This is not a learned put together page - only a scrap book of notes and images about shawl dresses. all images are on pinterest or on the blogs listed, most can be traced back to museum or auction sites for full details.. This is not exhaustive - there are plenty more out there.
see - http://historicalclothinganduniforms.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/not-only-shawlshawl-dresses-and-dresses.html Natalie Garbutt - refs to Josephine etc
Trend in late Georgian/regency to use large shawls to construct dresses. Some cut and assembled as usual making use of the decorative borders for hem and edge details, others leaving the fabric as untouched as possible, clasps on shoulders and then draped as Greek chiton or tunic. Favoured style of Empress Josephine. See quote in N Garbutt's blog- link above.
Shawls originally imported from India - some listed as Kashmiri/Cashmiri. Fabrics varied - wool, silk, cotton. either deep patterned border or all over design. - cheap/effective way of getting large piece of decorative fabric. Home sewn to pattern books/plates or given to dressmaker to make up? Some very couture others more basic.
?n - any home woven textile made specifically for this, mimicking the import design. Some dresses with deep woven borders - re-used shawls or dress lengths made to look like them?
See fransewing - Gwen's scarf dress - evening dress -
http://fransewing.blogspot.co.uk/2014_03_01_archive.html
see - http://historicalclothinganduniforms.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/not-only-shawlshawl-dresses-and-dresses.html Natalie Garbutt - refs to Josephine etc
Trend in late Georgian/regency to use large shawls to construct dresses. Some cut and assembled as usual making use of the decorative borders for hem and edge details, others leaving the fabric as untouched as possible, clasps on shoulders and then draped as Greek chiton or tunic. Favoured style of Empress Josephine. See quote in N Garbutt's blog- link above.
Shawls originally imported from India - some listed as Kashmiri/Cashmiri. Fabrics varied - wool, silk, cotton. either deep patterned border or all over design. - cheap/effective way of getting large piece of decorative fabric. Home sewn to pattern books/plates or given to dressmaker to make up? Some very couture others more basic.
?n - any home woven textile made specifically for this, mimicking the import design. Some dresses with deep woven borders - re-used shawls or dress lengths made to look like them?
See fransewing - Gwen's scarf dress - evening dress -
http://fransewing.blogspot.co.uk/2014_03_01_archive.html
Upto date version of same idea amongst the costume makers seems to be using saris - ebay or thrift shops.- 5 to 6m of fabric - does require some ingenuity when laying out but very do-able, ideal for ball gowns.
Costume in Detail, Nancy Bradbury. p 103 - description of blue eve dress. National Trust, Snowshill Wade collection
shawl cape |
Empress Josephine. |
Robert Lefèvre's Portrait of Elisabeth Demidova |