Fake Venetian?

[sealion]

The stomacher thread got me thinking about the gown I made last summer that was too small. I pulled out the fabric I had leftover after making the forepart and sleeves and pinned it to the corset to see how a stomacher would look.

I kept playing and laced across the opening. I removed the farthingale and pinned the skirt closed. Would you wear it like this?

[Taffy Saltwater]

What a wonderful idea - that is lovely, especially w/the ladder lacing.  Maybe a dainty trim across the top?

[Syrilla]

That is a great way to adapt the dress.  I like it!

[DonaCatalina]

I like it a lot.

[operafantomet]

To be honest, I actually like it better after the re-modelling... It looks very nice!

And it's actually not far from the Venetian ideal. Sleeves of a separate fabric would probably not for this type of V-shaped bodice with front lacing (can't remember any examples of it, at least) - that's more 1520-1540 Florentine in style. But the shoulder rolls and the "stomacher" is perfectly plausible (as I've written about in the "stomacher" thread), take a look at these:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/caldogno5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/veronese1570s.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/veronese1560s.jpg

A little detail I would love for you to add: let the girdle/metal belt follow the shape of the bodice, going down into a V point in front. That will instantly make it even more Venetian!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/titianlavinia1565.jpg

Last, but not least: BRAVA!!

[Artemisia]

You're so resourceful!

[Dayna]

I love how you did this, time for me to revisit garb which I have become too "affluent" to wear anymore.  Thanks Muchly!!

[sealion]

Thanks for the votes of confidence ladies! I'm such a perfectionist that I was worried that it looked silly. Getting the thumbs up from you all means a lot to me.

[Anna Iram]

I agree with Opera. I like it better this way.

Yours reminds me a bit of this gown. One I have drooled over for sometime now:

http://festiveattyre.com/research/secondflor/secflor25.html

[Dayna]

I've seen that portrait before, and I know people who have tried to duplicate it with no success.  How in the world did the front stay perfectly straight and in position, notice that there are no lacings across it?  Artistic license?  Molded Plastic covered in fabric?  Wall to wall boning all over encased in fluffy interfacing with a fancy outer fabric?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Dayna

[operafantomet]

I've seen that portrait before, and I know people who have tried to duplicate it with no success.  How in the world did the front stay perfectly straight and in position, notice that there are no lacings across it?  Artistic license?  Molded Plastic covered in fabric?  Wall to wall boning all over encased in fluffy interfacing with a fancy outer fabric?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Dayna

I'm thinking an overpaint or cleaning might have removed fine strings tying it together. That's what most dresses from the Veneto area from this period shows, like a pre-runner of the ladder lacing. Look at these:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia1/bordone1530s1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/bordone1530s.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia1/bordonelate1520smazzucchello.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/pbordone.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia1/vecchio1520.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia1/vecchio1515-20.jpg

Note that the bodice, especially on the right side (from the viewer's point of view) strains/have three "bumps", where ties would probably have been: one at the top, around the white chemise ties, one in the middle, and one right over the metal girdle. Or am I the only one seeing those?

But the bodice has probably been stiffened as well, maybe with cardboard (the book "Moda a Firenze" lists this as a 16.th century way of stiffening bodices). Not as stiffened and fitted as 1540 and later, but probably supported in some way.

ETA: adding more photo links

[sealion]

I agree that the bodice was most likely tied closed and the ties were eliminated during a "restoration" of the painting.

Staring at my dress dummy and thinking about it a little more I realize that my dress would look more Venetian if I *don't* use a stomacher/modesty panel and just allow the camecia to show in the gap.

[Cilean]

I kind of liked your first option on the first photo!  I like the 2nd photo of what you have done but I really like how the first shot looks to me.

I really like your girdle and was wondering where you obtained it or did you make it yourself? 


Cilean

[sealion]

The girdle has a long story. LOL The metal pieces with the citrine/amber colored stones came from  a belt purchased at TJ Maxx. The drop I originally had on it was part of a vintage pearl lariat necklace and the brownish faceted beads were purchased to match beads accenting the pearl lariat. I added the pearl and bead sections into the belt to make everything coordinate. Sadly the vintage pearl piece came loose and was lost at MIRF last summer. So I bought more pearls and brown faceted beads and made a new front drop.