both historical accuracy and a visually striking result. I am probably going to wind up creating interlinings of both the gown bodice and corset before finishing anything all the way, since I’m still waiting on the final fabrics for both.
Stay tuned for future updates as I progress through the construction of this gown!
