Lily Elsie, Fashion c. 1913: Make this look

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0o7wvWPdOC8j4P9McyS4BZZP1_l6MJpZrccMwFCkfvfIgNE7TGPbI3zIDuCC2TB_Y0UeSaWzrqKMB27wdSLvqI5BXQnvR9HCukSeCSh4R8Jn2AawqleFAULt2v_ioXbg64_xtospzGys/s1600/Lily+Elsie.+c.1913.+LOC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0o7wvWPdOC8j4P9McyS4BZZP1_l6MJpZrccMwFCkfvfIgNE7TGPbI3zIDuCC2TB_Y0UeSaWzrqKMB27wdSLvqI5BXQnvR9HCukSeCSh4R8Jn2AawqleFAULt2v_ioXbg64_xtospzGys/s400/Lily+Elsie.+c.1913.+LOC.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><br />This gorgeous photo dates from about 1913. It is a portrait of the English actress, Lily Elsie, who would have been about 27 years old at the time.<br /><br />Miss Elsie wears an evening ensemble that is typical of the period: Grecian inspired hairstyle with waves and curls, head band and feather (this look is often mistaken as a 'flapper' style), high waistline (also Grecian) with floating tunic panels over the skirt.  Her arm is also tied with a draped scarf or lace panel.  She holds a fan and wears both long and short necklaces. To get this look, she would have worn a long corset that probably reached to her lowest hip level, creating the rigid pose.<br /><br />For us, this fashion ensemble can inspire wedding and evening styles with softer elegance, drapery and a Grecian  silhouette.  <br /><br />This authentic photo is from the Library of Congress archives, and may be found <a href="http://www.blogger.com/Bain%20Collection%20-%20Reproduction%20number:%20LC-DIG-ggbain-13720"><b>online</b></a>, in the Bain Collection.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv3TqRj4dp0bLG9yBC-mC4PllfQWiLPE-cZ7xC2a6_fsxOAl6L8rz0nZB3igMq7P_kV6tvHclWbpA5SohN4DmjV09YVUTqCjldRjAG78viQtICzyNOrQJo0oRUmULh8IOUVhpoEXI83_o/s1600/Mccalls.+6030.long+gown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv3TqRj4dp0bLG9yBC-mC4PllfQWiLPE-cZ7xC2a6_fsxOAl6L8rz0nZB3igMq7P_kV6tvHclWbpA5SohN4DmjV09YVUTqCjldRjAG78viQtICzyNOrQJo0oRUmULh8IOUVhpoEXI83_o/s400/Mccalls.+6030.long+gown.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Want to make this look?  Creating a similar gown today starts with a simple high waist gown pattern. This version of the classic "Empire" style is a good start. McCall's 6030 has a look that can be used as a basic gown and it even has a floating overskirt. During the 1910's, this overskirt would be cut at mid-length or even shorter to achieve a tunic effect. The sleeves can be modified to become draped or tied.<br /><br />One of the key elements was the use of ultra soft textiles: charmeuse, chiffon, net lace and gauze.  These soft fabrics were often layered to create the romantic, floating silhouettes from that era we love so much today.

Lily Elsie, Fashion c. 1913: Make this look

This gorgeous photo dates from about 1913. It is a portrait of the English actress, Lily Elsie, who would have been about 27 years old at t...

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Vintage Detail: c. 1913 Silk Chiffon Tabard

