Pretty Red Taffeta

[Nellie Blue]

Pretty Red Taffeta (http://cgi.ebay.com/First-Bustle-Era-Victorian-Dress-1871_W0QQitemZ150111347842QQihZ005QQcategoryZ12547 5QQtcZphotoQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) suitable for fancier events...like the EOT opening ceremony or....

Bust: 44
Waist: 34

[Nellie Blue]

Darn Alley!

http://i1.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/98/30/cc84_1.JPG

[Lazy K]

Hey! That's the same print fabric that Fluer and I just bought only in red! Pretty.

[Lady Fleur]

oooo i like!!!!!!

[Duzy Wales]

Very pretty! :ty

[Victoria Rose Hyde]

Oooh! Very Nice. Love the Color and the fabric.

Victoria*Rose:tban

[Kitty Phann]

Oh, that fabric looks great in red.

[Ida Hands]

That is really pretty. I love the use of the accent fabric.

[Kica Mandalay]

It's really gorgeous.
newbie question - would a corset knock a couple inches off the top measurement? And would I be able to breathe and walk at the same time?

[Ima Schofield]

Yes it could squish the "twins" but it also sets them "up on a shelf' :lool

So you should really have a corset (See Greeneyed Gypsy) made for you to get the absolute effect before you go and buy a ready made dress, to wear with a corset. Actually the best bet is to get one within 1 to 2 inches larger than your measurements (with out a corset) and have it tailored to you.

This dress wouldn't do for me right now. (I'm truely back on the diet) Now in about 10 pounds maybe...:beg

In a corset I have a 45 bust and 33/34 waist. The "twins" move up and waist moves in. By moving up, it appears I have a much smaller waist measurement.
With out the corset in modern gear its still a 45 but lower :tap I HATE GRAVITY ! and the waist is 35. I don't tight lace as I enjoy breathing and I shoot wearing corsets.

If you have more questions, please by all means post them and I'm quite sure that you'll get a bunch of opinons and options.

Ima, fighting gravity, Schofield

[Lady Leigh]

Oh Ima! I love reading your posts!!! Twins :rofl :rofl

[Nellie Blue]

Kica...a note on measurements....yes, ideally, you should get your corset first then do measurements with the corset on before you start deciding on clothes....but....that said....

My corset takes 4" off of my waist measurement and squishes the girls about 2".

[Harper Desert Rose]

So glad someone has mentioned corset fitting! I haven't worn a corset since High school plays ( which has been a few years ago!:lool )... I have a question. Now that menopause is wreaking havock with my figure ( as well as my mind!) How do I judge sizes on a corset? I am gearing up to order from the VERY talented Gypsy.....but am worried I will get the measurements wrong. "normally" I am 38-27-38....How much room is there for expansion and contraction? Help! All the lovely dresses I have just don't look right without the corset!:help

[Allie Mo]

Oh my gosh Miss Mellie,

With those measurements, you hardly need a corset!

[Harper Desert Rose]

Thank you Allie Mo! You are so sweet! You must remember, at my age, one needs things "gathered up"!:lool :lool Besides, clothes just don't have the same look without the right "under gear"!!
I don't mean to steal this thread, but this has been a concern of mine for quite some time. And, Gypsy makes such lovely corsets, I want to be able to wear them!
Thanks one and all for any thoughts! Hugs!

[Nevada Skye]

Gypsy will send you a paper with all the necessary measurements, don't worry, she will get everything just perfect! (any yes Gypsy, I will get that mock sent back to you SOON, I promise!)

[Lady Leigh]

Oh please! Do not mention menopause!!! Talk about ruining a figure! Geeze! I hate it!!!

Actually, amybe if I wore a corset everyday it would help!

Speaking of which, does anyone have a picture of the Alma corset she wore in first season? At least I think it is the first season (maybe second). It was black and burgundy stripe.

[Lady Fleur]

I saw the red dracula gown at costume college

[Kica Mandalay]

There's a woman here that sews corsets that has suggested that I start wearing one daily in order to get used to wearing one by the time EOT gets here. (She's a nurse, too). I have a regular one at home with ties in back and hooks/eyes up front -- so I guess we're going to start learning how to walk and talk and (hopefully) breathe.... Stay tuned as Kica learns to be a lady. Hmm, Pygmillion? :rofl

PS - can you just picture this -- a corset under a nurses blouse? That's tomorrow's challenge. Lord knows what's going to be squished... :lool

[Bloomin']

Words from a corset "newbie": Greeneyed Gypsy's corset is my first "real" corset. I got one at Mule Camp last year but it is an underbust and the fit is completely different. GG sent me the best instructions on how to measure and I was able to take all those measurements by myself. Then she will make up a mock and send it to you for a fitting and any adjustments are made after that. It was very, very easy. I used the instructions on the website for the lady I bought the underbust corset from to learn how to put it on myself and it was a lot easier than it sounded at first. In the upper right hand is a button to select to watch a video.

http://www.laced.biz/careinst.html

[Duzy Wales]

:ty Bloomin' for the video. I can't remember her name, but she is a real sweet lady that was at the SASS Convention in 2005. I was wearing B-Western that day and she fit me in one wearing that outfit.....I actually found the picture she took that day on her website! And here is one I took of her.

