From the DAR Museum: "Our costume curator and some of her colleagues are going to try some 19th century dressmaking methods in preparation for next year’s exhibition, “Sewn in America: Making, Meaning, Memory,” which will look (among other things) at the evolution of home dressmaking."
The curator of costumes at the DAR Museum, and her summer intern Bella, have been dressing mannequins in storage to prepare for a photo shoot for an upcoming exhibition and catalog. In this post, they share some of the tips for getting the shape of the dresses just right. Between you and me, I don't know how they managed to wear this much clothing and tolerate the heat and humidity. It's an interesting look at the fashion of the past.