The Librarian - Chemise

Step two on the Librarian Costume - the Chemise.

I decided that for the chemise, I already had the perfect pattern, of a sort.

This is a pink nightgown that I wear around the house most of the summer.  It is comfortable enough to wear, while being modest enough that I don't mind stepping outside to take out the trash.  And, it is the right general shape for a Victorian chemise.  

The Librarian - Bloomers

Librarian costume - Bloomers.

The first step in my Librarian costume is the bloomers.  Research has shown that these are optional at this time, but if I’m going to be making an entire neo-victorian costume from the ground up, why skimp here?  

There were two styles of bloomers which were common during the Late Bustle period - open and closed.  The open style was open from above the inner leg seam to the waistband, allowing (one might assume) for ease of access when visiting the necessary.  The closed style was, of course, closed.  

Since I’ve experienced first hand the frustrations of using the restroom while wearing a corset and skirts (much less the full panoply that I’m going for here), I decided the open style might better fit my needs.  

The Librarian

I have had a deep and abiding love for costuming for as long as I could remember.  I’ve dabbled in costuming here and there, but various internal and external factors have prevented me from doing anything too elaborate and large.  However, I’ve decided to go ahead and take the plunge into full blown insanity, and make a neo-victorian costume from the skin up.  

Introduction

Welcome to Lady Envy's Adventures in Time and Sewing.  

I, Lady Envy, shall be your hostess today.  How pleasant to make your acquaintance. Please, come in and have a seat.  Tea?

I hope you will find this blog both entertaining and inspiring, and preferably not in the "examples of things to avoid" manner. 

My goal in this blog is to be a running diary of my progress in sewing historically inspired outfits or costumes.  My main love in the Late Bustle era, but I am also tempted by earlier clothing styles. 

I will attempt to post on a semi-regular basis, but of course life has a way of interfering with the best laid plans, so forgive me if it is less often than one might wish. 

But for now, please sit and refresh yourself.  Biscuit?