My ideal coat:

I made this coat out of an old blanket which cost me $1.00, and a pattern which cost 50 cents.

Dress of red velvet.

A dress with exceedingly large sleeves:

As my poor mannequin lost her arms in the war, I cannot show you the wonderful sleeves.

Harlequin tunic.

Riding jacket from the 1800s:

This coat is difficult to photograph, it doesn't fall the right way on the mannequin. There is an insert at the back which is just a piece of the fabric ironed like a fan.

Ladies knickerbockers from 1923:

This pattern was first made in 1901, my particular pattern is dated 1923.
This was about the time it became acceptable for ladies to wear pants. At first they just wore them when playing sport, cycling or horse riding.
I think they're beautiful. These are from a time when clothes were still made to make people look the best they could. The over simplification of modern costume and the extreme emphasis on casual wear is boring, ugly and uncreative.




Making this pattern gave me thoughts of worthlessness.
The instructions consist of one vague paragraph printed very small.
They seemed to assume that anyone making the pattern has years of dressmaking skills -which they did have 100 years ago. Well unfortunately I don't.
I had to pull much hair out before I got it right. The grey pair I made just to try it out, I ended up having to make up new pieces ,and, as the waist was too big I had to take it in with darts.
The green pair turned out nice, and once I've gotten over the experience of making them I'll attempt another pair.

A selection from my picture collection:

Here is a selection
(for your own delection)
Of my splendid
picture collection.
Does not require,
neither aspires
to any usage
or abusage
of...
-your intellection.