FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY

Divider_GoldMoth

A Gown Fit for a Queen

stitch-1

SUBMITTED BY:

Marlene OBrien

LINKS:

CATEGORY:

(click images to to enlarge)

Outline the story …

I designed this 1770 Robe à l'anglaise Gown with the inspiration from extravagant dresses seen in French Court during the 18th century & the book "Becoming Marie Antoinette" by Juliet Grey. I wanted a gown fit for a Queen and I could just imagine Marie Antoinette wearing this gown entering a ball with hair as tall as ceiling a giant lace vicorian style collar and dressed from head to toes in lavish jewellery.

Outline the construction…

1770 Robe à l'anglaise Gown drafted from a historically accurate pattern. A Pannier and petticoat are worn underneath. The interior is all made with standard cotton curtain lining and the exterior is a cotton damask fabric. The fabric on the petticoat is the reverse of the fabric on the gown for colour contrast. All seams were matched to pattern except the back was slightly off due to the pleats. The sleeves wear particularly challenging to insert smoothly and took several attempts. Pleats on side of gown were all added by hand a technique referred as fingerpleats. And the hem on gown was all hand sewn.

COMMENTS

Divider_GoldMoth

21 Comments

  1. Avatar Theodore Allegrini on March 11, 2021 at 9:14 pm

    Stunning! Looks so great!

    • Avatar Marlene OBrien on March 13, 2021 at 1:37 pm

      Thank you very much

  2. Avatar Maria Jones on March 12, 2021 at 9:50 pm

    Lovely work! I used this same fabric for an Anne Boleyn costume a couple of years ago so it’s really interesting to see how well it works for other centuries too

    • Avatar Marlene OBrien on March 13, 2021 at 1:38 pm

      Oh really I’d love to see it..!! I loved this fabric I also made a gown for my daughter to match and 2 blazers 😍

  3. Sparrow on March 13, 2021 at 12:48 am

    And I complain about hand-hemming my skirts when they’re only three yards around! You had a lot of dedication.

    • Avatar Marlene OBrien on March 13, 2021 at 1:40 pm

      Not going to lie the hand sewing was challenging it was never ending 😂

  4. Avatar Elena Migliorin on March 13, 2021 at 10:58 am

    This dress is really amazing! The choice of the fabric, how it drapes, how it fits.. Simply stunning! Very good job! I wish you good luck with the competition!

    • Avatar Marlene OBrien on March 13, 2021 at 1:40 pm

      Thank you so much

  5. Avatar Amanda on March 19, 2021 at 1:33 am

    Wow!! Amazing job with such a gorgeous bold print!

    • Avatar Marlene OBrien on March 19, 2021 at 5:36 pm

      Thank you so much 😊

  6. Avatar Becky C on March 19, 2021 at 1:32 pm

    This print! The lace! The pleating! I adore this. It’s absolutely stunning. You’ve done an incredible job.

    • Avatar Marlene OBrien on March 19, 2021 at 5:37 pm

      Thank you so much it really is one of my favourite I’ve ever made 🤓

  7. Avatar Phanuel Jagna Levinsen on March 20, 2021 at 10:56 pm

    Oh how the pleats fit into the pattern of the fabric…. This is so satisfying to look at!

    • Avatar Marlene on March 31, 2021 at 7:02 pm

      Thank you I love a good match 😍

  8. Avatar Giorgio Ronchi on March 25, 2021 at 11:44 pm

    It’s a bautiful gown, congratulations!

  9. Avatar Benigna on March 26, 2021 at 1:17 pm

    Oh My Goodness! This dress is stunning! The fabric is wonderful!

    • Avatar Marlene on March 31, 2021 at 7:03 pm

      Thanks so much I loved this fabric used every last scrap 🤓

  10. Avatar Kikkii von Fustian on March 29, 2021 at 11:20 am

    Such a beautiful gown, well done!

  11. Avatar Nina Martin on March 30, 2021 at 6:48 pm

    I’m in awe!

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.