ShinobiXikyu And at last, here's my 1885 mourning dress, finished and ON me! Ran out, still battling my cold, on a frosty morning last week to snap some quick pictures. This was a long and not-uncomplicated project, requiring me to make a historically accurate trousseau of a chemise, drawers, corset, bustle-petticoat combination, skirt, bodice, reticule, hat and gloves as this was my first late bustle Victorian dress. And I invested in a lovely pair of historically accurate footwear, and an antique umbrella, which will serve me for years of re-enacting garb. Fortunately, all future projects from the 1880's will have all the underwear already and will only need the dress and headwear!
The hat, dress and bustle were made with Truly Victorian patterns, and the chemise, corset and drawers with LafNMoon patterns. The dress is made of black cashmere wool suiting lined in kona cotton and interlined with plain cotton muslin, and as it tends to drag the dirty ground, I used cheap synthetic satin for the hem pleat (so no sob from my wallet if I need to replace that yard of fabric entirely in the future).