how to dress in 1740

chanda and i walked to gramercy park this evening after her ballet class.

a friend had heard about a book signing event focusing on 18th century fashion with a tutorial on women's dresses. the book was titled the american duchess guide to 18th century dressmaking: how to hand sew georgian gowns and wear them with style.

 the signing was held at the national arts club, housed in an historic mansion built in the 1840's.

 the club was founded in 1898 by charles de kay, a literary and art critic for the new york times. i'm amazed that it's programs are free and open to the public. i think i would like to bring my sister and brother-in-law to visit it's galleries. they always enjoy looking at current artists, and it's such a beautiful old building.

 the book event was very crowded and we almost didn't stay, but our friend showed up on the last minute and we listened to a lecture on how to dress in the 1700's (specifically, 1740).

 one of the authors was dressed in her hand sewn undergarments and, slowly, they explained how to add the outer layers. here they are showing how to put on the stays (different from corsets!) made of whalebone. after the stays, came the pocket (which tied around the waist and held personal items), followed by the petticoat.

 next came the stomacher, which was pinned on to the stays and formed the front of the bodice. next came side panels that held the dress out on the sides of the body, and then came the gown, which went on like a robe. i think there might have been another skirt first, that was the same color as the stomacher! there were so many layers! the woman on the left is dressed in a later, 1765, style. they talked about how the hair would have been lightly powdered and covered with a lacy cap. lace ruffles were also added to the sleeves. when chanda and i left we couldn't stop exclaiming about how happy we are to dress in leggings or jeans and a top!