Saloon Girl Western
The striped saloon dress. Wild west style, maybe steampunk, 1880s-ish. The weirdest thing about this costume is that everyone seems to know what a saloon girl looks like, but I couldn’t find a good historical reference picture anywhere. But I did find a few flashy vintage showgirl costumes from those 1940s westerns.
I made this dress during a flat front stay kick I was on [see my purple Eliza, or Azure blue]. As it turns out, if you got rid of all the bust curvature from a sewing pattern, a bodice could be made in just 2 pieces, no darts... And that’s exactly what this bodice is. Seam down center front, and a zipper down the back, no side seams, no darts.
See the workshop for a WIP picture. Made it all myself. I’ve always liked the look of stripes, but the OCD-ness of getting them perfectly aligned and symmetrical is crushing. Fortunately, this blouse was easy.
Of course, the blouse itself has no boning in it, so it must be worn with the stay to flatten the underbust wrinkles.
I made the skirt from a table cloth; a half circle skirt, hitched up on one side, with a small bustle on the bum, and a pleated ruffle on the hem that matches the blouse.
if you like western : I also made a Prairie dress last year.
I like the Wild West era. It’s tightly connected with the history of the state. In 1848, California and other western territories was purchased from Mexico. There were settlements and churches already built here, which is why all the old cities have Spanish names. The oldest surviving building in California is Mission San Juan Capistrano, built in 1782.
There aren’t many old western type places in this area. Just a few old barns in the local historical park.
It could be made more steampunk looking with the addition of some accessories; a hat, goggles, and gun belt.
Photos by ToshiStudios.
I made this dress during a flat front stay kick I was on [see my purple Eliza, or Azure blue]. As it turns out, if you got rid of all the bust curvature from a sewing pattern, a bodice could be made in just 2 pieces, no darts... And that’s exactly what this bodice is. Seam down center front, and a zipper down the back, no side seams, no darts.
See the workshop for a WIP picture. Made it all myself. I’ve always liked the look of stripes, but the OCD-ness of getting them perfectly aligned and symmetrical is crushing. Fortunately, this blouse was easy.
Of course, the blouse itself has no boning in it, so it must be worn with the stay to flatten the underbust wrinkles.
I made the skirt from a table cloth; a half circle skirt, hitched up on one side, with a small bustle on the bum, and a pleated ruffle on the hem that matches the blouse.
if you like western : I also made a Prairie dress last year.
I like the Wild West era. It’s tightly connected with the history of the state. In 1848, California and other western territories was purchased from Mexico. There were settlements and churches already built here, which is why all the old cities have Spanish names. The oldest surviving building in California is Mission San Juan Capistrano, built in 1782.
There aren’t many old western type places in this area. Just a few old barns in the local historical park.
It could be made more steampunk looking with the addition of some accessories; a hat, goggles, and gun belt.
Photos by ToshiStudios.
All photos are copyrighted.
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