[Kica Mandalay]

Wowza!
Thanks Duzy!!
I'll have to start saving for an inner underthingie and an outer underthingie....
:tban :w2 :ban

[Nellie Blue]

Hey, Kica! Are you going to call dibs on this dress...or what?! :D

[Nellie Blue]

evilb: evilb: evilb: evilb: evilb:

[Kica Mandalay]

Why? Is that some sort of Alley rule or something?
I'm already obligated to wear the pink one, take photos, and throw a picnic or party..... And not get stuck in the outhouse.... :faint

[Lazy K]

Nellie's just trying to be a bad influence!

[Allie Mo]

Nellie's just trying to be a bad influence!Hey, isn't Garnet Rose our bad influence? If so, I guess :Nellie is trying to be a Junior Bad Influence. evilb:

[Kica Mandalay]

nellie -- let me see how long I last in my nurse scrubs today with this corset on and I'll let you know! And how can these wonderful ladies already influence an angel like me??? :lool

[Greeneyed Gypsy]

:gg Bhahahahhahaha....GG needs to catch her breath and pick herself up off the floor!! Oh goodness guys you are killin me!

OKOK OK ....I have not seen my name so many times since Josie and the Pussycats cartoons when I was little!! :faint :lalala :lool :lool :lool

here I was just checking up on whats on Ebay!

Nevada, I got that in writting with wittnesses too...Matt has another TDY in Nellis, I WILL come along next time! :faint :go

Ummmm....lets see, Ohh Duzy I like her work too, an underbust corset wont work well for Victorian dresses though, particularly if you are looking at something made with TV patterns, well anything with authentic lines really. The widest part of the bust is higher as Ima mentioned than nature allows except for possibly the very young and tiny...and we dont tend to be them do we? So what you really want to go for in a corset is smaller waist ( for some this might just be an inch, maybe you have a small waist already, maybe you just dont care to be squished all perfectly ok) The bust should not get squished to much but for us smaller cup ladies that can and does happen, there is only so much to push up you see it wrecks our available volume. ( the menfolk may stop making that face at me now...you know it used to be they was rare...I always feel a bit funny talking about particulars in public, sorry if I offend, I truly dont mean to!) The hips should also be left full and if you are well rounded, YEAH!!! you have victorian perfection!

Yes, corset fitting mock, and lots of questions and photos, my questionaire changes all the time. For lots of reasons, for instance I need to remember that just because I know what I am talking about dosent mean anyone else does! I sent a photo of fitting a mock on me, it had no bones so it was not laced tightly, just sorta sat on myself for reference. When I got feedback that the mock was MUCH MUCH too big I checked my medication, my email, my pattern draft and then opened the attached photo....Ohhhhh goodness dont SCARE me like that!:faint I thought I had gone way off the map but what had happened is that my very sweet lady, reading instructons and looking at photo reference did exactly what I said and made it look like the photo...Only problem is now the mocks have hardware and grommets and can be chinched down. They are your corset only in plain coutil with seams all showing. I abashedly asked if she would mind tightening it like she intended to wear it and retake...note to self fix instructional photos (what can I say each corset teaches me something new, and if I quit learning from my ladies I am not doing my job) After tightening it yeah! We are in the ball park and ready to make style changes!

Ummm I dont know that you need to wear a corset everyday, I would however wear one for part of the day and try normal activities, maybe get out the guns and dry practice with them, picking them up, setting them down ect. PRACTICE going potty in victorian undies, it is not hard, but it is different, and you really dont want your first try being in a porta potty at a range...the recuse attempt, should it be needed, could leave some emotional scars!

