The standard front and back views. And my much needed new shelves in the background!
Closer views of the front and back. The view of the front shows how the drop-front itself fastens. The lining fastens with hooks and eyes and the bib comes up and buttons over it. Dresses were normally pinned during the Regency and after adjusting and re-adjusting the hooks and buttons I understand why! The waistband forms a belt around the back and ties in front, under the bib. The front of the skirt-apron is gathered starting at the edge of the bib and ending at the edge of the skirt. The part of the skirt attached to the back has a forward facing pleat at the side openings. When the skirt-apron is fastened over this, it forms a nearly invisible closure.
The back, detailing the pleating and gathering. The gathering in the center back has large pleats on either side. The picture on the right shows one of the side closures.
A detail of the tucks in the sleeve. I used the sleeve lining
to make the sleeve head and extended it using the Sense and Sensibility
Regency Gown long sleeve pattern to make a long sleeve. The sleeves
are lined to just above the elbow, based on the example of five drop-front
dresses in Nancy Bradfield's Costume in Detail. This picture
and the back skirt picture above also show the self-fabric belt loops used
to keep the waistband/belt in place in the back.
Page One, The
Dress (with me!)
Page Three,
Details
Page Four,
Construction
