I love this woman's costume. We dressed her for featured-background work on Bel Ami, she was dressed head to toe in original stock.

The hat is detailed here and comes from Aram in Paris, the two piece, bodice and skirt, is from Angels Costumes in London. The bodice is tiny, I saw it when I was in Angels last week and it reminded me of this picture. Often the surviving clothes we use are difficult sizes for us to fit onto people, this naturally controls how often they are used and extends their life.

It's always interesting to see real clothes worn as they would have been worn. 

A perfect fit and still earning their keep 125 years later.

Nat Turner and I visited three costume houses in Paris last week. It meant charging round at a crazy pace because we did it all in one day, rather ambitious, but we managed to spend enough time at each stop to get the gist of what's available over there for our date, 1912.
I was particularly keen to visit Catherine in Aram as I'd seen some of her stock before but had never visited the house. Her collection of original garments in often pristine condition was as good as I had hoped.
I suppose we are rather spoiled in what we do, items in the costume houses can be museum quality and we would be required to handle them wearing white cotton gloves should we be researching in an institution yet in our day to day work we regularly handle incredible pieces of original clothing, getting right inside and examining the details of the make. It's great practice to maintain a fresh eye for detail, as well as good fun.

Often the stuff just sitting around on shelves is enough to get me excited - Catherine's collection of shoe samples, still on the lasts, was fascinating.

By the way, Nat has just started his own blog - Costumology, worth checking out.

Lovely Motoring Coat

Having a little rummage around Sheila Cook's website I found this fine pair of jodphurs.

However I am not supposed to be spending at the moment...

Hand Sewing C1890

WW1 Linen Nurses Apron & Headscarf

Tiny Teardrop Sequins, Late 1880's Hat Detail

Bodices C.1890

Aram Costume House, Paris. Originals only. Incredible, museum quality rentals.

Silk Boots C.1860

 

Shown to me as samples today in a Hungarian costume house, I'm guessing these original silk boots date from around 1860. Supposed to be looking for things we can actually use in our film, I was easily distracted and stopped to take photographs for personal reference.

C.1870 Cuff Detail

Waist Tapes C.1890

C.1890 Cuff and Bodice Details

Interior Details

Hooks

Viewed closely, this dress has been heavily worked; hand sewing, machining, alterations and mends. The fabric has also been re-cut from the original, earlier dress, into this 1890's pattern. 
Stories, always stories, that's what makes a garment more fascinating.

Interiors 2

The light in the costume house is dim so the pictures are warmer in tone than the true colours.

 

Interiors