Teal Victorian Bustle Doll Dress!

[mystico_tala]

Finished my first doll costume!  Made for a 20" Madame Alexander Cissy Doll from the 50's that used to be my grandmothers.  I wanted the dress to be as historically accurate as I could make it, so there was quite a bit of internet searching and research involved.  All the materials are recycled or things I had before.  All the rosettes were hand made.

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-->More pictures at the bottom of the post

The corset is based on a ribbon corset from the book Corsets: Historical Patterns and techniques.  It closed in the back with hook and eyes.  The chemise and the bustle pad were based on drawings in a Victorian Fashion Plate book that I have.

The bodice is from the pattern here.  A bodice pattern from 1875.  No instructions, so I guessed at the construction as best I could from the pictures.  Very, very confusing.  Closed with mini snaps in the front, gold is rickrack.

The skirt was based on a pattern from my Patterns of Fashion 2 book.  A late 1870's skirt.

The overskirt is completely made up.  I wanted it asymmetrical and a bit avant garde.  It was inspired by the dresses in The Secret of Moonacre.

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I'm quite proud of it and very happy with how it turned out!  I hope you enjoyed it

There are more construction notes on the Underclothes and the Dress on my blog.  The links go to the appropriate posts, no searching involved

~Nikki

[FoxyBlue]

WOW WOW WOW!!! That's so amazing!!!

[Sandroo]

wow.  the details are amazing!  i would have loved to have a doll like that when i was younger.  now -my kids would just destroy it.  LOL.

do you find it difficult to work in miniature - is it hand-stitched or did you use a machine? 

again, amazing!

[theatreorchid]

Oh wow.  Incredible detail, beautiful fabric choice, and I really love her little corset.  Rocks!

[Dragonflower]

Wow- that's so impressive! I made Barbie clothes for a little cousin once and they were constructed of 90% swearing; I can't imagine doing something so detailed. Here little corset is just so awesome!
Overall, it's just beautiful.

[mystico_tala]

Thanks!!

Some of the bigger seams - the skirt pieces and the main bodice pieces- I used a serger (a 3 thread mini serge stitch) because the fabrics unravel pretty badly, but most everything other than major seams had to be handstitched (hems, sleeves, details)
After I got used to working in miniature it wasn't bad, it just seemed very time consuming with all the handwork.  Probably took me as long as people sized clothes usually take me!  And after a while my hands would just be shaking from all the tiny work and I would have to stop for a while.

I think I'll make a few regular sized outfits for myself next, but I still have some ideas for some doll clothes, so the experience wasn't bad enough to put me off it.   And the main reason I did it was because I would KILL to make full size costumes and whatnot, but the fabrics just cost way too much....and I would probably never wear them.  So....best of both worlds, sort of.

Thanks again!

[aisy]

stunning!

[sbanks156]

If I had one of these dresses I would wear it every Sunday to church and on special occasions.

It is just gorgeous. I love this period for dresses.

[pnp]

Adorable. I love the details and wow i can see so much hardwork. You did a great job:)

[amigurl55]

That is beautiful!  You did a great job on it!