CoCo Gala Plans

[theladyrebecca]

Okay, I know this is ridiculous early, but I think I have found my 2017 CoCo Gala gown. It's a painting of Isabel de Borbon y Borbon, by Vincente Palmaroli, from 1866.



Isn't it gorgeous?! I'll definitely need at least one additional ruffly petticoat to go over my cage, because that is a huge skirt. And that's got to be a 5 ft train, at least. I may be insane. I think besides the lace and the pleated ribbon (or is it pleated silk?) there is trim made out of gathered white organza with white ribbon over the center. I believe there is tightly gathered white organza underneath the blue pleated ribbon as well? (Otherwise it's white fur, but this dress seems a bit too springy for that.) And it looks like each of the lace ruffles on the skirt have a ruffle of turquoise organza underneath. The bertha seems so gauzy, but I think that may just be the painting style, because I don't feel like I've seen a lot of chiffon on berthas of this period. (Please let me know if you have!)

Here's a close-up detail of the bodice:


I wish there was a picture/painting out there of her with the train down - she's hiding so many details! Of course, I think the real question is, how many bazillion yards of silk taffeta am I going to need for this dress? Good think I'm planning two years in advance!

Edit: Yikes, after the world's quickest estimation, I think I need 13+ yards of fabric for this gown. If it's 60" wide, I think I could get away with 11 yds. And that's not including if I make all the pleated trim out of the actual fabric. 

Comments

[fairegoddess.livejournal.com]

Okay, so honestly, the more I look at it, the more I think she's holding a really fancy mantle or cloak, not her train. I don't see anything to suggest that it's attached to the waist at all - yes it's hiding most of the waist, but I'd expect to see at least a bit of something on the far right (her left). It has to be an overskirt if it is a train, but there's no sort of facing or balayeuse, which I would expect on something that was designed to drag on the ground. She's also holding her gloves, which suggests to me that the bundle is outerwear. Plus, those pleats(?) on the underside perhaps were meant to be seen in the turnback of an overgarment.

[theladyrebecca.livejournal.com]

I was thinking it was one of those court-gown type trains, where it just sort of fastens to the gown, and then goes trailing down, like this one: http://inspiringdresses.tumblr.com/post/28052117086. Though you certainly do have a point about the balayeuse...