Historical Costume
Reconstructions and experimentation
16th Century Landsknecht
Made in calico
Experimenting with sleeve volume to create a German Landsknecht toile alongside Ninya Mikhaila at The Tudor Tailor for one of their private commissions.
18th Century Robe à la française
Made in calico, corset and stomacher in decorative fabric
This toile was created as part of a Costume Making course I undertook at Central Saint Martins, with a simple 18th Century corset underneath to create the correct conical silhouette.
18th Century Panniers
Made in calico with steel boning
To create the exaggerated shape in the Robe à la française, these bucket-like panniers support the skirt out to the sides.
18th Century undergarments - Simplicity pattern 8162
Chemise and hip pads made in white cotton, corset in coutil and decorative fabric
An 18th Century dress needs the correct base!
Victorian Corset - Diane Favell pattern
Made in coutil with binding and spiral steel boning
Creating a Victorian silhouette with a more curved corset than the 18th century stays.
1860s Evening Dress
Made in calico with chiffon/netting for sleeves
A boned bodice and wide set sleeves using Janet Arnold's 'Patterns of Fashion 2', with a two-tiered voluminous skirt over a hooped underskirt.
1920s Dress Transformation
Made in a blue crepe with tiny decorative beads
This dress started life as a different two piece for a few sizes bigger, and was transformed into a 1920s inspired flapper dress. Read more here.
1950s Full Skirted Dress
Made in rayon
A self-drafted '50s inspired dress with a circular skirt and fitted bodice. Read more and watch the making-of video here.
1960s Queen's Gambit Dress
Made in green double gauze and black tightly woven fabric
A recreation of one of Beth Harmon's dresses from The Queen's Gambit, made in a stiffer fabric than her lightweight crepe. Read more and watch a video of the making-of process here.