shiny thing
Jul. 21st, 2010 10:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
anotheranonSince my teen years I've been fascinated by Mariano Fortuny's pleated silk tea gowns. It's not just the luxe, timeless look, but the technology that went into it that got me: patent documents for the pleating process exist but aren't entirely clear, and each gown was stored in it's own box and had to be sent back to the Fortuny atelier in Venice for repleating every time it was cleaned.
Well, I finally gritted my teeth and summoned up the nerve to contact the Smithsonian, and in October I've got a behind-the-scenes appointment to get my hot little (immaculately clean, cotton gloved) hands on this one.
I've got permission to take a camera and a sketchbook. I'll be taking my measuring tools (linen loupe, hand-held microscope, calipers, ruler) in case closer handling is permitted. I've also got my DMC floss chart for color comparison. I am not sure how much time I'll be allowed with the garment, or whether touching with tools will be permitted.
I ask of you, textile/costume sorts - what else do I need to be considering?
Well, I finally gritted my teeth and summoned up the nerve to contact the Smithsonian, and in October I've got a behind-the-scenes appointment to get my hot little (immaculately clean, cotton gloved) hands on this one.
I've got permission to take a camera and a sketchbook. I'll be taking my measuring tools (linen loupe, hand-held microscope, calipers, ruler) in case closer handling is permitted. I've also got my DMC floss chart for color comparison. I am not sure how much time I'll be allowed with the garment, or whether touching with tools will be permitted.
I ask of you, textile/costume sorts - what else do I need to be considering?
