First of all, women dressed VERY differently in 1794. Corsets were a must. Layers of petticoats. Sleeve ruffles. Elaborate hairstyles. The list is endless, and is longer than anything I could put on a website right now. I'll try to add more over time, but these are the bare basics.

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First of all, the underpinnings are very important. A shift, corset, and stockings are the first layer. Over that goes the petticoats, painers, and pockets. One of my favorite pattern sites, Patterns of Time, offers some good patterns for all listed.

Now, the gowns themselves. There were several different types of everyday gowns for this period. Now, first of all, decide if you want a totally accurate historical reproduction, or just a quick costume. If you want a quick costume, try Simplicity's pattern 9746, which is my personal favorite (McCalls and Butterick both have detached bodices, which I don't like (check out my Marie costume pictures to see what I mean- I had to attach the bodice myself or it would have fit like a sack)

If you want an actual historic reproduction, there are a number of good pattern sites and actual costumes for sale off of The Costumer's Manifesto . I find this site an invaluable reference for all my costuming needs. If you want to buy a ready made or custom made garment, go to Costumes 4 Sale . If you want a pattern, go to Patterns.

If you want me to help you, stick around.

Alright, for a Marguerite styled dress (and I'm going from the musical, cause, as much as I love the movies (except A&E's terrible attempt at our fantastic story), it's my favorite version...) here you go.

Story Book dress- (photo from The Scarlet Pimpernel Official Site, photo credit Joan Marcus, Marguerite played by Carolee Carmello) Check out our formal wear section.

Wedding dress: (photo from The Scarlet Pimpernel Official Site, photo credit Joan Marcus, Marguerite and Percy played by Carolee Carmello and Ron Bohmer) Check out our formal wear section.

Pink Richmond dress: (photo from The Scarlet Pimpernel Official Site, photo credit Joan Marcus, Marguerite played by Rachel York)This is the dress Marguerite wears in the scenes at Percy's estate at Richmond. I made a horrid attempt (my second ever costuming venture) with Simplicity's #9713, which, actually doesn't look anything like the costume from the musical. A pattern I'd suggest would be the 1770-1780 Polonaise by Rocking Horse Farm. I found it first on Harper House Vintage Costuming Pattern Catalog. Let me also make a shameless plug for this site, it's fantastic. Ok, for the dress, you'd want to make it in pink (if you're following the musical) Depending on your budget, the range of fabrics can be up to you. In the musical (photo from The Scarlet Pimpernel Official Site, photo credit Joan Marcus, Marguerite played by Rachel York), it looks like the dress is made out of a taffeta mix of some sort. Check your pattern for suggested fabrics. Also, before she goes out to meet Chauvelin in the garden, she wears a white lace shawl. If you can track one down, great! If you can't, any piece of white lace cut in a triangular or half-circular shape and hemmed will work fine.

'Riddle' dress: (photo from The Scarlet Pimpernel Official Site, photo credit Joan Marcus, Marguerite played by Carolee Carmello) This dress Marguerite wears when she's at the Royal Palace and Chauvelin delivers his 'proposition' to her. The dress is made in the Robe A L'Anglaise style, and a pattern can be found at Patterns of Time. It's made in a dark pink fabric with a yellow trim of what looks like triangles. To go simple, just use a band of yellow fabric, don't bother cutting the triangles. If you want it authentic, cut a bunch of triangles (or a strip of them), and stitch them on. This dress in worn with a huge straw hat with a pink bow in the same color of the skirt, I found a pattern for a similar one at Harper House Vintage Costuming Pattern Catalog. You can also get a ready made one at Hats.com, suitable styles including the Pebble Beach. Just pin up one side of the front and attach your bow. A note, this one is kindo pricy.

Ball gown: (photo from The Scarlet Pimpernel Official Site, photo credit Joan Marcus, Marguerite and Percy played by Carolee Carmello and Ron Bohmer) Check our our formal wear section.

