On the same January shopping trip that I unexpectedly found the blush sparkle fabric I made a 1920s dress out of I also unexpectedly found an excellent fabric for a new Regency evening dress. I hadn’t made one in awhile, but I had a Regency weekend coming up and I was wanting something new for the fancier ball (and of course nothing in my stash was inspiring me). In my wanderings around the store, I discovered an organza curtain sheer that brought to mind this particular fashion plate that has been on my ‘to-sew’ list for years.
I’d been on the look-out for a sheer with black stripes but hadn’t found anything suitable. Once I found the curtain fabric, I debated whether to use it for a dress in this style or to hold out for the black stripe. As you’ll see, I decided to call this inspiration fulfilled by the gold striped fabric that I found. It’s polyester, but that means it was a good price. Occasionally, a polyester can be just the thing.
In addition to the Ackerman’s fashion plate, I also borrowed design ideas from two other striped evening gowns: this earlier Costume Parisien fashion plate from 1809 and this image of the Duchess d’Angoulême c. 1815. My dress is a conglomeration of these and the 1819 fashion plate. I borrowed the sheer overdress idea from 1819, the single row of scalloped trim from 1809, and the bias cut sleeves from 1815. I date my dress to 1817, as the fluffy nature of the organza pushes the silhouette towards 1820, but the single row of trim pulls it back from 1819 just a bit.
I have a full compliment of nicely finished underthings that are perfect for making the sheer dress opaque. It was never my intention to be a scandalous Regency lady with minimal underthings! In fact, to make the ensemble sufficiently opaque, I wore my chemise plus two petticoats under the sheer dress. Without the second petticoat it was clear where my chemise ended (at my knees, in case you’re curious), but I didn’t want to have the illusion of scandal with this, I really wanted opacity all the way down.
Like the new pelisse, the sheer dress provided another perfect opportunity to make further use of my Vernet petticoat, which has a lovely eyelet border at the hem. Here’s another view that shows off the lace on the petticoat.
It’s usual for me to meticulously finish the insides of my garments, but in the case of a sheer dress, that desire became a necessity. Accordingly, all of the inside seams are nicely finished with a mix of French, flat felled, and folding seam allowances to hide raw edges and whipping them together. I kept the finished seam allowances small, so that they wouldn’t detract from the stripes.
The bottoms of the sleeves and the front and back necklines are all adjustable with tiny drawstrings made from champagne colored embroidery floss. The goal was to have ties that would blend and not be noticeable through the sheer fabric.
The pattern for this dress was adapted from other Regency dresses I have made. I think I most closely referenced the patterns for my tree gown and square neck gown, but adjusted the fullness to give this dress a little more oomph.
This dress is machine sewn and hand finished. All of the French seaming was done on machine, as was the assembly of the bodice, waistband, and skirt to make a dress, but all of the other stitching (casings, hems, trim, finishing seam allowances in non-French ways, etc.) was done by hand.
The dress has a scalloped trim band around the bottom, set up high enough to show off the lace on the Vernet petticoat. It’s hand hemmed and it seems like miles… though I think it was only about 9 yards. Hemming, gathering, and attaching this was one of the last tasks and it was going right up until about 2am on the morning of the ball. By the time it was being sewn on there was no measuring or sectioning, just eyeballing, so it’s a little wavier than I would normally allow, but one has to make accommodations (sometimes). I was envisioning the scallops would be spaced out more and therefore be more defined, but as I was furiously sewing the trim on I was not about to cut it up and resew it, so all 9 yards made it onto the dress. It’s fine. I’m happy. I do not plan to re-do the fullness of the trim or the placement!
