Victorian Picnic by the Shore

Today I got to do something I almost never get to do: play dress-up with other people just for fun!

*Warning: this is an image-heavy post*  It would actually be really great to get some feedback about this: what do you think of the photo size?  How are they for loading? (I didn’t compress them before posting) Are there too many?  Any and all (constructive) feedback would be most appreciated!

My new-ish historical sewing friend, Sarah, invited me to come along with her and a friend, Edith, to dress in our 1880s outfits and go for a picnic.  Over May & June I had made an 1880s summer outfit for an event in July, but hadn’t gotten good photos of it yet.  I knew this would be a perfect opportunity, and who can resist a picnic on a beautiful day?  Especially since Sarah actually brought real china tea cups to drink out iced tea in (she made an earl grey iced tea with a bit of cinnamon, which was SO lovely, I made one with Lady Grey tea).

I’ll try to do a post or two more about this outfit showing the insides of the bodice, maybe featuring the bonnet, and talking more about fabrics, construction, process.  Today, it’s all about the pretty shots!

Ladies Who Lunch – Old School!

Left to right: Me, Edith, and Sarah

Turns out Edith’s undergrad was pretty similar to mine in terms of program (Visual art BFA doing photography, drawing, painting and sculpture – I didn’t do sculpture), so she graciously agreed to take photos of me in my dress:

Oh look, over there – something!

I got some lovely shots of Edith, of course she’s beautiful and terribly photogenic so I think it may be more difficult to get a bad shot of her than a good one!

Then Sarah made it down the hill to join us (walking down uneven hills in bustles & corsets is worth noting)

Is Sarah’s hat not the most fabulous thing ever?!  Maybe not exactly period, but it’s way too awesome to care!!

My favourite photo of Sarah of the day – not least because it’s one of the very rare times I’ve used a flash to good effect!

Look at that regal bearing!

Please, please Sarah & Edith, can we do that again soon?  And make sure we have time for croquet and/or badminton!