You’d think I would have made one of these by now, given that “Elizabethan” is my One True Costuming Love & late 16th-century lowland Scots is my SCA persona. But no, I’ve yet to make the ever-practical English fitted gown. So it’s about time. You’ve seen all the period images before, but I’ve added a few more, so let’s just put them all in one place, fully documented, m’kay.
I made this for October Crown in a pink & black colorway. There was a breast cancer fundraiser at this event, & I was still going through chemo. Get it? Why yes, everything in my world does revolve around that. I have other pink gowns in my costume closet, but I wanted something a little simpler & easier to wear.
I used a pink wool-silk blend from The Stash, but it was awfully flimsy. Had to line it with whatever I could find, which included twill in hidden places & a random-blend burgundy damask where it’d show. I barely had enough black velvet ribbon to guard the front. The sleeves are my fave part — big ol’ things, interlined like crazy to puff out, & swirled with two kinds of black gimp (raiding The Stash for every scrap that was left!).
This was worn over a black kirtle from my closet, tho’ it could go with a variety of petticoats, plus a linen shirt. I was surprised by the gift of a fabulous pink ruff from Laina, so I whipped up a little wig to go with. The day was hot & windy so I only wore this combo for a little while, but got pix. Later, I removed the ruff & wig & wore a coif I hand-sewed from some blackworked-print cotton, then alternated between my retrimmed tall hat & my black velveteen flat cap.
The colours are so you!
Can there be an one-and-only true costuming love? Or is it really true-love-for-now? 🙂
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That is seriously fabulous!!
I think it turned out marvelous!
Perfection!!!
So pretty! I love the black and pink color combo.