As for the indienne print...

[nuranar]

I don't think I'll mess with the hem this time around. I want to figure out what to do in the way of skirt support before I bother with that. (How on earth am I going to attend both jennylafleur's and demode's classes?!)

I will add an apron, though. That's about the only thing I can do to it, being a not-polonaise round gown. Besides maybe some self-trim on cuffs or around the neckline.  So what shall it be: Plain lawn, fine striped voile*, or the semisheer windowpane leftover from the Regency? 

* There may be only half a yard of that. It's in the stash for 1860s undersleeves...


And is it okay for the shift neckline to show? Because my stays were totally peeking out the last time I wore this dress. The massive fichu covered all (and I mean ALL) but still, that's kind of fail. I don't want to HAVE to have a poofy cloud of linen around my neck to wear this dress.

Comments

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

What about a little white ruffle around the inside neckline?

Shifts showing isn't something I've seen in portraits, but I haven't looked too closely. I've seen reenactors I trust doing it with working class impressions, but the fichu was over that, so I guess it doesn't really matter then!

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that sounds pretty! Do you know of an example picture?

That makes sense. I thought I saw it today in an engraving, and I don't think it was a servant; there was no fichu. But I don't want to do anything weird with this; a printed cotton isn't going to be servant's dress.

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

It's one of those things I know I've seen, but wasn't looking into so I'm not sure where.

I did a quick search at Williamsburg though, and here's a woman with lace on the inside of her dress. It could be on the shift, but given laundry and how well it fits, I'd think it was attached to the dress:

Click here! (http://emuseum.history.org/code/emuseum.asp?action=newpage&style=single&singlepage=1&searchxml=%3CeMuseum_search+site%3D%22Colonial+Williamsburg%22+date%3D%222011-07-14%22%3E%3Ccriteria%3E%3Cparams+searchcode%3D%22-1%22+pagesize%3D%226%22+currentpage%3D%221%22+orderfield%3D%22%22+orderdir%3D%22%22+profile%3D%22objects%22%2F%3E%3Cfield+fieldname%3D%22Classification%22+operator%3D%22contains%22+criteria%3D%22portrait%22+thesaurus%3D%22false%22+useinternalop%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3Cfield+fieldname%3D%22Item+Date%22+operator%3D%22is+between%22+criteria%3D%221760%3B1790%22+thesaurus%3D%22false%22+useinternalop%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fcriteria%3E%3C%2FeMuseum_search%3E%0D%0A&style=browse&pagesize=6&currentpage=1&page=search&currentstate=2,5,portrait,0,0,0,,,5,3,1760,0,0,0,,1790,0,0,,0,0,0,,,0,0,,0,0,0,,,0,0,,0,0,0,,&browsepagesize=6&searchtype=adv&profile=objects&wandering=no&pagetotal=1&pagestart=1&pageend=1)

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

And this is secondary, but Williamsburg did put a ruffle in the neckline of a dress in the quilted fashions exhibit:

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/76452380@N00/5938182503/)

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

I love that look! And the lace one, too. Thanks, that'll be a great way to finish it off.

I remembered where I saw the gathered-neckline look.
http://images.library.yale.edu/walpoleweb/oneitem.asp?imageId=lwlpr03065

The second woman from the right, in the mustard/tan. Or it might be a high neckline, with a wider frill hanging down over it.