The Fashion In Shrouds

I made this one for a customer a few months ago. Very pleased with how it came out - materials are a cinnamon brown matte satin and soft, but fairly thick, black twill piping. The piping fabric is actually a really nice polyester - I hate that plastic shine many polyesters have, but this one is completely free of it and neither looks nor feels like polyester. The hand is similar to a wool/cotton blend twill I have a pair of pants in, although with a slight stretch. Very expensive for a polyester, but worth it - I have three or four garments in it, I like it a lot.



Made for a male customer who wanted a fairly significant reduction, which is why it sits nicely on my mannequin...



...who, being possessed of a fashionable 1890's silhouette, has rather more in the way of hips than the owner of the corset - and most other people too, at least in proportion to her waist.

Dreadfully hungover after a great dinner party last night - I drink so little alcohol nowadays that I'd almost forgotten how it feels. I shouldn't drink wine, it always makes me feel awful even in very small amounts.

Brought the camera to work yesterday in order to take some photographs of the progress on that three-piece ensemble for L, only to discover that A, in one of his flashes of brilliance, had left the memory card in his computer at home. Some other day, in other words.
The skirt is finished, and the corseted vest only lacks a few hooks and buttons. Haven't done more than the pattern for the jacket, and my busks have not arrived yet, so I'm a bit behind on everything right now; we'll see how that goes. I plan on doing a lot of the hand-sewing on the lapels and collar of the jacket at home in the evenings.

Still undecided on fabric for the corset dress, but I lean towards a grey viscose/cotton mix I picked up a sample of last week. It has a discreet duochrome effect, the warp is black and the weft is some shade of greyish beige - very nice. A bit dull, maybe, but subtle and elegant, which is just as well, as the garments in themselves will provide enough drama.

Am going to spend the rest of the evening vegetating over a cup of tea in front of Railroad Tycoon II. Pure luxury.