Getting Dressed in an Empire Gown

Getting dressed in an Empire gown is a process, not just because the gown itself it eight feet long, including the train, and requires pins and ties to make everything secure.  What goes on beneath the gown, and in what order, is as important as the gown itself...

_


STEP ONE
The Chemise

In lieu of a chemise, I use a full slip that I altered by removing the elastic along the bodice top. A chemise is on my to-do list...

_
STEP TWO
The Stays

I chose the beige fabric to make the stays for two reasons: in the information that came with the pattern from the Mantua-Maker, Deb Salisbury, described a set French stays of the same color; secondly, due to the almost diaphanous nature of the bleached muslin, I needed to make the stays virtually disappear beneath the gown.

_
STEP THREE
Petticoat

In lieu of a petticoat, I use a half slip that goes to my ankles. After looking at pictures of myself in the gown, I saw that the outline of the stays' bottom was visible. Having the slip/petticoat over the stays will help eliminate that outline. A petticoat is on my to-do list...

_



STEP FOUR
The Gown

The gown goes on rather like an extremely long shirt. The skirt and the built-in stays hang open.

_



STEP FIVE
Drawing up the Ties

The tie attached to the left of the skirt front passes around to the back of the gown.

STEP SIX
Pinning the Built-in Stays

Pinning the built-in stays is next. This helps to give the gown its shape (as well as provide support, should one wish to wear the gown without stays).

STEP SEVEN
_Passing the Ties Through the Belt Loops

The ties, one attached to the left skirt and the other attached to the right of the bodice piece, pass through the belt loops in the back of the gown.

_



STEP EIGHT
Drawing the Ties Tighter

Pulling on the ties wraps the front skirt around to the side and begins to complete still further the shape of the gown.

STEP NINE
Tying the Ties

_ The ties tie together at the front of the gown.

_



STEP TEN
Pinning the Bodice Piece

The last step is pinning up the bodice piece so that it covers the ties and the built-in stays.
Getting dressed in the gown is complete.