Lady Van Tassel Sleepy Hollow
One of the late-1700s style dresses that Lady Van Tassel wore in the 1999 Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movie, Sleepy Hollow.
where Constable Ichabod Crane is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate mysterious decapitations, with the culprit being the legendary apparition, The Headless Horseman.
The Irving story was published in 1820, and takes place in the 1790s. The American Revolutionary War ended in 1783, so the story takes place in the years right after the war.
Back when people still bought DVDs, Sleepy Hollow was one that I liked enough to buy.
I happened upon the fabric recently, and had to try to make it.
I made this dress from a greenish-gold fabric with black pattern. Pointed waistline, ¾ length sleeves. The front is decorated with lace, and the whole bodice is lined.
The problem with this fabric was that the left & right edge pattern was staggered. So while the pattern DID aligned on the back center seam, it wasn’t symmetrical on the front Sides. It’s a silly annoying thing about working with patterned fabrics, that you wouldn’t have needed to think about if the fabric was a solid color.
There’s gold trim around the neckline, and a zipper down the back. I’ve never made a dress with this particular shaped bodice: pointed front and back waist line. [ I used this pattern again: also see my Grey Colonial and Colonial Cupcake] I had to handsew the skirt and top together while on the dress form just to make sure the pleats laid straight.
Nowadays, I use a larger size dress form, just to make sure the dress will constantly fit me, and then I alter it smaller after I sew the zipper in. Unfortunately, the alteration messed with the center front, but it still looks ok, just not quite like the reference picture.
I don’t know if it’s worth pointing out, but the movie costume is actually an opaque sheer layer with black swirls on it, worn over a yellow dress, The pattern is seamless as it goes over the shoulder seam.
I’ve been into historical costumes these past few years.
If you’re having trouble with the historical fashion timeline:
After the Renaissance style 1300-1600, came the stiff and formal, ornate/extravagant styling called Baroque 1600-. The Three Musketeers is set in 1629. The Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts in 1620. The lavish fashions were fueled by the French King Louis XIV who lived 1643-1715. Wealthy men started wearing wigs around 1680-, often in an off-white color. After King Louis XIV death, stylings softened into the elaborate Rococo style, which was still ornamental/theatrically decorative. Starched powdered wigs in 1715 were popular with wealthy men. Technically part of the English Georgian Era 1714-1837, the French Queen Marie Antoinette lived 1755-1793, and had a fashion substyle all-her-own called Louis Seize 1770- [which was famous for having very tall ladies wigs, often in pastel colors]. Dresses were worn with petticoats and a hip roll or a pannier.
The American Revolutionary War against the British Empire began in 1775, and ended in 1783. In America, you might think of colonial Williamsburg, or George Washington, or John Adams. Ostentatious fashions in Europe ended at The French Revolution 1789-1799. and after that, things looked very Jane Austen; Regency era. Napoleon was Emperor of France from 1804 until 1814.
Then the Victorian era started in 1837.
If you like historical, see my Renaissance lady, or Regency Blue, or my Victorian lady. Or Steampunk Green, Steampunk Blue. Edwardian Black, Edwardian walking.
I’m happy with how it looks. Sort of historical, sort of gothic.
Photos ToshiStudios by and others.
where Constable Ichabod Crane is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate mysterious decapitations, with the culprit being the legendary apparition, The Headless Horseman.
The Irving story was published in 1820, and takes place in the 1790s. The American Revolutionary War ended in 1783, so the story takes place in the years right after the war.
Back when people still bought DVDs, Sleepy Hollow was one that I liked enough to buy.
I happened upon the fabric recently, and had to try to make it.
I made this dress from a greenish-gold fabric with black pattern. Pointed waistline, ¾ length sleeves. The front is decorated with lace, and the whole bodice is lined.
The problem with this fabric was that the left & right edge pattern was staggered. So while the pattern DID aligned on the back center seam, it wasn’t symmetrical on the front Sides. It’s a silly annoying thing about working with patterned fabrics, that you wouldn’t have needed to think about if the fabric was a solid color.
There’s gold trim around the neckline, and a zipper down the back. I’ve never made a dress with this particular shaped bodice: pointed front and back waist line. [ I used this pattern again: also see my Grey Colonial and Colonial Cupcake] I had to handsew the skirt and top together while on the dress form just to make sure the pleats laid straight.
Nowadays, I use a larger size dress form, just to make sure the dress will constantly fit me, and then I alter it smaller after I sew the zipper in. Unfortunately, the alteration messed with the center front, but it still looks ok, just not quite like the reference picture.
I don’t know if it’s worth pointing out, but the movie costume is actually an opaque sheer layer with black swirls on it, worn over a yellow dress, The pattern is seamless as it goes over the shoulder seam.
I’ve been into historical costumes these past few years.
If you’re having trouble with the historical fashion timeline:
After the Renaissance style 1300-1600, came the stiff and formal, ornate/extravagant styling called Baroque 1600-. The Three Musketeers is set in 1629. The Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts in 1620. The lavish fashions were fueled by the French King Louis XIV who lived 1643-1715. Wealthy men started wearing wigs around 1680-, often in an off-white color. After King Louis XIV death, stylings softened into the elaborate Rococo style, which was still ornamental/theatrically decorative. Starched powdered wigs in 1715 were popular with wealthy men. Technically part of the English Georgian Era 1714-1837, the French Queen Marie Antoinette lived 1755-1793, and had a fashion substyle all-her-own called Louis Seize 1770- [which was famous for having very tall ladies wigs, often in pastel colors]. Dresses were worn with petticoats and a hip roll or a pannier.
The American Revolutionary War against the British Empire began in 1775, and ended in 1783. In America, you might think of colonial Williamsburg, or George Washington, or John Adams. Ostentatious fashions in Europe ended at The French Revolution 1789-1799. and after that, things looked very Jane Austen; Regency era. Napoleon was Emperor of France from 1804 until 1814.
Then the Victorian era started in 1837.
If you like historical, see my Renaissance lady, or Regency Blue, or my Victorian lady. Or Steampunk Green, Steampunk Blue. Edwardian Black, Edwardian walking.
I’m happy with how it looks. Sort of historical, sort of gothic.
Photos ToshiStudios by and others.
All photos are copyrighted.
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