Chain belt, yea or nay?

[gem]

I picked up a couple of cheap chain belts on ebay (really cheap) as the start of a girdle belt, until I can get around to making/buying something nicer, but I'm not convinced. They cost basically nothing, so it's no loss not to use them, but when Milord saw it, he thought they looked nice! (He does not typically have questionable taste in things.) So now I really don't know!

What are your thoughts? (If I did decide to use them, I'd add an ornament of some sort at the bottom. Also, ignore the tail end of the belts wrapped around the dress form's neck, there!)





Nay? Yea? Or maybe, with alterations? 

[isabelladangelo]

Looks fine to me!

[LadyFae]

I like it!!!

[Alysea]

Looks nice to me.  The silver goes well  with the purple of your kirtle.  BTW nice job on the kirtle.

[Alisoun]

That is beautiful, Gem!

[bellalye]

Ooo, keep the chain belt-girdle.  It looks smashing!

[Lady Rebecca]

I vote yea. It looks really nice together.

[CenturiesSewing]

I'm going against the grain and voting no. 

While it looks very pretty it also looks very modern, it is hard to tell from the photo but looks almost like flat gems set into the chain? I think you have a great piece to take apart and add things to and make something truly awesome, pearls or findings that will give the belt more texture.

A velvet or silk sash might look nice, a sage or mossy green, or deep wine red would contrast well with the purple and the pile of the velvet or sheen of silk adds some extra lushness.

[Syrilla]

I am leaning to a no.  It's okay, but doesn't really do your work justice.  Maybe pearls in between the bits.  Or a more fabric style to add a richer texture.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

As lovely as your kirtle is, gem, I would suggest going to Dragon Pipes Den on eBay for some ideas. Something with a combination of Jewels, chains, and Pearls will do your work justice. This is a Noble Gown deserving of Noble accessories.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[DonaCatalina]

I like it as it is. Too many people use all those paste gems which I think detract from the garb.
The one you have is reminiscent of this portrait by Moroni.

[Marietta Graziella]

I like the simplicity of the two belts together. They add a finish to your gown without detracting from the beautiful, understated elegance of your gown. You worked so hard to make this piece amazing and I would hate to have someone walk up and say, "Wow!  That's so awesome!  Where'd you get that belt (girdle)?". 

[Stasiakatt]

I like it. I think the simplicity shows off the gown.

[gem]

Thanks, everyone!  I appreciate everyone's comments, and after several days, I'm leaning toward my first instinct (no on this particular belt). It actually looks nicer in the photos than it does IRL. I don't know if it can really be adapted into anything else; that was my hope, but the links are solid and strung together the wrong way (if that makes sense--side to side instead of along their length), so they can't be divided up, and there's not really any chain to work with--it's all the jewelled links.

I had also looked at this chain belt at Penney's (which was cheaper when I first saw it... grrr), but it also has that more modern look to it (and it's silver; I've been trying to stay with gold for this ensemble) BUT, it is a lot more subtle, which is a big bonus.

If anyone has specific suggestions for alternatives, (links, etc), I would appreciate those, as well!

***

I also poked around a bit at Hobby Lobby and Target today, looking for things I could repurpose. No luck with anything for the belts (maybe; I grabbed a couple necklaces at Target that may have potential), but I did find these adorable tiny gilded picture frames at Hobby Lobby!



They look very much like the heavily gilded plaster frames of the era, and they'll be perfect for miniatures. My hope is to Photoshop a pic of Milord so it looks more portraity; barring that, I'll just print off one of my favorite period portraits.

Of course, that assumes I actually have something to hang it on. (I don't think it will go with the silver belt from Penney's!)

[isabelladangelo]

Gem, have you seen this one? 
http://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Womens-Silver-Fleur-Chain/dp/B002UT7L9C

It looks vaguely like this at the V&A.

http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O115439/girdle/

[operafantomet]

If you wanna go Florentine, a thick gold chain is newer wrong. Hardware stores usually sell them by the yard, in brass and other metals, and they can look very good. Attach something fancy to the end - a decorative perfume container, a pearl tassel, a marten etc.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze2/bronzino1542bia.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/brescia/morettobrescia1530s5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/bologne/fontana1540bologna.jpg


Or what about making one yourself, of very large beads? That can be both easy and cheap. For my pink Bronzino dress I used large wood beads which came from my father's old car seat cover (!). I covered some of them with gold thread, a kind of filigrane, but most were kept as they were. I put some pearls in between to make it lighter. Here's the belt along with some period examples:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/bronzino/newlucrezia2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze2/bronzino1541.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze2/rghirlandaio1550s.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/roma/altissimo1535giuliagonzaga4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/isabellademedici1560s1.jpg

(the latter makes me think you could glue on big pearls and gems on the one you bought?)


A fabric girdle is also perfectly acceptable, though maybe slightly earlier than your dress.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze2/bacchiacca1540.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/roma/conte1540svfarnesenborghese.jpg
http://www.festiveattyre.com/gallery/florentine/flor4.html

[gem]

Isabella, I may need that fleur de lis belt just for, you know, having it.  Love.

Anea, thank you for all those images!! You've done all the portrait research for me! I had never looked closely at the pink Bronzino lady's belt before (although, oddly enough, I have her necklace. Seriously. I have a strand of pearls and a star/snowflake pendant that is an almost uncanny match to it!); I love that they look like big lampwork glass beads (Italian millefiores glass, maybe?!). 

One of the necklaces I picked up yesterday will work--delicate silver chain with pearls--until I commit to a serious, real girdle. I have headpiece and hair issues to tackle first!

[Rowan MacD]

 Gem,
   I made a quick fabric belt (pics are somewhere in this forum)  just a strip of velveteen, sewed into a tube,turned and pressed. 
   I added a strip of Jaquard trim smack down the middle in a complimentary color to the dress, sewed a brass ring to the end and tied it like a leather belt.   You can add fringe to the other end.
  Takes about 2 hours.

    I also got some lovely medium weight decorative brass chain at Joann's on sale for 2.99 for 5 yards.  I now have 2 plain chain belts.
    If you go this route, make one or two extra 6" lengths with large lobster clips on both ends.  These are very handy to clip to the chain belt for a secure place to hang fans and purses.

[Rowan MacD]

Gem, have you seen this one? 
http://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Womens-Silver-Fleur-Chain/dp/B002UT7L9C

Oh, I want this to tear it up for parts.....

[isabelladangelo]

Gem, have you seen this one? 
http://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Womens-Silver-Fleur-Chain/dp/B002UT7L9C

Oh, I want this to tear it up for parts.....

It's cheap enough you could do just that.  I love Amazon.  It's becoming the Wally World of the interwebs!