Belles of the Ball part 2: the completed dresses

As promised I am posting the completed Civil war ball gowns, with headpieces.
The duck-egg blue dress has three tiers of ruffles, with hand-cut gold lace. The skirt is pleated and cartridge pleated to get the 8 yards of fabric sewn to the tiny basque. The headpiece is a ruffled lace, light gold lace, pink velvet ribbon confection that is pinned to the hair. For an authentic touch, the pale pink rose and leaf decoration is made with French wired ombre ribbon.

The duck-egg blue dress, with headpiece

A close up of the headpiece:

The dress's bodice was based on a Tutu's the dance (Suzanne Dieckmann) bodice. The skirt (based on a Simplicity patern and Janet Arnold Pattern's of Fashion) is worn over an elliptical cage crinoline (Laughing Moon pattern):

My daughter's deep plum colored dress had a new bodice (made from Travis Halsey's "Regal" bodice pattern). The skirt is a five-gored skirt worn over an elliptical cage crinoline.

Plum colored taffeta dress

Finally the lilac taffeta dress, has the same basic bodice as the duck egg blue dress, but different accents. The dress has ribbon work appliques on the shoulder and a pleated front drape. The front drape was inspired by a dress described in Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion.

Detail of bodice with a front pleated drape and ribbon work appliques

The skirt is pleated and cartridge pleated and worn over a full petticoat.

Lilac purple taffeta Civil war style ball gown

This dress has a net and ribbon headpiece to go with it in various shades if lilac, periwinkle, royal blue and greens. I do not have a photo of that headpiece yet but I also made a second headpiece in shades of purple as a gift for another girl. Here is it: