Red Velvet Elizabethan
This was a fun dress to make. Made from velvet is in fact, upholstery velvet and as such is very heavy and stiff. To add to this weight the bodice is lined in a heavy canvas as well as being metal boned. The sleeves are lined in the same canvas then lined again in rabbit fur. They are very, very warm; there is little chance of freezing in this dress. The sleeves lace into the armhole under the tabs at the shoulder. The skirt is cartridge pleated, and because of the weight of the fabric each pleat sits out like there is a pencil holding each one out.
For the silhouette to be just right there is a need for foundation undergarments. Now that I have worn a corset and hoop I know why they call them foundation garments. That having been said there is a corset and hoop underskirt. There should also be a bum roll, it’s on my to do list.
This out fit is finished with silver cording and lovely silver ball buttons on the sleeves. The hat is also a recycled item. Some of the old 50/60 hats that ladies used to wear have survived to make their way into op-shops. I pulled it apart and recovered it in fabric to match the forepart. The hat had a lid type of arrangement that made it very interesting to remake. I lined it with silk and trimmed the join of the lid and the outer form of the hat with freshwater pearls and snowflake obsidian. The only ruff I had at the time was a gold ruff, not a good choice with a silver accented dress. A long sting of triple stranded fresh water pearls and a silver girdle terminating with a pomander. The front of the bodice, the stomacher is covered in small silver brooches that have a large garnet in the centre and a large fresh water pearl suspended from the bottom. Also an assortment of rings on the fingers for good measure. Just in case with all this velvet and fur one becomes overheated I have a small fan at the ready to cool myself.
When doing photos the occasional "Blooper" happens, my son decided he needed to be in on the action.
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 Deborah Murray, and are shown for educational use only . If you see something you'd really like to use, please contact me!
