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Regency Ivanhoe
(click images to to enlarge)
Outline the story …
I discovered Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe when I was 11 years old, and it quickly became one of my favorites. It was the first book I discovered with a character whose unique name was the same as my own, and I felt a sense of pride and ownership toward the story. This year, I finally decided to honor that literary love by crafting an outfit inspired by Lady Rowena of Ivanhoe using only second-hand fabric and resources close at hand. I knew that sourcing lots of second-hand wool for a 12th-century kirtle would be difficult, so instead of designing a gown for Lady Rowena in the 12th century setting of the original novel, I wondered: what might Lady Rowena have worn if the plot of Ivanhoe were set in 1819 instead? (the year the novel was first published). With that inspiration, I decided to sew a morning gown: the gown that Lady Rowena might have worn in 1819 to have breakfast with Cedric, and then wear at her desk to pen letters to her promised Wilfred of Ivanhoe. I also wanted a pair of stays to wear under the gown to help create an accurate silhouette and to complete an entire outfit: shift, stays, petticoat, and gown.
Outline the construction…
I used entirely second-hand fabric for this project and wanted to maintain as much historical appropriateness as possible. This was the first gown I’ve ever drafted, and I spent lots of time researching extant examples online. The Regency short stays were made using RedThreaded’s pattern from Etsy. These stays are the first I’ve made, and I thought that short stays would be an accurate choice for a casual morning gown, rather than full-length Regency stays. The stays are lined in thrifted linen, and the fashion fabric is red wool from a vintage thrift store skirt. I chose red wool for the stays as an artistic nod back to the popular red wool of the 12th century. Even though Lady Rowena’s gown is an 1819 style, I wanted a little hint of the original novel setting to be buried in the costume. The gown itself is made from a printed cotton that I found in my mom’s sewing cabinet over the holidays. I recognized the print as the leftover fabric from an old skirt that my mom had made me when I was a little girl. It was my first costume skirt, and the remaining yardage had been stored away in her cabinet for years. Not only was the cotton print a perfect choice for an 1819 gown, but it was also a great way to use up old fabric that had so much sentimental value for me.
This is such a pretty dress and I love the red wool stays. I’m so impressed that you drafted the dress yourself. You look lovely!
The inside looks very neat! You can clearly see the hard work that went into this piece❤
Great job! And all made out of second-hand fabric? You are not only lovely and beautiful, but also conscientious.
This is very pretty. I really like the fabric choice here. The stays are wonderful! Thank you!
Really love the printed cotton you used for this dress, and the story behind it is so sweet. The ribbon on the bottom compliments it so well. I like the idea of adapting the story to the year it was published. Way to create a full functional ensemble!