Pattern review: The custom-made cuirass bodice pattern was incredibly worth the higher cost! This pattern was custom-drafted to fit the measurements I mailed in. Heather McNaughton, the woman who runs Truly Victorian, emailed me as soon as she received my order. She suggested I re-measure, because a few of the measurements looked off. All these measurements are done according to authentic Victorian tailoring methods, so they're not the typical bust-waist-hip measurements. But Heather included additional directions in her email for measuring everything, and I finally got it right. She also did a rush order (I was really running behind at that point), and got the pattern to me in just a few weeks. Heather was really wonderful to do business with.

I did a muslin mock-up of the bodice as soon as I received the pattern, and was very impressed. It fit beautifully, even in hastily sewn muslin! When Deb was working on the final bodice, she did quite a few adjustments to the sleeves (the leg o' mutton style was a bit too poufy for my taste; although it was very authentic). But this was so much less fussing than I've ever seen in any other historical pattern, and overall, the Truly Victorian custom pattern was a dream to work with. Highly recommended!

With Deb's help, I added bustle ties in the back to gather up the train during the wedding reception. Unfortunately, the ties were ripped entirely out by the end of the wedding, even though Deb had re-sewn them in once during the day. Oh well, I'll just have to re-bustle it a little bit higher before I wear it again, and make sure no-one steps on my skirt hem (not even my darling husband ;-).

Pattern review: I made the Dore straight-seam version of the corset in burgundy cotton twill fabric with black bias tape trim. The fit only needed minor adjustments, mostly in length (I'm a tad short-waisted). I used my widest measurement (the hips) to pick a size on their chart to cut out, and it worked great.

The pattern doesn't leave a 2" gap in the back lacing, like other patterns I've used and like every custom-made corset I've ever bought has. So I added a it myself -- I find corsets are more comfy and adjustable with this gap. I also found that marking every piece as soon as I cut it out really helped. It can get very confusing about which piece goes where. I numbered each one and gave it a title like "center front" or "front side." That helped immensely. Overall, the project went smoothly. I did need Thomas' help for the grommet-setting, as I was using the old "hammer it in" method (don't have a fancy grommet-setter).

I made the chemise out of black cotton trimmed in black lace, and it went together smoothly. I didn't have time to do the pretty pin-tucking at the hem, but the instructions laid that out very clearly. Might go back and do it someday.

The instructions for both these patterns are average -- they don't walk you through every little step, but they don't skip anything major. It has a good overview of historical corsets and fashion, plus excellent tips on what materials to use. Recommended for intermediate and very patient beginner sewers.

The other jewelry I wore was a silver marcasite watch (which unfortunately broke during the cocktail hour), very vintage-looking black beaded earrings, plus tiny diamond earrings (a gift from my stepdad, Bob). Unfortunately, I forgot to wear the black studded bracelet that Thomas gave to me when we first started seeing each other. I wear this bracelet *every* day, and had planned to wear it with my wedding outfit too.

On my feet were the coolest black suede lace-up granny boots that I bought at Ad-Hoc in London last spring. I also wore black velvet thigh-high stockings from Hot Topic and a black net petticoat from Weddings for Less.

In the last two weeks before the wedding, Deb made me a fabulous purse to match my dress. She used the burgundy velvet to make a large drawstring bag, accented with lots of black and iridescent beading, plus a tassel at the bottom. It was big enough for makeup, my camera, a folding fan, hankie, and a silver pocket mirror that Ronda sent me right before the wedding. The mirror had space for a photo in it, so I put a picture of Thomas and I kissing at a Renaissance faire. It seemed so right -- full-circle from where we started to our wedding day.

But I'm not overly fond of blue and, besides, it wouldn't work with the burgundy and black color scheme. Then I read the neatest idea in The Knot's wedding book -- blue toenail polish! I had some already (a really dark, rich blue from Sephora in SF), and I always enjoy painting my toenails for summer, or for tropical vacations like our Jamaican honeymoon

However, it didn't work out this way in the borrowed and blue department. I did end up with something old, new, borrowed, and blue, though. Details are in the wedding story.