I decided that such a dress needed grand hair and hair ornamentation, and so I justified my desire to wear a tiara by scouring my Pinterest boards for documentation. The Duchess d’Angouleme sports a pretty grand tiara in 1818. And here she is in 1817 wearing what I think is the same tiara.This is Victoria, Duchess of Kent, sporting a fabulous tiara and giant hair poof/bun. Empress Josephine and Caroline Murat (Queen of Naples) have some pretty fabulous tiaras, too. To match the tiara, I accessorized with a pearl necklace and pearl earrings. Worthy of a duchess? I think so!
The Quintessential Clothes Pen 
That is simply stunning! And you handsewed the trim…I’m both astounded and envious. 🙂
Thank you!
Very pretty! A great use of the fabric, and the trim really does finish off the dress.
Thank you! 🙂
This is gorgeous! What a painstaking project, but I think well worth your effort. I know from experience how long all the sewing by hand took, and you have a treasure that will last for always. I love the fabric, the ruffling, the tiara – and you looked great in it.
Thanks very much!
Wow!
Love it! How perfectly elegant. That fabric was a good buy; I’d never have guessed it was poly if you didn’t tell us! 😉 And your tiara is definitely duchess-worthy.
🙂 Letting my secrets out…
Just lovely, Quinn. I was just curious why you didn’t wear a plume as well as the tiara. I think your “poof” hair and grand tiara are elegant. I think the plume might have detracted from the dress and hair/tiara. Just wondering about your thought process on this as so many extant portraits show the ladies wearing feathers.
Thanks, Helen. I usually gravitate towards flowers and tiaras for Regency hair rather than feathers. I don’t believe there’s any particular reason, though. Maybe for a future ball, to change things up… 🙂
Ooooh, pretty! It’s quite regal, especially with the tiara, and I love how nicely it shows off the lovely hem of your petticoat!
🙂 Thank you! I’m very pleased with how well it goes with the petticoat!
Totally stunning, Quinn! Sheers can be fun to work with and to finish completely on the inside (a fun challenge with any project). I LOVE how it shows off the lace of your petticoat, and I personally think the trim is JUST right!!! I browse your blog quite often but don’t usually leave a comment. You sure are an inspiration to me, though! Keep up the fine work, and keep on having fun! Love the tiara and all the accessories too. Sometimes you just need to dress all the way up! 🙂 I’d say you look JUST like a duchess. And straight out of Wives&Daughters, which is a high compliment in my world. 😉
Hi Sarah! Thanks for reading and also for commenting! 🙂 Thank you for the lovely high praise and opinions as well. I look forward to more comments from you.
The somewhat organic quality your hem acquired due to the lack of measuring is actually kind of appealing – there is a beauty in slight inconsistencies! (This is something I am learning constantly, partly in an attempt to reconcile myself to my own imperfect sewing, lol.) It’s a lovely gown overall!
You’re quite right, of course, that there is beauty in inconsistencies, especially as that’s how actual historical clothing is when you inspect it closely. Thanks for the reminder!
You are talented! I like your post, it’s clear and detailed. Every girl has a dream of becoming their own fashion designer.I love it. it’s so beautiful!
Thank you on multiple counts!
This is beautiful! I was looking at some of the same images as inspiration for my most recent regency gown, and I love how we ended up with completely different results. And hooray for last minute 2am sewing!
Thanks, Emma! I remember your striped inspiration as well. 🙂 Very different dresses despite the stripes!
Oh this is fantastic!! And I absolutely love the beautiful petticoat seen underneath!
🙂 Thanks!
I hope you don’t mind me asking, but I would love to know where you bought that beautiful sheer fabric. I’ve been on a desperate search to find one just like it for a sewing project and seeing it on you made me scream “yes! That’s the one!”
Your project is absolutely stunning and I admire your attention to detail on both your research and the sewing execution!
Hi Emily! Thanks for your lovely comment!
I don’t mind your question at all. The fabric is from a local discount store in MA called Sewfisticated. It’s a 120″ wide polyester intended for curtains. I bought this a few years ago, so it might be hard to find the same thing now, but maybe knowing the type of place I found it will still help you find something similar.