Conference Dress 2005

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This dress was made for the Ladies and Gentleman of the 1860's Conference in March 2005. Every year, a certain type of fabric is chosen for each of the conference speakers. Each of the speakers either have their dressmaker make them a gown or they make the gown themselves however they would like, keeping within period guidelines of course.

This year the fabric was a lovely printed cotton with a cream background and lovely purple and red flowers. K. noted that these are the colors of the Red Hat Society, which are a group of women that get together and wear red hats. I'm not sure if this was just a coincidence or if it was meant as a joke. K. also decided to make a hairnet out of red and purple ribbon to go along with this "theme."

The dress trim was inspired by a CdV in K. Krewer's collection. The trim is purple velvet that has been hand stitched to the bodice front, back and coat sleeves. The bodice is gathered at the waist to a darted lining and the skirt is knife pleated to the front and back with an inverted box pleat on either side. It's finished off with a narrow collar and cuffs that fold up over the sleeve at the wrist.