A Top for a Lady

Aernn · January 30, 2009, 04:43:23 PM

There is a wonderful Lady that I know. She was a teacher and has had a wonderful impact on her students lives for nearly 30 years. She is retiring this year after a battle with Breast Cancer.

She won her battle with Breast Cancer, but she did have a double masectomy. Before her battle, she was going to get a corset or bodice, but now her opinion of her body is such that she most likely won't think about getting one.

I was wondering if the sewers here may know what other options there could be for her? Would an Elizabethan Doublet Dress work? Maybe something else?

My husband and I would be doing the sewing, so can't be real elaborate.

Please, any help is appreciated.

Syrilla · January 30, 2009, 05:01:44 PM

Why not a bodice? As long as she is well healed and can take the pressure, a bodice will be great. If she is worried about the lack of fluff, then do a french style bodice that arc higher in the center front. Make a fantastic parlet that "covers" the chest. A doublet bodice is a great shape also.

But why cover up. Celebrate life, with what she wants, in a style that is flattering and makes her feel as beautiful as she is.
http://www.boredbard.com/historicaljewelry/historicalgraphics/1550-clouet.JPG French bodice

Aernn · February 02, 2009, 08:49:40 AM

The problem lies more with her self-consciousness and lack of confidence. She thinks that anything that is "womens" will not look good on her. Even a standard t-shirt tank top that would fit anyone, because it was a womens.

She does not wear anything with low necks at all. Standard dress shirts when she is teaching and regular t-shirts otherwise. That is why I thought of a doublet dress.

Also, how would you make a top for a lady that has had a double masectomy?

Any other suggestions of something that would work?

Syrilla · February 02, 2009, 10:11:18 AM

To make the bodice, no matter the style, would be same as a woman with accessories. As a corset should create the flat surface that most bodices of the time required. So she is already on step ahead of everyone else. No corset required.

When you find the pattern that you want to use, make sure there are no darts, cut out a mock-up and fit it to her. Esp. if she is wearing supportive undergarments.

It is up to her comfort level, but I still say that a high bodice with a partlet, maybe opaque, would be a wonderful thing for her to have. The reason I say this, is I get the impression that is what she wanted before everything happened. She has had to change her life, and her view of herself so much. Why change the design of something she desired before, if it can be adapted to something she can enjoy and see her self as a full beautiful woman. Just my 2cents.

Take pictures of your end result.

Anna Iram · February 02, 2009, 11:37:32 AM

Perhaps something like this?

http://realmofvenus.renaissanceitaly.net/yourgarb/2008/Alaina.htm

Though I cannot but hope she will change her mind and go with her original dream. A bodice does not have to do with cleavage. There is something powerfully femenine in the way that you carry yourself when you have one on.

Realm of Venus has some wonderful pictures for inspiration. Thanks to Lady Delaney for starting the topic here and bringing it to my mind. If the bodice is not to be a surprise perhaps you and your friend could sit together and browse through the site.

http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=5679.0

Cilean · February 02, 2009, 03:24:35 PM

First of all, you might want to discuss with this lady, and encourage her to look at portraiture. I think it will help her to see that she can still be feminine and still look gorgeous without have a huge chest. Actually 16th Century Costuming was about being a column so the chest was not something women of the time emphasized. So if you are attempting to get the 16th Century silhouette we should be shoving our breasts into our armpits. It is a Faireism that we push forth the chest area and some have taken this to the extreme but if you show this lovely woman who is a Survivor and not a victim. I think with a good PoB will help her give her the shape, you can show her how beautiful the costume could be. Please check out these pictures and show her these please!

Here is a Doublet done today by Sempstress it has what you would call a closed Doublet but is actually a copy of the male Doublet as seen in the anatomy of abuses.

Another version of the female Doublet is this Spanish style which would look lovely and you can show her there is no bust being shown in this portrait- It was not popular to show one's chest at all, however we do in Faire.

Or you could do an English Fitted Gown like this one:

Or this Portrait of Margaret Audley, Duchess of Norfolk

Here is a Gown in the French Style something QEI had a lot of and was given:

Also I would like to give you some site so you can look at them and get some information:
http://extremecostuming.com/gallery/elizabethaniii.html

I would also like to give you this site, about how to grieve and work through mastectomy, I hope this could possibly help her out:

To me she is a hero, she survived and as such is special and should be honored. Soon perhaps she might feel that way as well. I can only hope.

Cilean

isabelladangelo · February 02, 2009, 10:54:26 PM

What about a simple chemise, skirt, and an Elizabethan jacket? You can see a red one here, opened:
http://www.wga.hu/art/b/beuckela/element3.jpg

And an extant one here:
http://www.drakt.org/Renaissance/J2.html

There are some super fancy ones that are highly embroidered but they do take a long time to create unless you have pre-embroidered material that looks exactly right.

operafantomet · February 03, 2009, 09:02:32 AM

RenaissanceFestival.com Forums

News:

A Top for a Lady

Aernn

Syrilla

Aernn

Syrilla

Anna Iram

Cilean

isabelladangelo

operafantomet