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbV7m4JvoD_g0BypYqlETKeFdSFb4KbciA7QuPgLhZXPxGYdUNLqVN9AT5qwuiNA5AGooiQVz-rsB_q76KNWhU9Y8Og7WmDKaqJpzQBICoKXL9Xhsqk7urIAkZyAyay3VOpI5rE9gwomZ/s1600/IMG_4742.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642725000483052562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbV7m4JvoD_g0BypYqlETKeFdSFb4KbciA7QuPgLhZXPxGYdUNLqVN9AT5qwuiNA5AGooiQVz-rsB_q76KNWhU9Y8Og7WmDKaqJpzQBICoKXL9Xhsqk7urIAkZyAyay3VOpI5rE9gwomZ/s400/IMG_4742.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsjlDuQajF6zlrHJg296yRkcaZ2C5r-LQ7xpmJmvU2G6VNbgMThxx4Tyj0ZilLxgLstutnYe4b-05rCSDyuSlH4Bm__X7VorLmURrVon-1a6YyZkxxbYIillVFk-6SRLDMlyxEbFOSWsx/s1600/IMG_4735.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642724877158444066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsjlDuQajF6zlrHJg296yRkcaZ2C5r-LQ7xpmJmvU2G6VNbgMThxx4Tyj0ZilLxgLstutnYe4b-05rCSDyuSlH4Bm__X7VorLmURrVon-1a6YyZkxxbYIillVFk-6SRLDMlyxEbFOSWsx/s400/IMG_4735.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 205px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_fgRmp0auc6Mee-O3hspowvhdKz8oG3rj48Ga7Ku3Z9cIuz68xiVyH-86p9k5fCzyyl4GkveIgwC5CQ_hO8mQwJu7sUDecU_wq1Iw0iuj3snX0QRhqY7nxXMcA_soYgT0SrxxmlaJZ_H/s1600/IMG_4740.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642724764279025138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_fgRmp0auc6Mee-O3hspowvhdKz8oG3rj48Ga7Ku3Z9cIuz68xiVyH-86p9k5fCzyyl4GkveIgwC5CQ_hO8mQwJu7sUDecU_wq1Iw0iuj3snX0QRhqY7nxXMcA_soYgT0SrxxmlaJZ_H/s400/IMG_4740.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNqm4l2ad9CkbpBJONv2nKW6OKJ3l4gOWAdexjw1NglkpZOKlcGVOCoqrBefqvphVOeQRO2fFKaCUjIAFlJxx_QHdWtXhZ8Yp1wVUMbw7EOnDZwvOEAnuj2En_fLlAu5xZr46Vg63iZeO/s1600/IMG_4709.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642724606755299634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNqm4l2ad9CkbpBJONv2nKW6OKJ3l4gOWAdexjw1NglkpZOKlcGVOCoqrBefqvphVOeQRO2fFKaCUjIAFlJxx_QHdWtXhZ8Yp1wVUMbw7EOnDZwvOEAnuj2En_fLlAu5xZr46Vg63iZeO/s400/IMG_4709.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 382px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuwd4lArcCe4-Qe_PdJP0ugjN70wgEOfGn7yq99R8ULMiEp-AsOzwkJlMbMZv4zqVaHueEXBsxDhaqO4khXDLMS-nKsCzCVmZrBh5PkDervaMxu9JX5w5Dt3nYq-PjnceG2VP6BNDcCQc/s1600/IMG_4707.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642724458332849634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuwd4lArcCe4-Qe_PdJP0ugjN70wgEOfGn7yq99R8ULMiEp-AsOzwkJlMbMZv4zqVaHueEXBsxDhaqO4khXDLMS-nKsCzCVmZrBh5PkDervaMxu9JX5w5Dt3nYq-PjnceG2VP6BNDcCQc/s400/IMG_4707.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 341px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx78v3857Auwj_ghqgqqn_tS-RcGm0UMxZf6w_Vhx8bT195dQihwXPfivdOD5xRJsS-E9lTBY_TPfZyr8HYRV3GN54nh3huG898BlYGND7M_GITSCEqMUi2m1KRFHTf9-KLihXWBDQIrDj/s1600/IMG_4714.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642724337518227810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx78v3857Auwj_ghqgqqn_tS-RcGm0UMxZf6w_Vhx8bT195dQihwXPfivdOD5xRJsS-E9lTBY_TPfZyr8HYRV3GN54nh3huG898BlYGND7M_GITSCEqMUi2m1KRFHTf9-KLihXWBDQIrDj/s400/IMG_4714.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This silk chiffon tabard dates from the early 'teens when high waistlines and narrow hems were the silhouette. Designed to be worn over a tunic or gown, this very simple sheer shell has bursts of beading on the bodice front, back and skirt hem. The sheer chiffon is bound in black velvet trim around the neckline and along the sides.<br /><br /><br /><br />The design of this garment is very simple. The bodice front and back are sewn only on the right shoulder, the left shoulder has snaps (seen here with my own pearl head pins to hold it closed). The garment is hooked at each side waistline (see my pins here too). The skirt panels fall without side seams, so they open when walking. I show this tabard over a longer black slip and a white one (both modern) so that the details are be more visible.<br /><br /><br /><br />The fragile nature of this garment is evident and is typical of gowns from this decade.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">click on the images to see them enlarged</span><br /><br />

Vintage Detail: c. 1913 Silk Chiffon Tabard

This silk chiffon tabard dates from the early 'teens when high waistlines and narrow hems were the silhouette. Designed to be worn over...

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