In fashion it seems there's nothing new under the sun. If you follow this blog you'll know that I've been using our wintry weather as an excuse to indulge in some binge-viewing of
a certain Swedish TV series. A result of that was some curiosity regarding eighteenth-century women's clothing, and that in turn led me to the sack-back (not featured, incidentally, in the series). The sack-back gown was a style that gradually moved from informal to formal wear and was characterized by loose box pleats at the back.
 |
| Eleanor Frances Dixie, by Pickering |
 |
| L'Enseigne de Gersaint, by Watteau |
There is
some suggestion that the style may have been introduced by a mistress of Louis IVX to conceal her clandestine pregnancies. There is no doubt that the lines of the garment do a great deal to hide the waistline. That's not necessarily a bad thing, I think you'll agree.
The sack back appears from time to time in the knitting world. Two of my favourite re-incarnations are Kate Gilbert's Pearl Buck jacket, from
The Best of Interweave Knits,
and Rowan's Bizet, from their most recent magazine,
I haven't been much of a Rowan fan in recent years, but Issue #54 has a lot to inspire.
I'm toying with the idea of exploring this interesting and graceful shape, while I put the finishing touches on "Wheatsheaves". Barring the unexpected, that pattern should be available sometime next week. Stay tuned...
