The Chocolate Girl

Quilted Petticoat and embroidered shoes!

Taking time for a cup of chocolate myself. Photo by Don Holmes.

Out wandering Williamsburg on a chilly Winter morning

The Chocolate Girl is a very famous pastel by Jean-Étienne Liotard, dated to 1743ish. It’s actually been used for quite a few commercial appilications over the centuries and I can see why as it’s rather perfect. This project got underway (as so many do) by suddenly needing an outfit for an event a month and a half away.

This February is a Winter mini-market in Williamsburg with some historical costuming vendors including Redthreaded (a really fun event when I went last year!) and Historical Williamsburg is in on the fun with a “Fashion Days” weekend that has some interesting lectures. A bunch of historical costumer friends are going to go and make a weekend of it, including photoshoots together, carriage ride, and attending some of the lectures and museum exhibits. Plus the rest of my family decided to tag along so it’s practically a mini historical costumer convention. Then the week after that, Gadsby’s Tavern is going to have a George Washington’s Birthday party, and in March is the annual Francaise Dinner too.

So while on some heavy duty painkillers, I decided that making an all new costume instead of refashioning bits I already have is a great idea. Of course. 😉 Well it is, right? The list of pieces for it is pretty simple and I have the basics of stays, padding, and some under petticoats in my closet already.

Jacket – I’ve never made one! I’ll be a good excuse to expand the wardrobe!
~~Petticoat – a nice and simple silver petti! Easy peasy!~~
- Weeeeeell… hers is a lovely but simple silver petti but I did buy the Romantic Recollections Quilted Petticoat Embroidery Pattern back when it was on the pre-order sale and I promised myself that the next time I make a petti, I’d do the quilted one. So I’ve GOT to do that.
Chemise – ~~Stash!~~ Crap, mine are the wrong shape. May just replace the sleeves for the mid-century style. Or baste on a bit of a cuff end to fake it?
Apron – Easy enough
Handkerchief – Stripey fabric! Also easy, or I can use a stash one.
Cap – Pink! Always fun to be a rebel against all “CAPS MUST BE WHITE” proclamations with all the excuses they come up for the Chocolate Girl’s pink one.
- Crap, lace…. Thankfully I managed to talk myself out of trying to make the lace myself since I’ve just started learning bobbin lace.

Then I started… expanding things. Williamsburg will be largely outdoors. No telling what the weather in Virginia is like but I’d better plan for chilly!

Cloak – I do love the traditional red 18th century cloaks. 🙂 Though color wise I’ve strayed to burgundy to avoid Handmaid’s Tale comparisons.
Mitts! – Easy stashbuster project
- Oh look, a machine embroidery mitt design conveniently released the day before I cut mine out! Guess this 2 hour project is getting a bit more luxe 😀
Muff – So Fluffy!!! Do I have time for this?!
- No, I have to tell myself, focus! Shesh. And didn’t my mother in law give me an antique fur muff five or six years ago that’s stashed upstairs in my closet…. SCORE.
Chatelaine – Tempting, tempting jewelry.
- This project is starting to get expensive. Maybe a Michael’s and Amazon self-built chatelaine instead of a historical reproduction is in order…
Oooooooh… 18th Century chocolate rabbithole
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh… 18th Century porcelain rabbithole.
…..

It hasn’t helped that during this entire process I’ve had a suprise abdominal surgery, slower-than-preferred recovery, and drugs that while very helpful in the pain department haven’t been so helpful in the sewing or research department.

3 Weeks Before Williamsburg

Everything is ordered and most materials have arrived. I’m now only waiting on some lace trim and a peapod charm for my chatelaine. It’s going to be adorable. I still don’t feel comfortable putting stays on but the pain from the surgery is 90% gone and I’m feeling much better. I’m also feeling ok about my project progress.

Things I have finished: