Making an 1883 Gilded Age Bodice

This week, I'm making the bodice for my 1883 Gilded Age Christmas dress -- doing the mockup and then assembling the silk bodice itself. I'm also figuring out how the sash that goes over the bodice will work.
If you've missed the rest of this bustle dress project, click here for the playlist: • Gilded Age 1883 Christ...
Want to see how actual Victorian bodices were made? Check out these antiques in my collection: • Examining Antique Clot...
I found cotton twill tape on Amazon!: amzn.to/484GF7I
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[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

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[@kimberlysanders920]

I love the idea of Fabric Patterns 😮❤

[@emmastromgard9415]

Oh, Dora made me laugh at the end. 😂😂 Loved the video in all, this is a really beautiful dress. Thank you for all your work!

[@kckazcoll1]

I haven't watched all of the video yet, but just had to say I love your cat, Dora.So sweet and affectionate 😍

[@maribrown1361]

Always love seeing Dora & Lion! ❤️❤️ I learned the easy way to remember the "correct" way to lap from my mother: Women are right & men are always left over.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

😂😂😂 that's good.

[@thecoloryes]

I was watching this while crafting today (I had watched it when it first came out as well, paying a little more attention that time) and when I got to the point where Rebecca was talking about which way the bodice closures go, I remembered this mnemonic! Which is literally the first time I have ever remembered this directionality 😆 So thank you very much for sharing!!!

[@EilonwyG]

Dora looked good in the bodice, lol. Love how the whole thing is coming out! Can't wait to see the next installment.

[@Siansonea]

Yes, we have enjoyed all the Dora appearances in this video. She's such a little sweetie. 😍

[@bekytg9393]

It's all looking wonderful. Spend your precious time with your parents, we can wait for the reveal. Thank you for all the helpful hints. Loved watching Dora listening to you.

[@margarethall1625]

I adore your little supurrvisor, she is awwdorable. Love how your gown is turning out. Good luck with it.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thanks!

[@dee-annegordon5959]

I love watching videos that include troubleshooting fit issues. It really helps me figure out my own fit issues. Oh, and all the Dora content was amazing.

[@teresababinat6004]

Kitty is looking at you like pay attention to me mommmmmm

[@katwitanruna]

Dora purrs so pretty!!

[@kayta84]

The bodies is looking so good! I love this kind of square/ keyhole neckline, its so flattering. And Dora is super cute❤ I just want to reach true the screen and give her all the pets and scratches❤

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thank you! She definitely loves attention!

[@AssassinofHighgarden]

I'm truly loving this dress! Watching you encounter and fix fit issues is *immensely* helpful. Also Dora loves being the star cause she IS a star! My own kitty is very much the same way

[@brandyloutherback9288]

Who's a good kitty? Dora is! Looking forward to your review of Gilded Age S2! The show's costuming is excellent compared to the Buccaneers! The latter is trying too hard to be Bridgerton!

[@Eneri-z9v]

😺Merry Christmas Dora🐈. You are extra affectionate in this video 😊. Love 😍 you Dora🐈. I don't think Rebecca 's dress 👗 color suits you. It's too close to your fur color😊. Stay away from the iron...HOT 🔥! The lint roller is a fascinating tool😺. You have a beautiful paw 🐾. Be good Dora. Give my regards to Lion. Merry Christmas Rebecca, enjoy.

[@kida4star]

I appreciate your videos so much! I’m currently trying to run through making lounge pants for the whole family. I love sewing with you. It gave me the patience to rip some French Seams. 😅

[@ruthmiller8919]

Also love Dora and Lion

[@michellecornum5856]

Dora is so cute! Can't wait for the historical dive videos. 🤔you ever have a project that you just seem to keep sewing on? 😆This is going to be SO pretty!!!! Wishing you the best on your audition!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thanks! Do you mean like a project that is taking too long? This one definitely feels like it is!

[@michellecornum5856]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions Actually, this one is taking FAR LESS time than the one I'm working on from 1882. It's been a little more than a year. Watching you do this, I'm starting to wonder if it's just the era. You put your head down, you sew and sew and sew -- there doesn't APPEAR to be that much to do -- you lift your head up, and you're not even halfway done. It's not bad work -- it's not hard work -- it just NEVER seems to stop. By the way! This looks SUPER CUTE in the thumbnail with the white (bodice? chemise? shirt??) under. It's done bad things to my head and made me want to scoot up a year and make something like the thumbnail of this video. {maybe these are just magical, time eating dresses -- you take one stitch and four days have passed} At any rate, keep going! You're giving me hope that one day, I, too, will have a dress with sleeves!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

@@michellecornum5856 that blouse is just a stand-in blouse from Target, since I didn't have the sleeves or neckline done yet. 😉

[@michellecornum5856]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions It is gorgeous. Beautiful choice. It made my head reel in the direction of "1880's Jumper dress."😄

[@ambrosiata]

I´m team Dora😻

[@donnacoleman4624]

I'm loving the gown❤ Looking forward to completion, I know it's going to be beautiful. Dora is so a-Dora-ble!! Such a little love bug. Hope u have a great visit with mom and dad. Yall have a very Merry Christmas!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thank you!

