Some time ago I fell in love with Josephine Bonaparte's court train and wanted to make one for myself. I held off because it is so impractical and I cannot wear it for dancing.
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| Consecration of the Emperor and the Coronation by Jacques Louis David |
I found an embroidery design I liked and had a version of it digitised, and then embroidered on a two metre piece of cotton velvet. Yesterday it was lined and pinned onto my mannequin - ready for me to plan the next step - the back. Will I give it a back or will I simply sew straps over the shoulders?
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My half-finished court train in my sewing studio.
I have lined it with white cotton sateen and used a metallic gold to pipe the edges. |
Some reference pictures of my options:
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| Small back with shoulder straps, 1808. |
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| Backs - these could be called 'robes' instead of trains. |
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| Back view, 1809 |
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| MET Museum, 1809 |
