HSM 2016 Challenge #4: Gender Bender

May 15, 2016February 28, 2024 ~ Cassidy Percoco ~ 3 Comments

The Challenge: #4, Gender Bender. I know what you're thinking, but if we go back a few decades drawers were really controversial for women - they simply didn't wear bifurcated garments. So even though I'm not aware of the attitude that drawers were inherently gender-bending still existing in the middle of the nineteenth century, I'm counting … Continue reading HSM 2016 Challenge #4: Gender Bender

HSM 2016 Challenge #3: Protection

March 21, 2016February 28, 2024 ~ Cassidy Percoco ~ 6 Comments

For the "Protection" challenge, I made a chemise to wear for the Civil War Weekend. Chemises, of course, protect your skin from the corset, and your corset (and other clothes) from your skin, and so are a perfect thing to make as an example of a protective garment. This is the pattern I used, which … Continue reading HSM 2016 Challenge #3: Protection

HSM 2016 Challenge #2: Tucks and Pleats

February 28, 2016February 28, 2024 ~ Cassidy Percoco ~ 4 Comments

Last year at my museum's Civil War Weekend, I was not very well kitted out. I had a decent corset, a good cage from Kay Gnagey (worth the money, by the way), a secondhand dress that fit perfectly, an 1840s chemise that's too tight under the arms, and a knee-length 1950s-style crinoline I used as … Continue reading HSM 2016 Challenge #2: Tucks and Pleats

Re-evaluating C. Frederick Worth

February 26, 2016February 28, 2024 ~ Cassidy Percoco ~ 4 Comments

While there are some (many) times that I suspect my gut reactions of being contrary simply for the same of being contrary, at other times my contrariness seems to lead me in the right direction. I've been writing about lesser-known contemporaries of Charles Frederick Worth since 2014 (see my first post on the subject, regarding … Continue reading Re-evaluating C. Frederick Worth

A Very Accurate Costume (HSM #12, Redo – #10, Secret)

December 19, 2015February 28, 2024 ~ Cassidy Percoco ~ 6 Comments

It took me forever to figure out what to write for this! I knew that the Redo challenge needed to be October's Secret challenge, which I missed, but Secret was much easier to do while sewing, putting a little secret embroidery or hidden pocket. At last I remembered an historic dress that has its own … Continue reading A Very Accurate Costume (HSM #12, Redo – #10, Secret)