fancy dress decision

It broke Robin's heart, but after trying on both the triangle ballgown that I could rig to wear over the short hoop and my other option that I could not, I'm going with my other option: my ancient Venetian dress. It's SO old...fall of 2006 I think... but I did a better job at fitting that bodice than I did on the triangle ballgown, go figure. I'm happy I kept it; I haven't worn it in years (and it only ever went to the PA Renfaire so the hem is filthy...the lower half of the skirt is currently soaking in the laundry room sink, because yikes), and I kept thinking about getting rid of it because it does take up a lot of space. But now it's going to come in useful again!

I tried it on over the hoop, and it does fit just fine (and looks hilarious, too). I can wear my long sleeved tudor smock with it, so I'll just need a panel to fill in the big front V, since both the original gathered panel and camicia are long gone. And I have to re-hem it, too, since the skirt lining was a retroactive addition after the dress was already done, and after trying it on today, I don't need the added weight of that lining for a ball (plus, filthy), and it was super easy to rip out, since it didn't go up into the pleats. I'll replace it with a facing, like a sane person...

And, funny: part of the retrofitted lining was the skirt of my Very First Costume Ever. Blue linen blend from Joann's, 2003. Sentimentally I'm going to wash it and reuse it for something! (Also because, hi, have you met me? I can't throw away perfectly good fabric!) The rest of the lining was cotton-poly broadcloth, so into the trash it went. xD