Design Dilemma

[Pipere]

I have plenty of sewing projects.... PLENTY but.... I really want to make another Turkoman outfit for my character Balquis- her usual attire seen here:
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v262/13/25/640932494/n640932494_1148049_4167.jpg

So I'm planning another outfit in the same vein; cropped jacket, entari, turban, and salwar (loose trousers). My friend gave me a few tantalizing scraps of large motif black tapestry woven with a floral pattern in ginger, gold, and light green- just enough to make a little jacket and perhaps short sleeves. Probably an overall color scheme of black, indigo, and ginger/pumpkin. Definately another outfit for roughing up/killing/looking smashingly deadly

But my dilemma is thus:
Shoulders. I've been researching my butt off trying to find any sort of documentation for those epaulettes arab costumes supposedly have (and... don't?) and I'm wondering if I should continue my design idea of pointed epaulettes ala Moresca's Kadija bodice or just leave them off. The epaulettes make such a cool look, but I don't want to be a one-design pony/make this a completely fantasy design. HEEEELP?

[isabelladangelo]

Short sleeves!   Cut them from one piece.  Leave the seam open and have it at the top of the arm.  Close the seam with frogs or buttons.  You can see some of this style below:

http://www.geocities.com/oonaghsown/turkish_coat_for_venetian_dress_doco.htm


You can also see the documentation I did for my Italian Turkish outfit:

http://www.freewebs.com/isabelladangelo/turkishcoat.htm

I have some links to other sites on that.   Another good site that I don't have down there is:

http://www.kostym.cz/Anglicky/I_03_01.htm

It has pictures of extant Ottoman garments from the 16th and 17th centuries.  I hope that helps!

[operafantomet]

What she said!

[operafantomet]

Two more thoughts....

1. The kind of decorative front closing in your persona's coat... it reminds me a great deal of Hussar soldiers. Did the Hungarian Hussars borrow it from Turkey, or did the Turks borrow it from the Hussars? You might look into 16.th century Hussar costumes and see if you find any similarities (though most stuff online is about 19.th century Hussars).

2. I dunno if this link is helpful? http://www.ctaylor-co.com/SCA/Costuming/Costume%20research/Coat%20portraits.htm

[Adriana Rose]

I think that the major question is what DO YOU want..


I personally think that the pointed shoulders looks silly but that is what I think and judging by the portaits that every one has shared there was no pointed shoulders.


But it is your creation so what ever you want!

[Kate XXXXXX]

Ooh, lots of pix and ideas...   

Make this one different from the last: sleeves and no epaulets.  Just my suggestion.   

[Pipere]

Short sleeves win out over epaulettes! A few tantalizing costume plates from a few books have steered me in that direction. Besides, I don't need should treatmens to look deadly!

[operafantomet]

Besides, I don't need should treatmens to look deadly!

My thought exactly!