Ideas Considered: Color Combo Suggestions Anyone?

The V&A 1874 gown, also the same one from Janet Arnold's 'Patterns Of Fashion II', is one I'd like to take a stab at this year.
This also falls into the Early Bustle category on my 2013 Project list.

Augustintytär's version over at 'Before The Automobile', is stunning in pale blue and navy.
So, as to not be a copycat, I'd like to use different shades than the ones on hers and on the original.
I think that I may have already made my decision on what solid colors I'd like to use for my own version, but I'd love to hear any ideas you all might have.
My current thoughts for a color combo that may just win; a rich creamy ivory to light taupe with black trim, both in silk taffeta.
I'm going for a light color for the major portion of the dress, and darker for the details.

The original at the V&A

Like many others out there I'm sure, this dress is one that has inspired me since I was a kid. Probably one of the only early bustle gowns I ever really loved.
The combination of higher waistlines with larger bustles, paired with endless trimmings, ruffles, pleats and lace (just as much on the upper half as on the lower in some cases) gave me the impression that the dresses were wearing the women. In many of the fashion plates between 1870 to 1874, I swear they resemble escaped wedding cakes as they glide along the promenade.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE ruffles and pleats. But this one is sleek, elegant and non-frivolous, yet still so feminine within the details.
Seeing it brought to life by the expert skills of Augustintytär and the wondrous 'Green Acres' project by Lauren of American Duchess, gave me all the more reason to finally give in and try an early bustle ensemble.

I love the green gown! You can actually see the lady's figure.

Again, directly from my list of things to make, I'll need that new Victorian corset and the LM trained bustle for this project. The plus side is that after I make this corset, I can also use it for Dickens Fair next year and all the other mid Victorian or early bustle events that may occur.

1873 corset From Nora Waugh's, 'Corsets And Crinolines' book.

 The Laughing Moon trained bustle, or as I like to call it; a place to hide your Dalek.

The Cult Of Beauty:The Victorian Avant-Garde

More photos from Sunday:

Drawing room (photo: Anders hudson)

Photo: RJ Johnson

The gold room (Photo: Anders Hudson)

The other side of the dress, Shannon and I watch the presentation (Photo: Daniel Silveira)

Strolling Amongst Greatness

This past weekend, I attended, educated and entertained guests at "The Cult Of Beauty:The Victorian Avant-Garde, 1860–1900" at San Francisco's Museum at the Legion Of Honor.

A few fellow Dickens fair folk were invited by the museum to present artworks, acting as the artists themselves. There was even a portion of a play acted out by said artists; Oscar Wild's 'The Importance Of Being Ernest".

Dark Garden Corsetry also had a display in the gallery next to ours, with live scenes of Aubrey Beardsley works, posed by models for onlookers to sketch.
It was an all-around day of beauty indeed.
This amazing showcase of some of the world's most prized Pre-Raphaelite works of art had to be one of the most amazing I have seen in a very long time.

Photos in the exhibit itself were obviously verboten, but one could take photos without a flash throughout the rest of the museum, and during the vignettes and mini plays.
I'll be posting those shortly. My friend Anders snapped a few of me in my silk and velvet 1884 promenade gown, in some amazing settings. While they didn't turn out bad, I only wish we'd had more than an iPhone camera.
A couple of other friends captured an image or two during the day, that look much more professional.
I'll post more when I'm home and not at my work computer ;-)

Here is a nice one taken by Daniel Silveira:
The wrinkling at the bodice front bugs the hell out of me. I was wearing a different corset than the one I had fitted the bodice to originally, so it misbehaved a bit.