Adventures in hat making: Edwardian hat

Just some of the supplies and this is supposed to become a hat one day...


Today I cut the pattern pieces for my Edwardian hat and put aside the things I need to make the basic hat. Although I have a pattern for the hat, Universal Round Brimmed, Straight Sided Crown, Hatpattern by Lynn Mc Masters I felt a little overwhelmed while reading the instructions for the first time.

I have used one of her patterns before and the hat turned out just fine.
http://costumediaries.blogspot.com/2009/02/adventures-in-victorian-hat-making.html

I made a cardboard mock-up in the size required for the version I intended to make, but decided that it is too big for me. Even if Edwardian hat are supposed to be HUGE. I would like to be able to wear it without feeling ridiculous and without straining my neck, so I will make the brim smaller.


This is me, feeling rather silly



The idea is to make a black hat with purple details and black and purple decorations.


Some examples from the period, proving that an Edwardian hat is supposed to be HUGE.






But the size of the brim did vary a lot, so I guess I can make the brim a little bit smaller without the hat losing to much of it's character.

Edwardian Coat Suit; Historical Costume Inspiration Festival Entry

Historical Costume Inspiration Festival



Inspiration:
Purple, Liberty&Co, wool and silk shantung walking costume, dated ca. 1906-1907, part of the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag collection. Here on display during the exhibition Haagse Hofmode.



My version of the skirt is made from purple wool, with a detached corselette aka swiss waist.The original skirt was a corset skirt with the corselette attached. I made it with a detached corselette to make the costume more versatile.

Corselette







Embriodery made after an Self Transferable Embroidery Pattern, from May of 1908 out of McCall’s Magazine.








The skirt worn with the matching coat. The coat has big black glass buttons which are vintage and probably date back to 1910-1920 and silk details.

On page 78 of Haute Couture & Prêt-à-Porter, fashion 1750-2000, by Ietse Meij you can find an image of the coat that went with the original skirt. I am not allowed to publish the image here, due to copyright.

Although the coat has Edwardian features it is not typical for a Edwardian Costume, which ofcourse is logical, as it is a Liberty& Co costume. So again I decided not to try and copy the coat but make a, more recognizable for the period, Edwardian coat. Like the ones depicted here in an ad from Grands Magasins Du Printemps, Paris, 1909.



Coat and skirt are made with the Edwardian Coat Suit pattern by Rocking Horse Farm. The white cotton blouse is an altered version of The Gibson Girl Blouse from Folkwear. And the Corselette is made with Truly Victorian #492, 1890's Corselets.

The costume is worn with the correct underpinnings, for more information go to A Victorian Wardrobe and click on Edwardian Walking Costume.

Next stop will be a BIG Edwardian hat!

Edwardian Coat Suit

Today I tried on my Edwardian Coat Suit, with all the other costume parts (blouse, underwear etc.), underneath it. And to my great delight discovered that the only thing that has to be altered is the armhole. Hurraaaaaayyyy!!! And then it can be finished!

The picture doesn't do the suit justice: it is made from purple wool. The collar and the decorative strip, on bottom, the sleeves are from purple silk.

Website Update

Being sick and tired of being sick and tired, since the last event, and not getting any costuming done. I updated the picture gallery of our Muninn and Huginn website. So everything has it's upside I guess !

I hope I'll be able to do some costuming soon, because I am getting really frustrated.