The 'Tart' dress: (photo from my program, photo credit Joan Marcus, Marguerite and the soldier played by Rachel York and one of the ensamble members, name unknown (if you know, please e-mail me)). This is the dress Marguerite wears when she goes to rescue Armand in Paris. From the photographs, it's obvious that there are several skirts. To make a really simple skirt, cut 4 yards of your fabric and stitch the cut ends into a tube (Sew a seam up the cut sides so the two loose sides are connected). Fold an inch wide flap of the fabric over on the top and stitch into a tube. Thread with ribbon (this is your waistband). Hem to your desired length. Layer your skirts (I usually wear 2 or three) and pull the top two up by tucking them into the waistband to show the bottom skirt. For the chemise (shirt thing wore under the corset), any kind of shirt or chemise would work. For authenticity, take a colonial chemise pattern (I suggest Rocking Horse Farm's pattern #182, which also gives you a petticoat pattern. Ok, for the corset- There are several roads you can go. 1- You can buy a colonial corset. (suggested makers- Rebecca's Reproductions) Be forwarned, a lot of places that sell corsets are lingerine companies, and their web pages arn't really sutible for kids (duh) I suggest trying to find a historical costuming site to get yours from. I've listed my favorite 'safe' site I know of. Kids, always check with your parents first. I don't want you getting in trouble because they walked in on you looking at corset pictures. And don't use the excuse 'But the Little Corinthian told be to get a corset from there!' :0P Prices usually run anywhere from $250 to $350+. If you choose to buy them, they're often called stays, and you'll want to get them with shoulder straps. Option 2- You can make them from a historical pattern. I really suggest the corset kits from Harper House. They give you the pattern, instructions, fabric, and boning. They run from $38 to around $60, and while they're not colonial period, they will work. Also, be warned- the fabric is usually white or a similar color. You can make a non-boned bodice (just a regular colonial bodice) in the color of your choice and wear it over the corset. Historically correct patterns suggested are J. P. Ryan's stays, just add a strap of fabric for shoulder straps. Option 3- Use a contemporary pattern. Simplicity's #5582 would work (use view A, but square the tabs on the bottom), as well as Simplicity's #5922 (view A) as would Simplicity' #8715 (use the skirted one). Out of all of them, I'd suggest option #3, because then you can pick your fabric and trim as well as decide how much boning you want to use. If you've got the money, DEFFINATELY buy a corset, as it will be so much more authentic (and you can actually use it as a base garmet for under other gowns).

Ok, for a Marie or any of the other society ladies, I'd suggest some kind of a round gown. Now for those of you going "What the h***?", just give me a second.

A round gown (the style of Polonaise and Levite gowns) is the style of gown commonly worn during the French Revolution era. Gowns had stepped away from the traditional 'saque' look and were more fitted, with the skirts either gathered or cartrige pleated. Don't worry, that's not supposed to make sense. The pattern I'd suggest for authenticity would be Rocking Horse Farm's #285. For Marie, make the polonaise without the skirt looping. For the society ladies, any style, Robe A L'Anglaise (or English gown), round gowns, polonaise gowns, will work. Just make them very extravagant, and don't forget a hat!

As always, PICK THE COLOR AND FABRIC YOU AND ONLY YOU WANT FOR YOUR COSTUME. I cannot stress this enough. I've had many people come up to me and say "Well, I'd LOVE this costume, but I don't like the color, so I'll find a different one!" No, No, NO! Your costume, your fabric. And trimmings and ties and hats and wigs and WHATEVER, alright!? And DO NOT, UNDER ANY CURCUMSTANSES, ALLOW YOUR PARENTS TO PICK THE COLOR OF THE FABRIC FOR YOUR COSTUME FOR YOU, AS MUCH AS THEY MIGHT HATE ME FOR SAYING THIS. Parents who might be reading this, I know you've got great tastes, but as I know from personal experience, anything you say could influence your kids to pick a different color than what they originally wanted, and it could ruin the fun of wearing the costume for them. So don't act all upset if they pick the electric green broadcloth over the nice pretty rose patterned velvet you like. They're the ones wearing the costume, it should be their choice.But kids, if it's not for a costume, but for an outfit for something like a wedding or church or Christmas or something, they get final say, alright?

(An added note, though, cause my mum will kill me if I don't say this- your mom probably does know what kind of fabrics will work, so do listen to her if you want her to every buy your fabric for you again, kk?) (*smooches, Mummy!*)

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