An Edwardian Summer - Issue 1 Upcoming Collaboration with Lemon Bay Doll Co and A Stitch in Time's Line

BbeautyDesigns
Jul 16
4 min read

Updated: Aug 7

We are always happy to do collaborations with our favorite artists and designers and this collection was no different. In fact we have several planned for the future and are always thinking of new ideas to showcase our love for dolls and fashion put together.

Edwardian Fashion History

The Edwardian Era was about late 1890's to about 1914 which was at the beginning of the Great War (World War I). Often called the Guilded Age, this was a time when women's fashions took on a new opulence and extravagance, inspired by the lifestyle of Britain's King Edward VII. Fashion for women was built around an S curve when corsets created an S-Shaped silhouette. The S bend coreset forced the hips back and the bust forward creating a very mature woman with a pigeon shaped monobosom. Skirt fullness was constructed inwards instead of outwards in long slender silhouettes and large hats came into fashion. Hair styles got dramatic and puffier to support those large hats and shape the look of an elegant lady.

For children, clothing styles were simplified adult styles often with hints of the monobosom shape and collars. Young girls wore knee-length dresses, often starched and decorated with lace or ruffles with black stockings and shoes or boots. They tied ribbons in their hair and fancier outfits may have included a hat. Playtime often called for a pinafore dress and blouse. (This explains so much of Samantha's wardrobe from American Girl).

Overall, gone were the days of heavy fabrics and a new lighthearted concept overtook the fashion of the era. It depicted a sentiment of eternal summer, with dresses made of lightweight fabrics for a more active lifestyle. And this eternal summer is what inspired this collaborative collection.

A Collaboration Trio

Coming together at least once a year is becoming something of a tradition for myself and two friends Michelle Weber from Lemon Bay Doll Co and Ava Smith from A Stitch in Time's Line. After Rococo Rendezvous last year, we decided that we very much enjoyed working together and wanted to keep doing these kinds of collaborations together.

"An Edwardian Summer" will begin on July 22 and run until August 12. Each company in our trio has prepared a series of beautiful one of a kind handmade outfits for 18" dolls featuring the Edwardian era. Each fashion will cross promote various Edwardian sewing patterns for 18" Dolls paired with Bbeauty Dolls Edwardian Shoe and Boot Collection. During the series, announcements will be made as to the special release date to purchase the showcased outfit. Outfits will be cross promoted on social media as well and we are running "An Edwardian Summer Photo Contest" with a chance to win a full set of Bbeauty Doll's Cutout Boots in 4 colors!

Sneak Peek!

Teaser pictures are our favorite way to illustrate what you can expect from the upcoming series. Upcoming newsletters will showcase each company's handcrafted dresses and ensembles. Even if you don't collect historical fashion, these fashion newsletters are fun to follow along and oogle.

(Above) A Stitch in Time's Line teaser pictures of one of many lavish Edwardian styles that will soon strut into your inboxes!

An Edwardian Summer Photo Contest

Just as we did last series, all participants have the opportunity to post photos of Edwardian Fashion on Instagram during 7/22-8/10. To be entered into the contest you must abide by the following rules:

Posts must be marked with the #edwardiansummer and @bbeautydesigns to participate, otherwise we won't see your post.
Posts can include any type of doll, it is not limited to just 18" dolls, even though this series is designed for 18" dolls like American Girl.
Posts do not have to have handmade clothing in the photo. Even though we do like to see that kind of creativity, it is not required.
Posts will be judged on creativity of the photo. Posing of your doll in a scene or with other dolls as though they are "alive" is what we want most to see rather than your doll against a white wall like a product shot. We want you to use your creativity and imagination to celebrate your doll and the clothing.
All participants can enter as many photos as they like throughout the contest on any day they like, as long as it is not the same scene and outfits taken from different angles. Entries must be materially different from each other; different dolls, different outfits, different scene.
We reserve the right to select more than one winner if we have a tie or can't choose just one winner.
Photo Winner will have their photo featured in the final Edwardian Summer Newsletter with their name posted as well as a brief description on their inspiration behind the photo. Photo Winner(s) will be selected on 8/11/25 and be posted the following day in the final newsletter on 8/12/25. Winner will receive a complete set of Bbeauty Dolls Edwardian Cutout Boots in all four colors in gift boxes delivered to them free of charge as a grand prize.

Featured Sewing Patterns
"An Edwardian Summer" is a series dedicated to exploring the Edwardian themed sewing patterns for 18" Dolls and will feature several patterns by Lemon Bay Doll Co and A Stitch in Time's Line. Throughout the series, all three companies will be showcasing their work with one of a kind outfits showing different creations and variations. As with all collaborations, we have linked each of the featured patterns to their respective maker's store from our Doll Sewing Pattern page to purchase. During the series, you can purchase each of these patterns at 20% off using the coupon code: EDWARDIANSUMMER. The code is the same for all stores.

Edwardian Shoe and Boot Collection
This series will showcase different outfits paired with our Edwardian Shoe and Boot Collection. Each shoe is made with high quality, attention to detail, and fit. This collection fits most 18" dolls with a similar foot size to American Girl and Gotz Happy Kidz feet. As a special promotion throughout the Edwardian Summer Series, you can purchase any of our Edwardian shoes at 20% off by using the code EDWARDIANSUMMER at checkout. This promotion ends on 8/12/25.

Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter by visiting our home page at the bottom so that you can enjoy "An Edwardian Summer" series with us!