OK, so I have been in the business for a while. I have been re-enacting even longer – my first gig was in 1997 if I remember well, and I got into costume making almost straight away. True, I was … Continue reading
Looking the Part 1: Undergarments
Category Archives: Tudor
Eleanor through the ages
A slightly different post – mostly to honour one of my most loyal customers – or, to be precise, a customer who, though the years of stitching, fittings, events etc, has became a very close friend. Eleanor now has a rather full wardrobe of Prior Attrie outfits, from medieval to Victorian – and I am going to present some of them below.
The first contact was made through Ebay – Eleanor wanted to purchase one of the frocks i was selling – but needed it shorter..
the houppelande on offer…
Shortening the gown was no problem, so we met at one of the markets and I have sorted it on the spot.. and that’s how it started… that is also how I met Ian from Black Knight Historical – but this i think will be another post… 🙂
the gown on Eleanor, as Margaret Paston here
12th century
A gown fit for a queen – clothes for Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine
kirtle in silk, dress in silk with ornamental borders, veil and wimple
13th century
middle / lower class kirtle and dress in wool
and another early 13th frock, here at the fitting – wool with embroidery
14th century
a surcoat in cloth of gold – another queenly garment…
and a bit more modest, a nun’s outfit – 13-14th century
15th century
most of the work here was either kirtles for the camp or burgundian gowns – i have made 3… some of them below…
at Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury Abbey
16th Century
here we started with an upper-middle class merchant’s wife..
at kelmarsh
a bit posher…
at Blickling Hall, with a silk kirtle
and a silk velvet gown, for Peterborough cathedral
An early Elizabethan outfit – loose gown over a silk kirtle ( the same kirtle as above btw – it is reversible, plain gold on one side, brocade on the other….., coif and a cap
17th century
alas, nothing as yet…. i think…
18th century
a pair of brocaded stays, silk petticoat and brocade jacket. event blog here
close up of the jacket…
19th century
Regency – a gown in silk – here as a Mrs. Bennett, with me as her daughter – more details of the event here
Victorian
a schoolmistress/egyptologist just a jacket by me. my first ever Victorian item too!
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was a 1883 suit for my wedding – Eleanor was my Matron of Honour:-)
then the mourning gown – work at Holkham ( blog here)
1885 mourning gown
and a 1884 evening gown, also worn for our Spectacular Ball
I even did a Halloween corset and skirt for Eleanor – here worn for our Steampunk dinner at Coombe Abbey last autumn – not a best photo but we were too busy eating and having fun – so it is almost the only one I think…
and for the time being – that’s it! Many thanks to Eleanor for being a perfect client and a perfect friend – hope you enjoyed the journey too!
Being Katherine of Aragon
A few years ago I was contracted to ‘do’ Katherine of Aragon for one of the events organized by Black Knight Historical. I have done Tudor work with them before,at another event, organized by Griffin Historical, at The British Museum in London. No specific character was required at that time, but within minutes I was branded Anne. Not my favourite character ( I can hear the outraged cry of many Ann’s fans!), but it was fun 🙂 I have been Anne a couple of time later and always enjoyed it.
Anne at the British Museum
BKH event in Kent – after hours fun. Anne has a new steed!
But it was Katherine that always had a special place in my heart- for her serenity, patience, unwavering convictions and sheer obstinancy. Also, she was a foreigner here and has come to love the country as her own – and we share that trait too. The commission required more studying, learning about Katherine’s background and ( but of course! ) a new outfit.
Since the timing for the event weas loosely agreed on the early years of Katherine;s marriage to Henry, 1510-15 or do, the new gown was based on the tournament roll picture, where Katherine, freshly delivered of a son, watches her handsome prince joust.
The Westminster Tournament Roll, the College of Arms.
The project was interesing, epecially recreating the early bonnet, but it was done ( the article how to recreate the look can be found here🙂 – and Katherine appeared in the Peterborough Cathedral for the Royal audiences, side by side with her husband the king, for the first time.
It wasn’t the last time either – the event and the show was so popular, it has been booked, again, and again. It is a regular feature at the end of January, as a part of Katherine of Aragon festival held there. the festival commemorates her death ( Katherine is burried in the cathedral) and celebrates her life: there are lectures, tudor interpretors, dancing, music – in short, both education and entertainment combined.
And of course, being out so often,Kathrine needed another gown too… this one is silver tissue:-)
at Katherine’s grave, holding her symbol – a pomegranate.
I have come to realy enjoy the event – and not only because wearing a nice frock and being a royalty for a day, in lovely surroundings is fun. Interacting with public is different everytime – people ask different questions every year and as I prepare for the audiences and do my research, there is always something new to be learnt – about the customs of the period, the dance, or about the remarkable woman who sat on the English throne next to her famous husband. or just as a chance to brush up on my Spanish:-)
A short video form the last festival can be found here
The knowledge and the kit came useful as well – Katherine appeared at the Blicking Hall, together with the other queens, and the new dress, with a new hood, served for Mary Tudor, the sister of the king, for another event – a Christmas at Blickling Hall.
articles how to make tudor gown and French hoods if you want to have a go:-)
Many thanks to the event organizers, as well as a certain Thoomas More, and a faithful lady in waiting, Eleanor:-)
