The Brown and Blue Gown

The brown and blue gown was started much later than the Shell Dress, and took far less time to complete.  This gown I decided to try the  V back on.  I didn’t make the  V as deep as I would in later frocks, as I wanted to see how it went.  After all if I didn’t like it I could always alter it to a standard waist right?

The sleeves were fairly straightforward.  The strap effect at the top of the sleeves always looks nice and allows the chemise to show through and some ventilation for overheating bodies.  The sleeves were made detachable and small bronze coloured buttons added to the bottoms of the straps.

The bodice is made the same way as my Pink Venetian frock, and the skirts were also made in the same manner also.  for a better idea of how these all come together have a look at my dress diary.

This dress has 9 metres of 150cm wide fabric.   This blue and brown brocade I had wanted for years and finally I bought it.  At just $6.99 aust a metre it really was a bargain, and the design is close to authentic.  The fibre content I am not completely sure of, but it has a beautiful drape to it.

The partlet is a latticework of a brown metallic cord with the intersections stitched down and ornamented with a pearl.  Also as this frock has a V back waistline, I added a small ribbon to hold the girdle in place on the waistline of the frock.

The lacing  is done in a fancy cord,  brown metallic, the same as the partlet, on the brown and blue brocade.

When the finished dress worn it is accessorised with a girdle, brooches, necklaces, earrings, rings, fans and hair accessories, like my viel, to top it off.

 This is definitely a court gown, and has a long train making it hard to miss when you see it being worn.  There is something very special about having a train on a dress for us today.  You become more aware of your wake and how you move.

Unfortunately the frocks always look different on the mannequin than on a real body.  Real bodies always squish into much nicer shapes.

Putting Yourself In The Picture

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All intellectual content, composition, layout, designs and photographs, unless otherwise noted are copyright 2007 to Deborah Lane ©, or, copyright 2003 to Deborah Murray © also known as Mistress Oonagh O'Neill ©. All Original renaissance art works and artefacts are not copyright to me, and are shown for educational use only .  If you see something you'd really like to use, please contact me!