Special LARP events require special costumes. The location of this specific event set in Victorian times (a French castle!) would have a swimming pool! Needless to say, I needed a Victorian swimming suit to be able to use it in style. 😎
I figured it wouldn’t be a lot of extra work to make a bathing suit beside my main outfit (*impending cloud of doom*). But what do you know – this time, that actually turned out to be true!
I based the design of the bathing suit on some images of real Victorian bathing suits from around 1870:
The matching patterns were actually still available for purchase, but I felt I could manage without one. The pattern I drafted myself (as well as my sewing technique) probably aren’t entirely historically accurate, but I didn’t consider that necessary for this LARP event. (Historic bathing gear wasn’t even required, as they wanted everyone to be able to enjoy the pool, but hey… I had to grab this opportunity, right? 😉)
The fabric isn’t authentic Victorian either; it’s cotton with some synthetic stretch stuff mixed in. (Apparently, wool or flannel were common fabrics for swimwear back then. No. Friggin. Way.) My only goal was to achieve a Victorian look. And I succeeded!
This is what it looks like when I wear the pantalettes (trousers) under the dress (my mannequin obviously can’t wear them):
Back then, they also wore shoes as part of their bathing gear, but I opted not to.
This special costume had an extra requirement: it had to be water-resistant. After all, you don’t want to make a fool of yourself at the pool if the fabric suddenly turns see-through. Or if your trousers won’t stay up on your hips once everything gets soaked. Or if the blue dye bleeds onto the white straps. Or if the buttons start to rust. And so on…
So, there was only one thing to do: take it into the shower for a test. 😄
Water test: passed! I was ready for the French pool. 😎
And OMG, look at how lovely we swimmers all looked together!! <3
(Me, small? Why would you say that? 🙄)
Time spent: 19,5 hours
Cost: €25 (5 meters of fabric at €3 per meter, 12 meters(!) of white tape at €0,50/m, and 10 small buttons at €0,40 each. I happened to have the drawstring for the waistband – a perfect match in color and length – lying around, as well as the metal eyelets.)
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