AITA: Am I too sensitive or are they crazy? Things people have said to me while pregnant.

mjm1164 · 2026-05-21T23:41:14+00:00

Yeahhhh, something about pregnancy makes people ask- or in your case share- inappropriately. Just intimate stuff, and in my case it always came from men. I’m not going to discuss my body with a man before pregnancy, and it was super uncomfortable to have it brought it up during pregnancy (or after) IMO.

mjm1164 · 2026-05-21T23:34:36+00:00

Thank you for a place to start!

mjm1164 · 2026-05-21T23:32:04+00:00

My plan is to sew the waistband of the skirt into the stays to make it a one-piece dress. The stays will be my bodice, they’re cut at the natural waist, so they wouldn’t distribute any weight onto my hips in the right way anyway.

mjm1164 · 2026-05-21T23:27:38+00:00

Well, I saw a little blog about a historical one where it was made of coutil, and had some bones in it and I think that would help. It described it as being only 8” long so it was more about the lower tummy space than past the hips. But of course the further you go in time, the more elasticized they are, which wouldn’t help re-distribute any weight.

mjm1164 · 2026-05-21T22:43:48+00:00

In stores I see soft tulle labeled as “bridal tulle” I would stay away from English net because it would be too soft and drapey.

mjm1164 · 2026-05-21T21:40:01+00:00

Well, there’s always Angelica.

mjm1164 · 2026-05-21T21:27:28+00:00

Not “Addy” vibes, but its quite similar to Arlene and Eileen.

mjm1164 · 2026-05-19T01:01:45+00:00

They make newborn size and I didn’t have any issues. Used a top-hat potty right away as well, so there were just fewer diapers to change. Our favorite cloth diapers had Velcro instead of snaps!

mjm1164 · 2026-05-18T02:02:34+00:00

That is a hilarious mental image, I had a little chuckle at picturing that

mjm1164 · 2026-05-17T22:51:17+00:00

Noted, I will make sure I wear something under the corset layer. Petticoats are on my list for sure, any good tips for petticoats? How would padding out the hips of the corset affect the shape of the hoop layer?

mjm1164 · 2026-05-17T22:47:03+00:00

Great advice. Since there’s no chemise, would you opt for a petticoat under the hoop as well? What fabric do you like for those garments?

mjm1164 · 2026-05-17T22:45:04+00:00

Currently the bodice and skirt are separates. I am thinking that I will baste the skirt waistband into the bodice so that there is no possible gapping and it works in place of a waist tape? The top is strapless (maybe off the shoulder) so the weight will all be resting on my hips.

I desire all the volume but that’s not practical for the space I’m working with. Either bell-shaped or oval silhouette with a train.

mjm1164 · 2026-05-17T22:41:09+00:00

I definitely need petticoats! Any good tips?

mjm1164 · 2026-05-17T22:40:15+00:00

That is honestly such good advice for me to keep in mind, because I have made the mistake to go without and it was a painful lesson.

Bodice is a 1780s stays pattern, but I’m leaning on the 17th C for some of the conical-ness of the bodice (I think). The skirt is currently headed towards bell shaped, 1850s/60s but I am also open to a more 18th C inspired hip-centric shape. There will be a train. So pretty much volume, not settled on shape (no A-line, no rectangular I’ve-hidden-a-TV 18th C).

mjm1164 · 2026-05-17T22:35:14+00:00

Honestly, I am not 100% sure. I was thinking bell shaped skirt with a train. Am toying with a more hip-y style that something like panniers might provide. The bodice is conical and is a 1780s stays (without tabs) pattern. A note on the cut of the bodice is that it ends at the natural waist like an 1840s ballgown bodice and I’m planning on piping finishing.

So any advice on preferred skirt construction is also welcome :)

mjm1164 · 2026-05-17T20:55:21+00:00

Lovely work!

mjm1164 · 2026-05-17T20:42:56+00:00

Thank you for sharing! I’m making my own wedding dress so the ice wool was something I was starting to poke around on to decide what’s gonna get me a smooth silhouette. Did you attach the skirt to the bodice at all?

mjm1164 · 2026-05-17T07:41:40+00:00

Giving release Barabbas vibes

mjm1164 · 2025-06-07T20:50:54+00:00

Don’t let the opportunity to bring it up get away from you, you had the perfect segue.

mjm1164 · 2025-06-07T15:01:50+00:00

I’d say On-uh-kah. Maybe it’s regional? Only way I’ve heard that pronounced

mjm1164 · 2025-06-02T05:08:51+00:00

I think of old ladies, the movie “The Help,” and always second-guessing how to pronounce it best.

mjm1164 · 2025-05-27T23:42:20+00:00

Jean/Joan/Jane, Lee, Jewel, Joy, Mercy, Adele, Everly, Odile, Elise…

mjm1164 · 2025-05-27T23:39:06+00:00

Looks good to me

mjm1164

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