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Trim choices, help!

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Trystan

Sarah & Kendra came over on Saturday, & we got shit done! There was draping & cutting, & we all have bodices for our 12th Night gowns under way.

I sewed my together today, but now I’m stymied on trim. The Isabella portrait has no trim on the bodice, other than a few pearl clusters up near the neck & a boatload of jewelry, which, sure, I’d love to make & have stuff for, but still, that looks awfully plain. An unadorned black bodice is just boring & so not me. Also, remember, I’m not going for a strict recreation (never do that!), it’s just an inspiration. So here’s some trim ideas, using what I have in my stash, & I’m looking for opinions…

Trim option 2, closeup
Trim option 2, closeup
Trim option 2
Trim option 2
Trim option 1, closeup
Trim option 1, closeup
Trim option 1
Trim option 1

I’ll probably add pearl clusters to either one, plus use some of whichever trim on the sleeves to tie the look together.

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Posted in 16th Century | Tags: 1560s black & white Medici gown, trim trim trim | 6 Comments
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6 thoughts on “Trim choices, help!”

  1. Jonatha says:
    November 27, 2011 at 7:13 pm

    I’m partial to Option #2, as well…I tend to like the broader lace, and it reads well.

    • Trystan L. Bass says:
      November 28, 2011 at 2:16 pm

      That’s what I was thinking too. Thanks!

  2. Kimiko says:
    November 27, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    I think I’m leaning towards the first option, as I like how the rays of trim looks. But not sure how it will translate onto the skirt. The second option also looks good, but it seems to be rather bold. Either would look great with pearls as accents. Sorry not much help on which choice to go with.

    • Trystan L. Bass says:
      November 28, 2011 at 2:18 pm

      I think the skirt will be mostly unadorned except for the edges of the center-front opening (split skirt, showing an embroidered silk petticoat underneath).

      Tons of pearls on the bodice! Maybe down the CF of the skirt too!

  3. Kendra says:
    November 27, 2011 at 10:35 pm

    Gah, I can’t decide! I like the wide lace, but then I wonder how that will look with the sleeve. Could you photoshop the sleeve onto each bodice pic?

    • Trystan L. Bass says:
      November 28, 2011 at 2:21 pm

      Gah, I haven’t gotten to the sleeve design yet! Other than the shape of the Isabella de Medici sleeve — big slashed pouf in black w/white underneath, band below that, then straight sleeve w/some kind of decoration. So, maybe wide lace on each strip of the pouf & on the band? Then prob. the narrow silver trim on the straight part of the sleeve, top & bottom, where the seam lines would be of a 2-part sleeve pattern. And lots of pearls.

      Can you imagine that?

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