Going through my image collection, looking for a picture on which to base an outfit for very hot weather, I came across this pic of a french peasant dress:
I think working class/peasant dresses can be very elegant, in a simple practical way.
Personally I find my interest piqued when making "clothes" rather than costumes.
Umm... that may have come out wrong.
What I mean is, I love the challenges of what everyday folk would have worn, worked in, made by hand and loved. I keep meaning to make a speccy dress with lots of bling but it doesn't inspire me in the same way that simple, wearable comfortable clothes do.
But I guess that's my passion, you have to follow your own passion and if you make a peasant dress but hate it and never feel pretty in it, it's a waste of your valuable talents.
Nope that didn't come out wrong and it is helpful.
I prefer to see what I make as "clothes" rather than costumes too, but I also want them to feel right for my persona, who is somewhat more elegant than my mundane self. Hence the different approaches to garb and mundane clothes. Unfortunately, middle or upper class late period garb was not designed for Australian summers and heat exhaustion is not pleasant :-)
I kind of like the idea of figuring out and making this sort of simple peasant garb just because it's different from the styles I've done so far. And lets face it - anything I make in that foul green colour is going to look bad anyway, so I might as well make it lower class.
Come to think of it though, summer's almost over, so I'm not sure why I'm worried about excessive heat right at this moment :-)
Thank you very much. Where is the image from? (I collect them :-)
I wonder if I can make a kirtle like that with minimal stiffening (just at the lacing edges). The multiple layers on the bodice to stiffen it is what tends to cause the heat problems (my sleeves are always detachable). More food for thought.
The bodice makes you hot? Wow, ok. What do you usually put in it? I'm a three layers girl (inner, outer and canvas) but it's possible to leave out the lining. And because I'm not busty I can get away with it. A line of boning or canvas at the lacing edge would help stop little gathers/pulls. The pic's from the Frauen Trachtenbuch I believe, many more images here: http://www.marquise.de/en/1500/weigel/index2.shtml There's a few more lower class gals there too, if you feel like stepping into Germany! And I meant to say before - low class stuff can be stunning. It's about the layers, the fabrics, and the stitching. Sure, you're not going to edge everything in lush silk, and cover it in sequins, but a neat prick stitched edge on a good fitting wool coat can be mighty sexy! Have a chat to Mistress Elaine about it - she's an expert!
I've done three or four layers. Three involving outer, canvas and lining, with boning channels stitched between the lining and the canvas and four involving the interlining comprising of two layers (drill) with boning channels stitched between them.
The dress I was wearing at 12th night was a four layer one and fairly tightly laced. I think I ended up with heat exhaustion (you may remember me running out on the after party).
It's not so much the decoration of the upper class dress - most of the stuff I've made has little decoration beyond using contrasting fabrics or textures or embroidery - I like the fitted shape. Which is a problem because the tight fit makes the heat issue much worse.
With the image that I posted - I'm not sure I can get it to be fitted enough to look good. It may actually be a good challenge to see if I can :-) Plus, I'd probably not be able to resist putting a contrast fabric band on the neckline or something, thus ruining the plain peasant look.
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Personally I find my interest piqued when making "clothes" rather than costumes.
Umm... that may have come out wrong.
What I mean is, I love the challenges of what everyday folk would have worn, worked in, made by hand and loved. I keep meaning to make a speccy dress with lots of bling but it doesn't inspire me in the same way that simple, wearable comfortable clothes do.
But I guess that's my passion, you have to follow your own passion and if you make a peasant dress but hate it and never feel pretty in it, it's a waste of your valuable talents.
Not sure if that's helpful...... :)
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I prefer to see what I make as "clothes" rather than costumes too, but I also want them to feel right for my persona, who is somewhat more elegant than my mundane self. Hence the different approaches to garb and mundane clothes. Unfortunately, middle or upper class late period garb was not designed for Australian summers and heat exhaustion is not pleasant :-)
I kind of like the idea of figuring out and making this sort of simple peasant garb just because it's different from the styles I've done so far. And lets face it - anything I make in that foul green colour is going to look bad anyway, so I might as well make it lower class.
Come to think of it though, summer's almost over, so I'm not sure why I'm worried about excessive heat right at this moment :-)
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http://festyclothes.blogspot.com/2010/02/for.html
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I wonder if I can make a kirtle like that with minimal stiffening (just at the lacing edges). The multiple layers on the bodice to stiffen it is what tends to cause the heat problems (my sleeves are always detachable). More food for thought.
Reply
The pic's from the Frauen Trachtenbuch I believe, many more images here: http://www.marquise.de/en/1500/weigel/index2.shtml
There's a few more lower class gals there too, if you feel like stepping into Germany!
And I meant to say before - low class stuff can be stunning. It's about the layers, the fabrics, and the stitching. Sure, you're not going to edge everything in lush silk, and cover it in sequins, but a neat prick stitched edge on a good fitting wool coat can be mighty sexy! Have a chat to Mistress Elaine about it - she's an expert!
Reply
The dress I was wearing at 12th night was a four layer one and fairly tightly laced. I think I ended up with heat exhaustion (you may remember me running out on the after party).
It's not so much the decoration of the upper class dress - most of the stuff I've made has little decoration beyond using contrasting fabrics or textures or embroidery - I like the fitted shape. Which is a problem because the tight fit makes the heat issue much worse.
With the image that I posted - I'm not sure I can get it to be fitted enough to look good. It may actually be a good challenge to see if I can :-)
Plus, I'd probably not be able to resist putting a contrast fabric band on the neckline or something, thus ruining the plain peasant look.
Reply
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