Irish Nobility

[ariamelody]

So this year, my character had become princess of Ireland. What do Irish nobles wear?

I'm already working on my dress - green, black, and gold (assigned family colors). I need accessory ideas. What kind of hat? What kind of hairstyles? Is there any particular style specific to Irish nobility?

All the period information I can find for Irish dresses is peasant or merchant, which doesn't really help me. I just desperately need some ideas.

Thanks, thanks, thanks!!!

[gem]

What period are you looking at?  (Was there ever a "princess of Ireland?")  The era you're working with is at least as important as the social rank of your character.

[Cilean]

I can send you to Reconstructing History's site:
https://www.reconstructinghistory.com/patterns.php?c=22&d=35&w=24&r=Y


Here is what I have found so far on Irish Nobility, there were some "Princes" but I could not find out if the wives were known as Princess or their daughters.
There were these "Princes" - MacCarthy Mór, Prince of Desmond; The O'Neill Mór, Prince of Ulster; The O'Neill of Clanaboy; The O'Brien, Prince of Thomond; The O'Conor Don, Prince of Connaght.

I have not found any portraits for the Irish as yet but I am still working on it!

Cilean

[Lady Amy of York]

Being of Irish background , I hope i can help out   a bit.

Irish nobility during the  the middle  ages l period wore   a  linen  tunic  with a cloak  over  it.Sometimes the cloaks  were fasten  with a  metal cloak pin. Woman were known to wear circlets  as headwear.

Now in the 1500's the styles  were :

Men's Dress
The poorer Irish wore a standard outfit that would more than likely have been found not only in the British Isles but also on the continent. This outfit consisted of the Inar, Trius, Brat, and Léine.
The Inar was a jacket. It was normally constructed of wool and like the later doublets had a skirt. The skirt of the Inar was heavily pleated.

Trius---The trius or trews were a type of pants. They were normally fairly tight to the leg. Some existing bog examples have buttons up the back of the leg from the bottom to mid-calf. These were made of wool cut on the bias.

Brat--- The brat was a mantle or cloak made of a long rectangle of wool. It was edged with some sort of fringe. The longer the brat the more affluent the individual.

Léine--- The léine or shirt can be considered the mainstay of Irish and early Scottish clothing. It was worn from mid thigh to below the knee depending on if it was worn alone or with trews. Fashioned of linen, the léine was dyed a saffron color for those of better standing.

The more affluent Irish wore large léines. The English in the 16th C. went so far as to limit the number of yards of cloth that could be in one. 

Women's Clothing ------
In general a woman would wear an ankle length léine. Over this she would wear a dress. Over this she would wear a brat (shawl/cloak). The brat would be similar to that worn by a man.

One piece of dress that many women wear and   consider to be period is the Celtic Overdress. However from my research and knowledge,  it is  said that to be authentic, you should wear a léine over which you will wear a sleeved dress.  ( however on a summer  day at faire a  sleeveless celtic overdress can be much more comfortable !  )


Volumnous gowns  were worn by women of means.  These gowns  were formal and a status symbol.  The dress itself was made of heavy worsted wool with thick tubular folds.    The neckline had a V shape and the sleeves were very full with turned back cuffs.  A second type of dress has a low V shaped neck that was open down the front of the bodice.  The opening ended in a U shape at the stomach.   A thrid type of dress has a high neck with a fitted bodice and full skirt.  The arms are buttoned from the cuff to the upper arm. 

A number of different styles of hats were worn from simple caps to elaborate hats .

I hope  this helps.
 
Keep in mind though as far as  i can  find  and  know  of,that these  dresses were made of wool.  So you have to decide on how  period  you  or how historicaly accurate you want to get. Depending on time of year, wool can get very warm.

[Cilean]

So this year, my character had become princess of Ireland. What do Irish nobles wear?
All the period information I can find for Irish dresses is peasant or merchant, which doesn't really help me. I just desperately need some ideas.
Thanks, thanks, thanks!!!

Okay so I did some research and I have a couple portraits that is the same woman actually.

Meet The Fair Geraldine, Elizabeth FitzGerald, dtr of the 9th earl of Kildare, Countess of Lincoln

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30184401&op=2&o=all&view=all&subj=29374273995&aid=-1&oid=29374273995&id=1014110447


http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/largerimage.php?LinkID=mp71151&rNo=0&role=sit


Here she is later in life
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth_Fitzgerald.jpg



Here is another one and you can see all types of Irish dress.

http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/about/bgallery/Gallery/researchcoll/pages/bg0055_jpg.htm

Check out these Tents!!
http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/about/bgallery/Gallery/researchcoll/pages/bg0064_jpg.htm


So these are what was given to me, and I thought it might help you the Wealthy of Ireland aped the English Upper Class, so do some research and perhaps

www. ReconstructingHistory.Com
Or
www.MargosPatterns.com

These can help you with the patterns to get the best look!!

So I would not call myself an Irish Princess, but perhaps and Irish Duchess???

Good Luck
Cilean

[ariamelody]

Thanks for all the sites and images. I think I can make a nice enough dress with a pattern from Reconstructing History combined with an English pattern I already have.

My period is the 1500-1600's (I know, terribly vague), and as for the historical acuracy of an "Irish princess" I was more assigned it than anything. I'd never heard of Irish royals before, so I wondered if they ever existed.