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Dear Miss Heather,
I finally got around to finishing my dress and I need some help with the bodice. After one more quick reduction in waist size on it to make it fit, I am bothered by the top of the shoulders and sides of breast at armpit. I don't know how to get rid of the wrinkle. If I take out some of the extra that is at my shoulders, will that help with that armpit wrinkle?
http://trulyvictorian.com/gallery2/main ... temId=1528
This is the best I can get right now. My four year old took the picture, so please don't be upset.
And not that it can be seen clearly, but I included a picture of my hairdo. Is that period?
Thank you for any help with this. I am eager to be finished, it has taken me such a long time to get it done.
Sincerely,
Miss Cindy

[Heather]

Honestly, I am not seeing anything wrong with the shoulders or bust in those photos. It might be that the dark print is hiding whatever issue you are seeing. Or it might be that your movement and posture while dealing with your children is slightly distorting the fit. In which case, there really is nothing to fix, as if you make fit with poor posture, then it won't fit when you decide to stand straight. A bodice will only fit perfectly when you are standing perfectly, but movement will always cause wrinkling.

In case there is an issue I can't see... By your description, I think you are right that if you take up the extra at the top of the shoulder, it will lift out any wrinkle you have at just above the armpit. Just make sure that you are not litfing the armpit, or that the wrinkle is not being caused by the arm pushing the armpit down.

Miss Cindy,

Your dress is lovely! and the baby is SO adorable!!!

WV

Dear Miss WV,
Thank you!
I think my son is adorable, too. God blessed me with one blue eyed baby. He is such a doll.
I am not the least bit biased, either.
Miss Cindy

[Heather]

Oh, I forgot to mention your hair style. I just love the bun. I am thinking that it would be better to lift the back fall section of hair up off the nape of the neck. So that it looks like it comes out of the bottom of the bun. If you could put the fall into 2 big sausage curls, that would be super fashionable.

Dear Miss Heather,
Thank you! I actually braided my hair for the bun. And as bad as it sounds, that little bit of "ringlet" that I tried to make, took me about 30-45 minutes to do. And it stayed like that for about 1/2 the day. My hair hates to curl.
But next time, I will try your suggestion, just as soon as I figure out what it is. I have an idea what it is, just want to make sure.
Sincerely,
Miss Cindy

[Heather]

Well, half the day is better than my hair. I usually get about 20 minute of curl. I finally gave up and purchased some fake ringlets. I had them a sausage curls for a while, then got tired of the knots so braided the curls into 4 small braids instead.

Basically, what I meant was to take the back hair that you left loose, and put in in a separate ponytail just under the braided hair for your bun. Then put the section in curls, if you can. If not, you can make several small braids out of it and loop the ends back up to the ponytail. Or make a loose twist or rope. Then take the large braid and make the bun so that it covers the to top of the ponytail/curls/braids.

It would not have lasted that long if I had not doused my hair in gel first.
Oh, okay! I get it now. My idea was completely off. I am glad you explained it. That actually sounds much easier than that curling iron agony I went thru this morning. I will definitely use that!
Thank you, again!

Have you tried doing rag-curls? I have very straight and soft hair and found that setting the hair in ringlets using rags holds up really well. I only tried it once and then I divided it into too many sections so the ringlets turned out tiny, but with thicker sections it would probably be perfect. Make your hair a bit damp, put in some extra srong mousse, wind it on rags and sleep on it. If you don't know how to do the rag culs and want to learn, tell me and I'll write a desctiption.

Dear Miss Elin,
I have not heard of rag curls until your use of it here. I would be thrilled to know how to make them. If you can explain in more detail, that would be great!
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Miss Cindy

My Mom used to set my hair in rag curls. They are so pretty. I have forgotten how to do it. I would appreciate a refresher course too, please! :D

PSST we just bought out a company who has AMAZING large sausage curl clips or pieces!! I am waiting for them to come in!!

Ok, this is how I did my rag curls (but it is not the way they seem to do it if you watch any of the Jane austen movies: they use some other technique to tie the rags)

Take a piece of fabric that will tie well and that will not shead a lot of lint. I used an old sheet. Cut or tear strips of fabric between 1 and 2 inches wide and approx. 3 times the length of your hair. I usea A LOT of strips and divided my hair into many sections but this made the curls too small. Divide your hair into sections, each section will produce one ringlet. Make sure your hair is damp, not wet and work some strong hold mousse into it if you want the curls to really last. Tie the rag around one section of hair at the base so that you make a small ponytail. You want the knot to be placed so that you have 1/3 of the strip on one side and 2/3 on the other side. Grab the short end and keep it straight. Don't pull too tight or you will pull the knot away from the base. Now wind your hair in a spiral around the short strand of fabric.( Make sure you wind it in an attractive shape because if your hair is anything like mine it will keep the shape you wind it in. I did my spiral very dense because I thought the weight of the hair would pull it out but it didn't and I had some very dense and short ringlets) Take note of in what direction you wind your hair in (clockwise or counterclockwise) because the next thing to do is to wind the long strip of fabric over your ringlet in the opposite direction so that the hair is encased in fabric. When you get to the end you tie both strands in a secure knot. It should now look like a fabric covered "rastafari" braid. If it immediately unravels it is because you wound the hair and the long strand in the same direction. Now you just continue with the next section. I slept on the rags and took them out the next morning when I was sure everything was dry.
As I said I ended up with very small spirals because I did my hair in small sections: ca 1"x1". If you use thicker sections it should give nicer curls, but of course the larger the sections the farther down your hair strands the curl will begin since each section is tied in a ponytail. But I figure that this will not be such a big problem with the Victorian hairstyles anyway.

I hope these instructions are readable, otherwise let me know and I'll try to answer any questions.

Also if you are succesful please let me know. It would be fun to hear if it works out for you. In general I think that ways of curling the hair that rely on the hair drying into the curled shape generally keeps the shape better than heated curls. But maybe that is just with my hair.

Also Lady Fleur: do you have any pictures of the ringlets?

Miss Elin,
I do have just two questions. How long did it take you to do your hair that way? And what length was your hair when you did it?
Thank you! Your instruction are quite clear. And when I try it, I will definitely post pictures.
Sincerely,
Miss Cindy

My hair was mid scapula length and I think it took me 30-40 min to tie all the rags in. However, this was my first time and as I said I really used alot of rags-maybe 40. If I would do it again (and I plan to) I would try to use perhaps 10 so that I could put my hair half way up and have a few big ringlets at the back.

Miss Heather,
Is this what you were describing?
My first try at it, without any hair styling stuff.
http://trulyvictorian.com/gallery2/main ... temId=1575
Miss Cindy

[Heather]

Yes, that is exactly what I was talking about.

Well, that is how I do my hair anyway. Not sure if it is the most historically accurate, but for my hair it works, and is easy. I think in most illustrations of period they seem to have 1-2 braids hanging, or looser twists. But my hair would be in knots by the end of the day with those. You can also experiment with the placement of the whole bun. The 1860's has the bun placement low on the nape of the neck. Middle of the back of the head for 1870's, and 1880's is more on top-ish. the 1870s saw the most volume of hair, with everyone adding pieces. You can always add fake hair, it is very period correct.

Thank you! I seem to recall seeing this style used in movies, too. Not that they are always the most accurate. But at least now I have an idea how to do it and it is not difficult at all. Too cool!
I put in one more picture, from the side, too.
Thank you again! How fun!
If only someone had taught me these tricks when I was young.
Miss Cindy