Fashion Inspiration- The Tissot Shipboard Dress

Enjoying the cool sea breezes at the Getty Villa during our recent excursion definitely energized me and it too me back to one of my major sources of inspiration, James Tissot and his especially his nautical-themed paintings and it takes me back to an earlier post… 🙂


Karin Tissot

Lately, James Tissot has been a major source of inspiration for some of my designs. Check out the brunette. Pretty curves, cotton batiste gown is weighed down with a hem of pleats, ruffles, ruches, and two huge silk sash bows in the back. When I realized I had an original bonnet like hers…well, you get the picture. 🙂 Below are a few pictures of my take on the Tissot shipboard dress:

Karin

Bonnet is original, complete with cobalt silk ribbons and silver medallions

Karin

Gown is completely hand finished, except for construction seams. It’s weightless, my corset is heavier than the gown!

Karin

So I forgot to prune…

Karin

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And More Original Inspiration…

Some bodices break the rules! She never had a petersham at the waistline, most of the seams aren’t finished off, there’s been no obvious size alterations throughout the years. Yet…she’s pretty as a picture, and was carefully tended by someone many years ago. 🙂

 



And For Original Inspiration…

Details! I love the hand-drawn fringe, the pretty pleated watch pocket, and a complete set of her original buttons. It’s so lucky that there’s no silk shattering, so when I’m done today, back to her tissue-stuffed box she goes! 🙂



Inspiration Dress

This is the back of the inspiration dress that I patterned for my blue cotton dress. It’s from a suit of three pieces (princess seamed semi-polonaise, foundation skirt, and detachable train) that appears to have been a special occasion dress, not a designer dress…but most likely created by a local dressmaker or seamstress.

 

 



A For A Little More Mid Bustle Era…

The best accessory for a summer dress is…a breeze. I think we should use hats and parasols every day, don’t you? 🙂