Project: Steampunk Victorian Bustle Dress

Hello everybody! I'm finally sharing the project about this dress here! I couldn't hold myself and started the Project Journal at DoA's last weekend, because I wanted to start working on this ASAP. However, now it is time for sharing it here!

Last year, hubby bought me two fabrics that I thought were perfect for a Steampunk dress! I have loved this style for a lot of time, and I also wanted to try my hand at historical costuming, so... why don't do both of those things in once? It took me a couple months to get matching fabrics *cough* excuse for more fabrics *cough*, some decorations and to do some research on what I wanted.

My goal is to follow the Journal on DoA, take a lot of WIP photos, and then do a video with the "story" of the dress. I have been considering adding voice to "talk" about the project, but I'm still not sure about this. The dress will be for Coco, of course!

Previous Research

I knew I wanted some bustle-era gown, but I couldn't decide exactly on which one. I made a Pinterest board to pin inspiration, tutorials, patterns and links about the project. I have mostly settled on an early bustle design (around 1875), but I've also pinned some ideas from 1880~1885.

I know I won't be aiming for historical accuracy, mostly because the steampunk genre will give me some flexibility. I do, however, want to do proper undergarments and all.

Fabrics and Decorations

Here are two photos of the fabrics I have, and some decorations I have gathered. Of some of them I have more, but put only a few on the photo (like the screws, or the studs).

I also need to thank my mom because she got me most of the decoration, and my dad that dug on his workshop and appeared with those tiny screws xD

To-Do List

This is the list of "parts" I have in mind for the dress. You will note that the more we get close to the bottom of the list, the more unsure I am about what to do.

Undergarments:

• Socks
• Drawers (I know they were open in the middle and laced at the waist, but I'm going to cheat, and do them sewn in the middle and with elastic on the waist).
• Crinoline (I already signed poor hubby on this one, to help me with the wires!).
• Petticoat. 

I have decided to now do a chemise and/or corset, mostly because I'm sewing for an 1/4 doll, and I don't want to get extra bulky with the fabrics. I do hope to get the right appearance on the fabrics, after all.

Accessories:

• A hat... I have mostly thought how to make this, what I don't know is how it will look!
• Maybe and umbrella? A fancy cane? Will see.

Main Dress:

• I know I want the first skirt on the green fabric, and in a design similar to this. I want it with a train, however.
• Upper skirt? I want the dress to be big, I know that xD
• For the top part, I want a coat like this one.

And here I have no clue if I need to make a some-sort-of-shirt before doing the skirt and after the petticoat, or if it goes all together with the coat! Also, the upper skirt is still a doubt, because I have no clue on how to make it. As you see, I also lack of the vocabulary of the parts of the dress (I'm mostly good with the undergarments, though). I will have to research more of this so I can communicate properly.

I also don't know which one will be the "main" fabric of the dress! The stripped one is sort of thick, and I love the flowerish one. So I could maybe use the stripped and plain beige as accents, and the flowerish as main.

Project Journal

Ok, so this is the project! You can find the Project Journal on DoA here: http://bit.ly/SteampunkVictorianDoA

I will probably post some WIPs on Instagram, but I will share the final photos and the Progress video on the blog once I'm done! Since I'm on holidays, I plan to make this my summer project! (yes, it is summer in here now).

I have so far made two updates: socks/drawers and bustle cage. Here are some Instagram pics of them :D

A photo posted by Musume (@musume.desu) on Jan 3, 2016 at 12:47pm PST

A photo posted by Musume (@musume.desu) on Jan 5, 2016 at 7:37am PST

Anyways, thank you so much for those who read the post, if you have any ideas, suggestions and advice you are very welcome (also if you want to follow the Journal on DoA)! :D I'm so excited I'm finally doing this dress :3