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OK, so I now have a lovely linen for the new Italian camicia - it's from a slightly damaged 19.th century sheet. I washed it yesterday, now I need to iron it and cut the various pieces before drafting on the flower motifs for the sleeves. We'll start with those, as they are the most work ( Read more... )

So the suggestions re: colours of new Florentine 1550's dress so far has been:

Brown with golden embroidery(like this: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze2/ ( Read more... )

Thanks to various Livejournal friends and their feedback last time I asked, I will start a cardboard stiffening experiment. I will make a mid 16.th century dress in Florentine style, and see how cardboard can be used to "bone" the bodice.

fiofiorina pointed out that historical cardboard most likely was highly different from todays versions - whereas ( Read more... )

Concerning mid 1500 Florentine fashion and the eventual boning of bodices:

The bodice of the 1540's, despite being already longer and stiff, continued to be ample in form and with shoulders set well to the sides. Over the following decade, the profile tended to become more slender, not only because of the lowering of the waistline but also ( Read more... )

*drumroll* THE DRESS AND THE PORTRAIT!


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YESTERDAY:
Had my fourth exam, and the last Art history one (the fifth exam is Archeology).
Went out and bought 1,5 metres of wine red silk velvet and 3 metres of "plain" grey silk
Went home and started sewing - finally a new project! Feel like ages since last I started on something new

TODAY:More sewing, the back panel of the bodice is finished ( Read more... )

Naughty me... I've started on a new project, before finishing the Bordone gown and the Toile de Jouy robe. But I've planned the outfit for quite some time, so I only feel a tad bad ( Read more... )

Here is a brief preview of my latest project - a Venetian courtesan dress. I found THE fabric about two weeks ago, and more than affordable. A store called KID had a sale on curtains, and two metres costed 90 NOK, which is app. $13. And they had this gorgeous symmetrical pomegranat patterned brocade in two lush colours; a bright yellow/greenish ( Read more... )

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