Losing weight...number one corset comment * I am in the process of losing weight* Yep me too! arent we all? Basically thats fine I can work with it, its really about knowing yourself and considering the cost involved. Decided, am I really going to be 2-3 inches smaller than I am right now in say less than the next 6-12 months? Wearing a corset that is too small for a year will not be nearly as comfortable as wearing one that laces closer...just imagine how thrilled you will be when the sides touch and you can plan a NEW smaller one! There are those though who really do need that smaller one now, MIL Wore her corset for the wedding, once, stinking beautiful creation it is too...laces shut! :tap She has lost 27 lbs November and is still dropping. Since she does not get to events but every once in a blue moon, she wont have another untill a May Red hat victorian tea. She can suffer with a tighter corset on chubbie days and fluxes she loses inches very rappidly. She also seems to have no discomfort no matter how much you squish her, another thing to consider...at the end of the day, opt for comfortable! We do not sit quietly and drink tea, we SHOOT we move, we bend, we want to look good but Lord we need to feel good!

Underbust corsets are very cool, I think they are wonderful for wearing on the outside which seems to be the trend for SASS. As an undergarment they dont give any bust support at all so are not probably the way to go to wear under your favorite day dress.

Taking measurments, there is lots of step by step for that, its a process, which gets fine tuned with the mock...so dont stress about getting it exactly right the first time I dont make corests blind if I can at all help it and if I need to you get a little spcheal about my lack of all powerful omnipotent fitting ablility...I think that any ladies here who sew for others will agree that fitting long distance with only one set of numbers to work with is probably the scariest part of what we do, there are just so many variables.

Ok love you all....quit talkin about me my ears are burning! If I missed a question, yell I will try to help, and remember what works for me may not work for other corset makers, we each have our own way...and I very much respect many others work, when corset shopping I think it is perfectly perfectly ok to ask a lot of questions and shop around!

[Garnet Rose]

Hey, isn't Garnet Rose our bad influence? If so, I guess :Nellie is trying to be a Junior Bad Influence. evilb:

A really good bad influence influences other bad influences -- since we can't be everywhere at once! :noe

[Greeneyed Gypsy]

say that 10 times fast! :lool :lool :lool :lool :lool

[Garnet Rose]

say that 10 times fast! :lool :lool :lool :lool :lool

How much bad could an influence have if an influence could be good? :rofl

[Greeneyed Gypsy]

:go Arrrggghhhhhhh my sides my sides! :help :lool :lool :lool :lool :lool :lool

[Kica Mandalay]

Oh HELP! I can't LAUGH in this corset! BWAAHAHAA!! :lool (just rofl) :rofl

[Greeneyed Gypsy]

it ended!! Kica did you get it?!?!!?

[Nevada Skye]

Looks like Kica will be seeing red soon! Now we need to find a hat for her....

[Kid Sopris]

Yes she did!:go

[Allie Mo]

Yes she did!:goWOO HOO! Way to go Kica! This is one classy costume for one classy cowgirl! Congratulations!

[Kica Mandalay]

Find a Hat -- and purse -- and parasol -- and underthingies -- OH WHAT HAVE I DONE????
:faint

[Allie Mo]

Find a Hat -- and purse -- and parasol -- and underthingies -- OH WHAT HAVE I DONE????
:faint
I could be renamed "really bad influence" for saying this...go for what they can see and forget the underthingies (unless, of course they are strategic in holding twins in the proper position).:lalala :waiting :flame

I can say this because there is no undergarment that can make my twins look like ...

[Kid Sopris]

I could be renamed "really bad influence" for saying this...go for what they can see and forget the underthingies (unless, of course they are strategic in holding twins in the proper position).:lalala :waiting :flame

I can say this because there is no undergarment that can make my twins look like ...

Twins? Like in Single Action Revolvers or Double Jeopardy?:waiting :rofl :ty

[Allie Mo]

I'll take the fifth...:help

:lool :lool

[Bloomin']

She got it!!! She got it!!! :yp :yp Pink, now red, there's a theme starting here!! Congrats Kica!!

[Greeneyed Gypsy]

Ohhh YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH !!!! Its a great dress...I like the looks of it! Wow two down and mulitudes to go! When your cowgirl clothes crowd out your normal clothes you are there...

I know Allie Mo speaks for lots of cowgirls, because eventually they all seem to find me and none of them seem to be willing to wear slpit drawers! LMAO!!
But from personal expierence, period corset undies make period correct dresses more comfortable for me...but then I have lots of odd tendancies...

definatly consider a good bustle and at least one petticoat, this is something you can see, the dress will hang better the skirt requires a certain amount of filled out to look its absolute best.

Ohhh where is that comic about the victorian woman who is all haggard and flat and hunched over...she goes to new york I think it is and get all lifted, corseted, bustled and straightened out and TADA victorian diva! Well its true in a way the understructure can make a dress look completely different that it will with nothing under it. but you will see for yourself. When you get the dress put it on with modern undies....then someday when you can get all gussied up in all the layers and I bet you will have at least one wow to say about it!


