The Red Flannel Garabaldi

For years it had been a vague goal to eventually make a period-correct wool Garabaldi bodice. Then one day online I saw the above French fashion plate and I yelled out 'That's the one!!' It was pefect. Red - one of my favorite colors. Military inspired sutash trim - graphic, but not too complicated. And - I already owned a black wool dress from which I could 'borrow' the skirt. 

My lovely friend Ginger sold me some red wool flannel she had left over from a petticoat project. It was perfect! The dusty rose red color matched the fashion plate almost exactly.

I did decide to do a waistband instead of the sash. I also opted for normal cuffs instead of the pointed fold back cuffs as seen in the plate.

Pattern used: Past Patterns #709

The foldover collar pattern I nabbed from the Gallarock men's shirt on the square pattern.

In case you are not familiar with Garabaldi shirts, here is a brief description from my Historical Help page:

In many pictures and fashion plates from the 1860s, you may see ladies wearing a colored or patterned skirt paired with what appears to be a white shirt. This was a fashionable ensemble worn mostly by wealthy young ladies during the mid to late 60s. These 'shirts', or more correctly, bodices, were often called 'bodies' and were lovely and many times rather complicated affairs sewn from very fine sheer or semi-sheer white cotton. As the bodice was made from expensive fabric, the skirts you see in pictures will also be expensive fabrics. (silk or wool) The original 'Garabaldi' shirts were battle shirts worn by Guiseppe Garabaldi the popular Italian leader and his troops. This type of military-style shirt became a fashion fad, and carried over into women's dress. These were often made of wool flannel (a fine thin wool fabric) and trimmed in narrow wool braid in military-reminiscent designs. Again, this was a garment for wealthy, fashionable younger ladies and girls.

The original - Guiseppe Garabaldi

The trim used was black worsted wool sutash from Wooded Hamlet.

This was a really fun project. I like making unusual things. Ones sees many 'farby' blouse and skirt combinations at reenactments, but not many accurate ones. I would like to start a new trend...:^)