Sheer Pleasure: Transparent Accessories 1830-1870 presented by Carolann Schmitt
Description
Originally presented Sunday August 1, 2021
Link will be sent once payment is received. Link to the presentation is available for 2 weeks.
Transparent accessories add grace, elegance, and delicacy to a garment. They can greatly change the appearance of a dress, taking it from plain to fancy, from simple to refined. Sheer fabrics from the mid-19th century are glorious: finely woven, light, airy. They have body, a smooth hand, and lovely drape. They were available in a variety of fibers -cotton, silk, linen, wool, pina; and a variety of fabrics - organdy, organza, lawn, batiste, mull, cambric, clear muslin, Swiss dot, net, point d'esprit, lace. From these fabrics, period seamstresses and needleworkers created a variety of light and airy accessories including caps, headdresses, mantles, collars, cuffs, undersleeves, tuckers, chemisettes, fichus, pelerines, canezous, overbodices, shawls, mantles and cloaks. Profusely illustrated, this class will use primary sources including images, written descriptions and original garments as we discuss styles, fabrics, construction techniques, and when and where these accessories were worn.