1880s dress "Egyptian" style

To fit the occasion of an Egyptian exhibition, I decided to use up the remnants of a blue-gold striped fabric I once used to make an oriental costume and make them into an "Egyptian" dress like a woman of the 1880s would have worn, toying with the resemblance of the fabric to those typical Pharaoh-headdresses.

The skirt is made of matching blue velvet, 6-panel pattern with train that can optionally be tucked up over the bustle.

The overskirt is going to be an asymmetrical arrangement of that striped fabric. In the beta-version, I just pinned it to the back of the skirt to form a of decorative backside.

The bodice is based on my newly-made perfect pattern ;) , this time high-necked (standing collar of blue velvet still to come) and with long, narrow sleeves (blue velvet cuffs still to come). I wore it with a white blouse that was a complete improvisation ten years ago but still is of excellent use, and it turned out those lace-rimmed ruffles and jabot look really nice with the blue, so I guess I will keep it!

The turban - well, THAT was a complete improvisation. After finishing the skirt and bodice, I ended up with some scraps of fabric and the need for a hat (as every decent Victorian lady needs one), twisted and rolled them, put in some random stitches (yes, really random, it was kind of "lets sew something together and see what the outcome may be") and decorated the thing with golden paper leaves and a small peacock feather. It definitely served the purpose! And in Victorian times they wore all kinds of weird things on their heads anyway...