Kica I am so happy for you!!! OMG...you are blonde no? Red will be smashing on you!!

[Lady Fleur]

I just got the fabric that dress is made of today!!! including the skirt!!

[Kica Mandalay]

Ohhh YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH !!!!

Ohhh where is that comic about the victorian woman who is all haggard and flat and hunched over...she goes to new york I think it is and get all lifted, corseted, bustled and straightened out and TADA victorian diva! Well its true in a way the understructure can make a dress look completely different that it will with nothing under it. but you will see for yourself. When you get the dress put it on with modern undies....then someday when you can get all gussied up in all the layers and I bet you will have at least one wow to say about it!


Kica I am so happy for you!!! OMG...you are blonde no? Red will be smashing on you!!

OK GG -- your mission, Mr Phelps, is to help this blonde become a victorian diva. LOL
:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

[Greeneyed Gypsy]

Mooohahahah!....Oh wait ahem....

Certainly my dear Kica I am at your service!

Greeneyed ( another one falls to OCCD! ) Gypsy:sewing

[Lady Leigh]

OK GG -- your mission, Mr Phelps, is to help this blonde become a victorian diva. LOL
:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

Careful! The tape self destructs in the end!

[Kica Mandalay]

Thanks for that reminder, Neatshire! DO threads self-destruct, too?

I've started my corset diary....
Dear Diary -
As per nurse Darla's suggestion, I brought in my store-bought corset to get used to breathing in it before a gun match.
We retired to an exam room to "suit up" whereupon we discovered that it is too big. There are no gaps in back & she threatened to double-cinch me for my jokes. Because it is store-bought, the top stuck out like a cardboard box flap, making my scrub shirt look like I was wearing a duck bill underneath! Judicious use of safety pins later, twins are now flat and I sailed out into the medical clinic.
Yes, it does affect movement and breathing a little. Hmm, the patients are being really friendly this morning -- and the older patients are really giving me a lot of hugs today. Is it THAT obvious that I"m wearing boning? Oh there's SCA Sir Lionheart - wait wait -- he's over-hugging -- I can't breathe -- yes, SCA folks know a corset when they see one.
Maybe we need more pins on the shelf area of the shirt??

I slowly saunter to the transcriptionist office, with nurse Mary and Irene chasing me down. Kica -- Kica -- You've got a TAIL they breathlessly say to me, laughing and yanking on my corset ties.... OH MY! Hmm, we forgot to tuck me back in after lacing me this morning in the exam room...

Red faced, I slink to my desk. As three employees wait before me, my pen rolls to the floor. I watch it lie there -- I can't bend down to retrieve it. I pull another out of the pen cup and start again. One hour later, the floor around my desk is littered with pens/pencils and misc. papers. I might just have to sit on the floor later to retrieve them. Not sure how I'll get back up.

I'm no longer thinking how easy this is, and wondering what happens when GG sends me a corset that is 4" smaller than this one.... And shoot a gun at the same time? Did Annie Oakley wear a corset? By the end of the day, I'm betting she didn't!

[Greeneyed Gypsy]

Annie Oakley is well for for here wardrobe and always dressing the lady, she refused to wear pants, and I would be willing to bet she did indeed wear her corset like the good girl she was recorded to be!

Ummm advice...put oyur boots on FIRST!

More advice...Do you often sit behind a desk at the range? You are going to be fine!

yet more unsolicited advice...people who try non-custom...NEVER but NEVER go back after they get a good corset.

Oh and a last bit, breathing is not optional, so you really should be fairly comfortable.

Greeneyed (shudders at the thought of safety pins under presure...thats gonna leave a mark!) Gypsy

5....4....3....2.....1 KaBOOM!!! so much for the mission tape. :gg

[Kica Mandalay]

There must be more Calamity Jane in me than I thought!
:lool

Kica -- Wow -- it sure is smokey in here -- Mandalay

[Greeneyed Gypsy]

Love that plaid dress!! There are some really pretty 90s dress looks in some of the old B west movies, and now that SASS have the B west catagory, it dosent have to be all Dale Evans...Why not a little Lee Remick? :tban :tban

[Kica Mandalay]

How 'bout a little more Doris Day as jane? I love the leather.
Hmm, I'm beginning to think we're discussing my wardrobe on a party line here....

I'm off to Reno for a few days for Elks Convention (nothing exciting with guns, I'm so sorry to say -- drat!!) and a visit to my parents. So cowgirl hugs until next wednesday or so!