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The dress in my avatar - the pink Bronzino dress - was my first big costume project, and the one I've worked on the most. I've remodeled it three times. The very first dress I made was based on one from a musical I love. But when I learned what the design for that dress was based on - a portrait by Bronzino - I wanted to stick closer to the portrait.
The very first version had a pointed bodice, a skirt with a flat front and gathered sides, and light burgundy sleeves with slashes revealing the white chemise. The puffed sleeves was... erm, a disaster. They were clumpy and heavy. I never got the shoulder area right. Like Gem, I cringe when I see old pictures of my project.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/bronzino/pissoff.jpg)
The current version have different sleeves - a layer of black silk with gold trims underneath dark plum velvet sleeves with slashes and gold tibbons. The bodice is no longer pointed, and the skirt is cartridge pleated all around. And I made brand new puffed sleeves. I also made accessories - a bead girdle with pearl tassel, a pearl necklace with pendant, and a ring.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/bronzino/newlucrezia1.jpg)
Alas the dress is too small for me now, so I ponder on whether to remodel it a fourth time or not. It is closed in the back with hooks and bars. What I want to do is to close the back with a seam, and rather make it side/back laced. This way it'll be more period, and I can adjust the size a lot easier than now.