For once (or maybe twice) in my life, I’m drawing something of a blank when it comes to trim patterns. Maybe because the outfit is outside of my usual style or maybe because I’ve been cranking through a bunch of other costumes recently. So, I’m looking to the LJ hivemind, you’re my only hope! I need ideas and examples of late 16th-century loose gowns with examples of trim.
I’m using the Reconstructing History pattern here, and I’ll wear it closed as on the far right. Not sure what kind of sleeve, but probably a simple puff.
The fabric is a dark red, almost-but-not-quite burgundy cotton damask that I bought from Etaine a while ago. Heavy weight, big pattern repeat, but it’s a subtle damask. So any kind of trim can go over it and not interfere.
I have various stuff on hand — some old-gold (non-metallic) scroll braid, tons more of the purple braid and wide gold/purple chenille trim I used on the black doublet, and various widths of black braid and gimp.
Some ideas so far:
- Catherine de Medici, black gown with white lengthwise and angled trim — could do this with black trim
- Infanta Caterina of Spain, black gown with gold lengthwise trim and top slashes — could do faux-slashes and buttons/toggles, in either gold or black
- French noblewomen 1581, short gown with straight trim lines at edges — could do in black or gold or alternate in both
- Woman by Cranach, black gown with cord, decorative button, cord — could do in black or gold
The other pix I have bookmarked are all solid black gowns where you can’t really tell what the trim is, or they’re much more open gowns (though some of the above are too). Or the trim is super-elaborate metallic/embroidered, which I can’t really afford right now. I can get a bunch of cord/braid/gimp kind of trim though, plus buttons or frog-type closures.
So, anyone have better pix? More ideas? I’m really hunting and hoping! I have this insane idea that I can whip this puppy together in time for June A&S — the gown itself is super easy (mocked up a size already), it’ll be trimming that’s a bitch. So I need a plan, man.
Later that day…
Could go extremely simple (which isn’t my usual thing, but hey, pressed for time…), a la…
Amee Flower’s lovely recreation — plain gown w/simple bow closure. Of course, that looks better with the contrasting gown underneath, which I won’t have. Hrm…
Or extremely elaborate, a la…
Woman from a Milanese Tailor’s Handbook, 1570s – burgundy with gold trim concentrated at the chest — this could work nicely with my red fabric and gold scroll trim.
Still looking for more ideas, and help is always appreciated!