Lawrence Godey - Louise Godey's Brother

Whoosh!  The days are flying by.  Its hard to believe that we're in the last week of November already.  If only I possessed a magical spell to slow the hours down...but I do not.  No one does, but I think there must be a way to do this by maybe, perhaps, taking a little more time out in our days to rub the doggy, dress a doll up for the holidays, read a chapter in that wonderful story, take an hour's walk in nature...and if its not close by, or the weather isn't cooperative, rest your eyes on the wonder of nature, and feel those marvelous changes of the season.

As the year wraps up, I'm reminded of the very many projects I wished to do, or even complete.  What happened to the collection of Mary Lennox?  Didn't I wish to finish it by the end of the year?  Well, let's be frank.  Not all the outfits in that paper doll series were pretty.  There are only three I wish yet to create, but they'll make wonderful spring projects in 2018.  My studio time, on any project, has increased in size due to the needle felting accessory-displays (I make to go with the outfits), and this won't always be the case.  And, this past month, this November, I was in Christmas gift making mode and even this will continue for awhile yet.

So what prompted me to finally pull Lawrence Godey out of the "dolls to make" cabinet, and debut him?   Well, there was an auction on Ebay for Tonner's Viktor Dreary Scary Christmas (and both his sisters), and I didn't bother bidding because I didn't feel lucky enough to win all three and not go into hock.  It was Viktor's short pants outfit that reminded me that I have my own little boy to sew for, so out he came.  I've had the doll and plans to make Lawrence, Louise Godey's brother, for almost a year now.  Maybe longer.  A friend sold me just the doll from Wendy Lawton's Harlequin.  He is, like Louise, a 14" wood body and porcelain doll. 

Dressing him would be quite a departure for me, since I've been dressing the girls for so long.  Yes, I've made boy outfits before, but only for the 9" Lawtons, and not that many.  Their tiny bodies with bodices attached to the pants, make it a bit easier, and with this 14" doll, a little more fitting and fussing would need to be done.  Plus the age old, fabric choices, and his first outfit was intended to be one of gray velveteen, not this luscious, rich purple.  I wanted to make both Louise and him Christmas outfits (in lieu of missing out on the Dreary children).  Louise's silk arrived and it was the wrong silk sent.  Frustrated, and feeling the time pinch, I carefully went through my stash to see if there was anything else that would work.  And, lucky me, I found one.  This also prompted a color change for Lawrence, since I wanted their outfits to coordinate. 

I'd been going through the books I have on historical children's fashions, and was coming up with a blank for Lawrence.  Some of the outfits just seemed too involved for a debut costume I had only a week to make.  And, then there was the notion of era accuracy, which I've decided to be lenient on for certain reasons.  Let's face it, when we talk about Victorian fashion, that's a long stretch of years.  And, boys' and men's clothing really doesn't change that much, and is also often a product of the country they hail from.  I did discover some interesting anecdotes and facts though.  The short pants worn by the American boys were often straight legged, until after the turn of the century and up to the 1930's - ahem!, but were also poufy in earlier times.  Some legs tapered, some were banded below the knee, some were like Turkish short trousers.  Fashions went back and forth, even as they do today (for women at least).  How they fastened changes more, but I'm not sure I want to become an expert at sewing correct pants for boys with front flaps and laced gussets in the back.  Sometimes just knowing a thing, but enjoying how something less involved "displays" is alright.

I did learn where the term "breeches" came from.

As you know, little Victorian boys wore dresses until a certain age.  But, why?  Well, it was for potty training purposes.  The toddlers couldn't handle all those buttons for pulling pants down or even the flap, much less getting them up and buttoned again.  So when a boy toddler was breeched, that was the day he wore his first pair of pants.  All grown up now.  And, it was quite an affair too, as the boys would be paraded around the neighborhood in their new grown up pants, and likewise praised. 

There was a fashion for boys that buttoned their short jackets to the front of their pants.  When fashion changed to longer jackets, the buttons remained on the front of the pants for decorative purposes.  And, those fussy, lacey jabot blouses the boys wore with their velveteen suits were called Fauntleroy, after the Little Lord Fauntleroy.  And, naturally, their hair was grown in the fashion of the long curls the little lord wore. 

For Lawrence's holiday and debut, I chose the beautiful, rich purple velveteen I had in my stash, and lined both the pants and jacket with silk taffeta.  His ball brass buttons are vintage, and I'd been saving them for just the right costume.  His jacket is belted, and his blouse is a lined shell for ease of dressing, and with a rounded collar.  A white, silk chiffon bow was made from the left over fabric from Gay Event's ball gown.  White stockings make the costume dressy for the holidays. 

There is no doubt that I will be thinking of updating Louise's fashions to reflect various Victorian decades, and Lawrence will get a new corresponding outfit to compliment hers.  Louise's best pal, Laura Peterson, may get new things, too, but its mainly Louise and her brother that I'll focus on for the future.  And, toys/accessories for Lawrence.  What did young boys play with?  From the Victorian postcards, I know they played with toy soldiers (and sailboats), so he may get one to hold at some point.  So much to think about!

I hope everyone had a marvelous Thanksgiving.  And now its on to Christmastime!  I'm very much in the holiday spirit and have been all the month long.  Time to begin Louise's new dress for the holidays.  Make each moment count with love and joy in your heart.

Love,

Miss E. Mouse