I don't know if this counts as no. 2½ or 3...

If you read 2 post down form this one, you will see the dress in this post as it was originally done. I really haded that dress, so I decided to rework it 2 years ago to make it better and more correct.

My inspiration was this portrait of Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna by Heinrich von Angeli, 1874.

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To get the right look, I made an addition to my 1885 lobster bustle. It's made of stiff cotton and be free to use the pattern. It clicks on the bustle with snaps for easy removal.

This is a picture of the first try-out of the neck trimmings. The lace is a beautiful antique lace I got off ebay, but I didn't like the look of it on... it didn't feel right to me. I later decided to use a modern one.

I decided to try on the bodice only to find out ...

... that it didn't fit. =(

So I added a center front panel to the design and continued on with making the dress, adding details and trimmings.

 

I used Truly Victorians apron pattern, TV305 and I don't like how it came out. There is not enough fabric around the bustle part for the period and too much around the waist, which I only found out after I had finished all the hand sewing ect. I used the direction that came with the pattern and I didn't listen to the little voice in my head that said "something is not right". The apron, to me, would fit better in the second bustle period than the first.

A look at the front closure.

A close-up of how to hide the opening.

And the finishing touch of the back

The only new thing is the apron, all other parts was the old dress and this is what I ended up looking like.

The skirt was a bit short in the front and I have since lengthen it. If you have the same problem with a costume, just ad some extra fabric at the to of the skirt, nobody will know, but you...

I also think that there is not enough 'puff' in the back of the skirt mid down - need more puff.. ;) But I like how this came out in the end, overall.

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I you want to know anything about the construction of the dress or how I did some of the trimmmings, just ask. Thank you for looking.