Every historical reconstruction begins with a story. This project was inspired by an original sleeveless evening dress from around 1874. Rather than creating an exact copy, I adapted the design into a daytime promenade dress, adding sleeves while preserving the silhouette and decorative character of the original.
One of the greatest challenges was the fabric. The original printed textile no longer exists, so there was no modern fabric that could faithfully reproduce its appearance. Instead, I carefully recreated the historical pattern from scratch and had it custom printed by CottonBee on lightweight cotton voile, bringing the original design back to life.
Historical reconstruction is about much more than sewing. It requires research, patience and countless small decisions that respect the craftsmanship of the past while creating a garment that can be worn and appreciated today.
Every reconstruction reminds me that historical dress is more than clothing—it is a story preserved in fabric, waiting to be told again.
The original historical source
1874 dress, Coutau, Bégarie & Associés
My reproduction of the fabric print
created at
Construction details – more photos
Every historical dress starts with what remains hidden.
Before the fabric, before the trim, before the final silhouette—there is structure.
This 1874 project began with a recreated bustle cage and the layers needed to support the shape of the gown.
I’m a garment technologist and I draw every pattern for a body, dress or any other item myself, based on old patterns.
And then:
Eleven metres of ruffles later…
Hundreds of pins, countless stitches and many hours spent at the sewing machine slowly transform the fabric into a dress.
Watching a bespoke design become part of a finished historical costume is always my favourite stage of this journey …
