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Velven — c.1580s Middle Class Gown
Published: 2010-09-06 17:18:48 +0000 UTC; Views: 4285; Favourites: 80; Downloads: 56
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Description
More old uni stuff I never got round to submitting!This costume was designed and made by me in my third year. The design is based on upper middle class styles from the 1570s-80s and is supposed to be the 'best dress' of a country based noblewoman, as opposed to court gowns and more fashonable upper class fads, which took longer to reach rural areas (hence the fact that this gown takes the earler 'french gown' style as it's basis).
The gown is made up in red acetate taffeta wth faux fur cuffs and hand beaded trim. Under the gown is a boned kirtle in buff coloured linen with the neckline and forepart in gold acetate taffeta, worn over a high necked linen smock, which can be seen here .
Everything was made by me except the brooch on the front of the gown, which was added later for an exhibition and is made by Steve Millngham of Pewter Replicas [link]
The gown has a matching french hood [link]
EDIT: I've uplaoded new photos of this with some details and better quality pictures.
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Comments: 35
Ooh, how nice to see more shots of this! Did you make it for yourself?
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Sadly no! I had to make it for a model as it was a university project. I was very sad not to get some proper pictures of it on her as it really looked much better worn by the person it was made for, for example the bodice had no wrinkles in the front and the skirts had more fullness due to her hips. My mannequin is very flat hipped and I don't have the hiproll I originally used anymore.
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Ahh, I so know what you mean! Everything looks so much better when worn by the person the garment was made for! Now I don't wonder anymore why the skirt doesn't look so full, too! Because it looked a bit flat to me.
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Yes it is too flat in these pictures, that's why I didn't take any full length ones! I'm hoping to make a bumroll to go under this to try and make it look better on the mannequin.
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I see. That sounds like a good idea!
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So beautiful. I love the fur sleeves and the red of your gown.
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Thanks, I fell in love with that fur fabric when I saw it, it's very realistic looking in real life, so I just had to include it in the design!
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Okay, sorry for late reply, but thankyou so much!!
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No problem, you're welcome!
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Thankyou! I'm actually hoping to get some better pictures this weekend!
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Pretty! I really love the fabric. I think I saw almost a similar one yesterday but the color is just a bit lighter I think. It was really cheap because there weren't much of it left so I'm probably going to make a peirrot jacket of it for my friend. Is this one made for you or someone else? You should show us more costume pictures here on dA! Didn't you have some of them in your livejournal?
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I love taffeta - even if it's just an acetate or rayon one. I think it's one of the few fabrics that the man made fibre versions look almost as nice as the 100% silk stuff! I think ths stuff was around £2 a metre, so a bargain too.
I made this for a model, as we weren't allowed to make things for ourself for uni projects.
A taffeta pierot jacket would look lovely! I hope you put some pcs up f you do make it!
I don't have that many more pics, I desperately need to photograph some stuff! I'm also hoping to make more things now that I've finally fnshed work on my show, so hopefully there wll be some more stuff soon.
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Wow, £2 a metre is really cheap! I've seen it only for 6 euros a metre and never cheaper than that. I really like taffeta as well 
I always (try to) put some pictures when I finish a costume but - as I may have mentioned it before - I don't have a good camera and it's surprisingly hard to get someone to help you to take the pictures. My friends like to take "real photography" pictures of people in costumes but when it comes to taking pictures that should just show the costumes in the best possible way, they aren't at all interested. It's good if I can just snap a couple of those when I'm with them.
I'm looking forward to see other stuff that you have done! Hopefully you can find some more eager costume photographers than my friends :'D
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Well the shop I work in currently sells a lot of remnant fabrics (ie end of roll, seconds etc) by weight, and it works out pretty cheap. We have a whole basket of cotton chintz at the moment that I am keeping an eye on until my next paycheck!
I have lots of diffculty getting decent photographs too, I'd love to have enough money to get some proper studio shots done but alas I just have to wait for some free time when the weather is nice and sunny!
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Oh, we have those baskets as well. But I rarely find anything REALLY nice there. Though, I've found a bunch of beautiful tricots and I've used them for shirts that are now really worn 
Oh, weather is often the problem. I usually have to wait for the summer to get some nice photos of my costumes. :S
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Yes, it is a bit pot luck what we have in the baskets in the shop - one day there will be so many nice things you can't choose between them all, and then another day there will just be nothing nice at all!
I am crossng my fingers for sunny weather tomorrow as I have a day off work and I want to get some photos taken!!
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Ohh, did you get any photos?
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Sadly we have had lots of rain recently, so it's been too cloudy for photos. 
But I have been busy making some new bonnets and planning some costumes, so my time has not been wasted!
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Aww, it's the same here :/ Though, now it's sunny so I'm hoping that my friend could come over today or tomorrow and we could take some good photos of my Swedish dress and new stays+shift at least. Specially because it's really colourful outside at the moment and I'm sure the photos would look great
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Well, I look forwad to seeing the photos if you get them. It's lovely when you find some little quiet spot that is perfect for photos!!
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Indeed. We are planning to take the photos tomorrow so let's hope the weather is good enough!!
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Btw, do you have facebook and/or MSN/YIM? I'd love to talk with you online
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I have both but I never go on Facebook anymore. I'll send you a note with my MSN address though!
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Wow. That is seriously stunning! How long did this take you to put together??
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It took a couple of days to draft patterns and make the bodice mock ups. Then about a week on and off fitting and making alterations. I cut it all out in two days and then spent another two weeks putting it together, makng the hood and doing all the finishing.
It tired me out, as I was working on other uni stuff at the same time, but it was worth it in the end!
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