While looking for a line drawing of Rita Skeeter to use as inspiration for something earlier in the week, I stumbled across the site www.polyvore.com and the “sets” of a very talented gal, Ania.   Her set built around the V&A Golden Age of Couture exhibit caught my eye.

I had to go look at those red dresses on the V&A site…

Am I ever glad I did!  Zémire…  ahhhh Zémire.  How do I love thee?  Let me point out the picture…

See that?  That’s Zémire before restoration.  And see that beigey thing on the dress form?  THAT is a Dior built-in foundation for the garment.  I have been trying to find more info about those for a while now.  At least to see one in a color picture and not just a sketch.   WOOHOO!  I do not envy the person who had to restore that acetate, though.  Wait, no….  I do.  Envy is exactly the word.  I would wear cellouse acetate every day for a year just to have the opportunity to work on a Dior restoration.  And for anyone that has been in Austin this summer knows what kind of misery that would be with this heat!

I just had to share with everyone.   I haven’t been this thrilled about a foundation garment discovery since I found this red corset on the Antique Corset Gallery.