Adam’s Atelier

Just In- Charles Worth: Father of Haute Couture

/ Adam Lid / Leave a comment

Just in time for Christmas! This is THE definitive biographical work the life and work of Charles Frederick Worth! Originally published in 1990, this book has been out of print for years and very hard to find. We’re fortunate to have been able to obtain a copy and we’re offering it for sale to some lucky person at our Etsy online store, Atelier Lily Absinthe. We’ve read this book many times over from cover to cover and we highly recommend it- the depth of information is simply amazing! Check it out at our Etsy store: 😁

Worth: Father of Modern Couture by Diane De Marly 1990 USED | Etsy
Originally published in 1990, Worth: Father of Modern Couture by Diane De Marly is the definitive work on Charles Frederick Worth and stands as a major work in fashion history. This book has been out of print for some time and finding copies can be a challenge and were fortunate to be able to offer

Another New Arrival At Atelier Lily Absinthe!

/ Adam Lid / Leave a comment

Just in time for Christmas! We were fortunate to be able to obtain a copy of this fabulous book Textiles for Victorian and Edwardian Clothing: 1880-1920 by Diana L. Fagan Affleck and Karen J. Herbaugh. Originally published in 2004 and long out of print, this book is an excellent introduction to the somewhat bewildering world of late 19th and early 20th Century fabrics. The book itself combines documentation with representative swatches of fabric. Having actual fabric swatches is a major plus in that the reader can now see and feel representative fabric samples and thus be able to gain a better understanding of the actual fabrics that were used. This book is definitely a labor of love and it’s too bad that it’s been out of print for so long- naturally, including the fabric swatches was no doubt a major logistical undertaking. About the closest thing out there today are fabric swatch kits that accompany most textile textbooks. Check it out in our Etsy store: 😁

Textiles for Victorian and Edwardian Clothing 1880-1920 Diane | Etsy
Interested in Victorian and Edwardian clothing but confused as to how exactly the fabrics of the period looked and felt like? Heres an reference source that provides an excellent introduction and can definitely help! This is a used copy of the 2004 book Textiles for Victorian and Edwardian Clothing

And From The Fabric Stash

/ Karin McKechnie-Lid / Leave a comment

W‘ve been gradually going through our warehouse with the aim of freeing up space and we came across a number of older fabrics dating back to the 1990s when we first started our business (anyone remember McKechnie Mercantile? 😄). Below are just a few of the treasures we have found: ❤

4 1/2 Yard Piece White Poly Organza W/ Blue Floral Print | Etsy
This is a 4 1/2 yard, 46 inch wide piece of white organza. Weve done a burn test and have determined that the fabric is most likely a polyester. This would be excellent for curtains or as part of an 18th Century or 19th Century/early Edwardian Era day dress. FREE SHIPPING TO US BUYERS! Thanks for

 

Irregular Piece Red/burgundy Poly Bengaline Patterned Fabric | Etsy
This is an irregularly-shaped piece of red/burgundy Bengaline fabric. The piece is roughly 60 inches long and 54 inches wide- the pictures above give an idea of the piece. Weve conducted a burn test on this fabric and as best as we determine, its most likely polyester. This fabric would be perfect

 

4-yard Lot Blue & Green Cotton Plaid Fabric 46 Inches Wide | Etsy
This is a 4-yard, 46-inches wide lot of blue & green cotton plaid fabric. This would work for a variety of projects to include 1890s shirt waists and 1860s, 1870s, and 1880s day dresses. Thanks for looking

 

3 Yard Piece Black Silk Organza W/ Woven Floral Pattern 40 | Etsy
This is a 3-yard, 40-inch wide piece of black silk organza with an embroidered floral pattern. FREE SHIPPING TO US BUYERS! Thanks for looking

 

2 1/4 Yard Lot Taupe & Gold Striped Silk Taffeta 54 Inches | Etsy
This a 2 1/4 yard, 55 inch wide, piece of taupe, yellow and gold striped silk taffeta fabric. The silk is glowy, not shiny, and would work well for a waistcoat/vest front. SHIPPING IS FREE! Thanks for looking

 

5-yard Lot Pink Poly Satin Fabric 46 Inches Wide | Etsy
This is a 5-yard, 46 inch wide continuous piece of pink satin fabric. Weve conducted a burn test on this fabric and as best as we can determine, the fabric is most likely a polyester. This would work well as part of a late 19th Century ballgown. Thanks for looking

 

2 1/2 Yard Piece Rust/copper/orange Poly Damask Fabric 56 | Etsy
This is a 2 1/2 yard, 56 inch wide piece of copper/rust/orange Damask fabric. We have conducted a burn test on this fabric and as best as we can determine, the fabric is most likely polyester. This would work well for 19th Century style curtains or upholstery. Thanks for looking

 

And finally, we’ve just acquired a supply of paper flowers for your trimming needs:

Paper Flowers 1 Inch Diameter FREE SHIPPING | Etsy
Need flowers for trimming? Weve got them! Each flower measures approximately 1 inch in diameter and these are sold in sprigs, each sprig having six individual flowers. Just the thing for trimming hats and dresses! FREE SHIPPING TO US BUYERS! Thanks for looking