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Everything looks wonderful. Dora defiantly liked it lol. She is such a helper

[@Nessi-dances]

I really like the square neckline! 💜

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I think I have a thing for square necklines. They're so flattering!

[@lesleyharris525]

Hi, hope you manage to get your beautiful dress finished soon ish, and I look forward to seeing the finished piece in the new year, ❤

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thanks!

[@MsMayhap]

My cat likes licking stickers. I wonder what is in those adhesives that is so tasty to cats, lol

[@ladyjusticesusan]

A lot of Dora content is exactly what we need. Thank you!

[@joecoloff4247]

Love seeing Dora look at you and get attention

[@devh6168]

I love watching you fit and work through the process! Honestly it has helped me so much in my non historical every day clothing. ❤ Also, of course, all the love to Dora as well. She might have stolen the show this time around 😍

[@shirliepriestley8761]

You have to remember, to add the artists’ poetic license ‘ re waist and sash sizes. Beautiful outfit, great video as always

[@drekfletch]

I also wonder if the puffy sash is meant to have volume to make the waist look even narrower. Almost like a tiered cake, the wide skirt, topped with the wide sash, out of which springs the bodice/torso. A bertha for the hips/waist. Was a low waist a micro-fad around then? I'm picturing early 00's low jeans and necklace-belts.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Other than having the kind of low fitted band I mentioned, not really. I think this one was just a random outlier.

[@theresaanndiaz3179]

The front of your bodice fits so nicely! I like the color of the mock up too. The excess in the back was quite a puzzle. It's interesting to watch you trouble shoot the problems.

[@rosemarynolan5161]

Love your presentations.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thanks!

[@lilykatmoon4508]

Love this project and absolutely love the extra Dora content! Wish I got you the very best Christmas and visit with your parents!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thank you!

[@clairewonderfullife8819]

Can't wait to see the finished ensemble! 😍

[@kirabowie]

Dora's such a cutie!! 😍 I think she's looking for her own gilded age gown!😉 Speaking of which, I'm loving what I've seen so far and I can't wait to see it all finished!!😍 Happy holidays, Lady Rebecca, to you and your family!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thank you! Same to you!

[@kirabowie]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions You're welcome and thanks! 🙂

[@fernshepherd3416]

I *loved* all the Dora this week!

[@katwitanruna]

Yay! Hi Dora!

[@izzy13belle]

Absolutely Love how the bodice is turning out! I’m always so impressed how well you are able to fit your garments, definitely want to get better at that part of sewing myself. Can’t wait to see the rest of the series! Happy holidays 🎄

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thank you!

[@yvonnebruce6178]

Seems your supervisor (Dora) is very hands on.

[@lindamaden8487]

I love all your wonderful dresses !!! and ive even seen you at. the Victorian festival in Port Townsend. I will be attending it this year! Do you ever help people with dress issues?

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thanks! I'll be there this year as well. Do you mean like coaching on a project? I do teach sewing lessons, and have done them virtually as project coaching as well, so if that's something you're interested in, we can definitely set that up. Just send me a dm or email.

[@TheLoverbug567]

Dora is stealing the show❤

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

Dora is halping! Look, mom, so much halp!! Just like Un-Bun halps me sew by nipping threads, digging my laid out fabric and stealing my scissors. I wonder if you made the sash curved instead of straight if it could go lower?

[@theresepelkey1519]

You are awesome!

[@DOSBoxMom]

Sounds like your dress wanted to hop into a time machine and turn into an 1869/1870 dress!

[@susiecarson]

So how do you pin the front when you are doing the mockup stage? Closures are my biggest obstacle- I usually end up with way too much fabric in the center or nowhere near enough, and I don’t discover until I’ve finished everything else. Also~ the size issues in the back of yours looked to me to be something to alter top-to-bottom- how did you know to alter the width instead?

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I like marking the center front line on one side, and folding the other side on the CF line, and making sure that makes a good fit when you pin them together. And I could just feel how baggy it was up there.

[@Puppy52]

Dora supervising😂

[@ruthmiller8919]

Hi lady Rebecca I'm plus sized middle aged lady who is in love the early 1860's but I look bad in hats so any ideas on what to do

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Just wear them anyway!

[@TealCheetah]

Dora

[@Jonsson7]

Kitty want some love ❤

[@katwitanruna]

Bye Dora!

[@karengoldie6801]

Sweet Dora needs some Mommy time!

[@miramari732]

Dora has stolen the show XD

[@sarav2209]

i have an electric stove top, and my cat likes to walk across it immediately after i have turned it off 🤷‍♀️

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

😱