I feel pretty...

It's been a while since I've posted. Wow, February. So much for discipline! Oh well. What have I been up to? Oh, this and that: some embroidery here, some knitting there, a decent amount of reading - and lots and lots of cooking.

During my adventures in the land of My Kitchen (it's a scary place sometimes), I have determined that I Need An Apron. But what apron to get? Should I make one? Should I buy one? I've been wanting a Flirty Apron, but couldn't decide which one to get! Chic Pink? Sassy Black? Chic Teal? Too any choices! And then, two days ago - an epiphany. I was at the fabric store, only intending to get some needles and a thimble for my latest project, and saw the pattern for this:

I was in love! I bought the pattern, some fabric, MORE thread... and now, two days later I have my very own Emmeline Apron!

Reverse side:

As an added bonus, I have had my mind changed about something. For a while I have been wanting to make a regency dress (circa 1795), but have been convinced my tummy would make me appear pregnant. You may notice from my pictures that I'm not a tiny girl. But this apron has an empire waist and is still flattering. I think if I were to make a regency dress it would look nice...

Victorian... underpinnings

I can’t find a bra to fit me well. “WOAH,” you say, “that’s way too much information! What’s that got to do with neo-Victorianism?” First off, it’s just a bra. I’ll try not to get much more TMI than that. Second, what it’s got to do with neo-Victorianism is this: I’d rather wear a corset every day than go bra shopping and have to settle for a bra that either doesn’t fit me well or isn’t pretty. Or both.

A good corset both fits well and is pretty. A good corset is COMFORTABLE unless you do something wrong, or it’s wearing out. As someone who’s worn decent corsets for some time (granted, they’re Tudor corsets for 8-10 hours a day, for only 12 days of the year, but still), I can say this with some confidence. I made my own corsets, and with each new incarnation my corset fits me better and is more comfortable for longer periods of time – and that’s with a corset that’s trying to force my body into a shape it DOESN’T want to fit. (Tudor corsets are cone-shaped, whereas Victorian corsets are hourglass-shaped – and so is my body.)

The only thing with wanting to wear corsets instead of bras? They’re not popular anymore. This means I either have to make my own, or shell out a lot of money for custom-made corsets. On top of this, it also means I’d have to tailor ALL my clothes to fit the new silhouette a corset makes. Still, I’m considering it… perhaps when I have a little more money.