 


This Week’s Fabric Safari

/ Karin McKechnie-Lid / Leave a comment

A few tempting textiles from the week’s Fabric Safari! Adam is currently listing them on the Etsy page, and I’m trying to not keep them for myself. There’s some silks, some gorgeous cottons, and a few wild card treasures. We prefer to sell them in “coupons” (like we found on Paris) so open your laptop, put on your jammies, and shop like the Parisians with these pre-measured lengths: ❤

2-yard Lot Red Silk Dupioni W/ Velvet Multi-colored | Etsy
This rich ruby red embroidered piece of smooth dupioni silk told me it wanted to be your next project when it grew up, this is a color that looks wonderful on everybody and has a lovely all-over vine and leaf motif studded with silk embroidered roses in silk chenille threads. Attention getting and

 

5-yard Lot Copper Orange Cotton Print Lightweight Fabric W/ | Etsy
This is a one-of-a-kind!! This is a copper orange cotton print fabric with a Japanese-inspired pattern design. As far as we can tell, this pattern appears to be similar to the copper plate fabric printing method that was employed in the late 19th Century. This has the softness of antique cottons,

 

5-yard Lot White Cotton Eyelet Fabric 56 Inches Wide FREE | Etsy
5-Yard Lot (2 available)- White Cotton Eyelet Fabric, 56 Inches Wide. This is the perfect fabric for Late Victorian or Edwardian Era waists, petticoats, and dresses! FREE SHIPPING

 

5-yard Lot Black Cotton Eyelet Fabric 58 Inches Wide FREE | Etsy
This is a 5-Yard Lot (2 available) of black cotton eyelet fabric thats 58 Inches Wide. Please note that the photos make the fabric color more of a grey color- the fabric is a true black! This is the perfect fabric for Victorian Era or Edwardian Era petticoats, waists, or dresses. FREE SHIPPING!

 

2 1/4 Yard Lot Taupe & Gold Striped Silk Taffeta 54 Inches | Etsy
This a 2 1/4 yard, 55 inch wide, piece of taupe, yellow and gold striped silk taffeta fabric. The silk is glowy, not shiny, and would work well for a waistcoat/vest front. SHIPPING IS FREE! Thanks for looking

 

3-yard Lot Gold Dupioni W/ Embroidered Floral Pattern Fabric | Etsy
If Claude Monet embroidered silk like he painted gardens...this would be it. Rich gold non-textured smooth silk dupioni with an embroidered meandering vine and artistic floral and bud motif, softly rendered in natural apricot and sage silk threads, this is a lovely three yard piece that wants to be

 

2-yard Lot Light Blue Silk Dupioni W/ Gold Embroidered Floral | Etsy
Luscious and glowy, this two yard x55 wide piece of pale blue smooth silk dupioni is embroidered with a rich all-over ivory and taupe floral motif...perfect for a bodice and trim for a wedding dress or your next Victorian ball gown. Silks this elaborate are selling for $50 a yard and more in stores,

 

4-yard Lot Green & Gold Striped Silk Taffeta 54 Inches Wide | Etsy
This a 4-yard, 55 inch wide, piece of green and gold striped silk taffeta fabric. The silk is glowy, not shiny, and would work well for either an 18th Century or Bustle Era Dress. SHIPPING IS FREE! Thanks for looking

 

 

Offerings From The Atelier Lily Absinthe Library

/ Karin McKechnie-Lid / Leave a comment

These books are the top of our list for Historical Dress research, all are reprints of original sources and images of the era…now you can buy them here from Lily Absinthe. Stock is constantly changing so check back often!! ❤

English Women’s Clothing in the Nineteenth Century: A | Etsy
Originally published in 1937, English Womens Clothing in the Nineteenth Century A Comprehensive Guide with 1,117 Illustrations by C. Willet Cunnington is probably one of the oldest formal costume reference books out there. This edition is a facsimile reprint that was issued by Dover Publications in

 

Victorian and Edwardian Fashion: A Photographic Survey Dover | Etsy
Need a quick visual introduction to Victorian and Edwardian fashions? Look in further! This book was our first introduction to the wonderful world of Victorian and Edwardian fashion history and its stood the test of time. This is a new paperback copy of the the Dover 1982 reprint of Victorian and

 

The keystone Jacket and Dress Cutter: an 1895 | Etsy
Originally published in 1895, the The Keystone Jacket and Dress Cutter: An 1895 Guide to Womens Tailoring by Charles Hecklinger was one of many tailoring manuals on the market during the 1890s. This edition is a Dover Publications edition that was released in 2006 and these copies are new. We have

 

Authentic Victorian Fashion Patterns: A Complete Lady’s | Etsy
Authentic Victorian Fashion Patterns: A Complete Ladys Wardrobe by Kristina Harris was originally published by Dover Publications in 1999 and is a collection of womens clothing patterns compiled and edited from various 1890s issues of The Voice of Fashion which was a fashion magazine of the time.