What do you wear under them? lol I know this is probably like basic garbing.. but what do you wear under an Irish Dress? a lot of the stores I've seen just sell a long chemise and I'm sorry, the last person I saw dress like that (my MIL for Halloween, getting her use out of her Ren Garb since she's bought an entire new outfit almost every time I've seen her go and I've only seen her re-use them like twice... (must be nice to have all that money... or at least to lack the sense to use it for your bills, but w/e)) anyways, she just bought an Irish Dress and she just had a Long chemise with like not quite elbow length sleeves, and it honestly looked like she was wearing a nightgown underneath a fancy robe... what do you wear under one???
Also, what length is the hem really supposed to be? I've decided I kind of like the look of them and may decide to make one soon..
I'm in no way an expert, but I prefer a second skirt under the irish dress. I really don't get the whole chemise and irish dress only...isn't a chemise underwear? I usually put on a second skirt that compliments the color of the dress nicely.
You can also wear bloomers under it so umm you don't feel like your wearing underwear since you will be wearing historical underwear with it. The great thing about the Irish dresses is that you can wear just a cute set of bloomers in similar fabric and pretty much make a courtesan look. They can be versatile if you actually take the time to wear it again and look at the other possibilities. And a simple change in Chemise style can completely change the end look of wearing the dress.
By the way Vampy is by no means a follower of garbing history lol. So take my creative thoughts with a grain of salt if you like staying more true to the history. I made an Irish style dress using a Men's Victorian Long coat Pattern. But of course i made it in Black lol. I think my next set of garb will have a nice purple and navy blue in them. I really need to get some more color in my garb other than just black and red roflmao.
Isn't the ren faire "Irish dress" supposed to be based on the Shinrone gown? That dress did not have the skirt open down the front. If you do want your dress open down the front I would layer a another skirt under it.
Shinrone Gown
(http://www.the-irish-path.com/images/shinrone_dress.jpg)
Reproduction
(http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/image_lib/threequarters.jpg)
Pattern
(http://www.sewingcentral.com/images/rch301.JPG)
I think the Irish dresses are a corruption of this Italian dress from the 1560's (http://realmofvenus.renaissanceitaly.net/wardrobe/FasoloAIC.jpg), this sketch, made by someone not from Ireland (and may have never visited Ireland), of Irish Woman's dress (http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/image_lib/femmefille.gif), and a mis-interpretation of this style from the 1520's-1530's (http://www.uvm.edu/~hag/sca/tudor/cecilia.jpg).
I use to like them but they just aren't for me anymore. I think they might also come from the Flemish styles later one but it's hard to tell. Basically, they can't be found in any portraits, paintings, or extant garments of the time. Someone thought it would be a cool way to show off their underskirt in the 1970's and that's probably how they came about.
Given that, an underskirt looks really nice with the dress. I use to wear my plaid skirt under my red Irish dress and everyone seemed to love it. However, I've also seen some really neat lace edged chemises under the Irish dresses that look nice.
Irish Dress with a more Cleltic styled drawstringed Chemise...(http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/58/758/3/63/57/2853363570025619629tXJxCF_th.jpg) (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2853363570025619629tXJxCF)
With detachable sleeves and Underskirt for a more complete look. A different chemise can be worn with the sleeves.
(http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/69/469/4/51/88/2758451880025619629QJghpq_th.jpg) (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2758451880025619629QJghpq)
One problem that can make a nice long chemise look like a night gown is too short sleeves. I've seen too many wonderful garb collections ruined by half or 1/4 sleeves.
With the Irish gown you've got the opportunity to wear the laine. With the full flowing sleeves and the gathered ribbon on top it never looks like an undergarment.
If you still feel underdressed you can add a sleeveless kirtle under the gown. That covers you if you have a gap in the bodice. I've never felt comfortable with the exposed chemise under the bodice in any style, even a comfort gown.
The hem should be as long as you are comfortable with. Start out at you toes and try walking around in terrain similar to your faire. If you have trouble hem up. If you intend to dance you need to hem a little higher. It also depends on your footwear.
It's a little difficult to see in this photo, since the underskirt is a similar color to the overdress, but this photo shows a "Irish Dress" with detachable sleeves, full chemise and underskirt:
(http://www.greycatdesigns.com/images/copper_dress/PICT0650.jpg)
Wearing just a basic skirt underneath the Irish Dress really gives it a nice, finished look. :)
Most certainly agree, wear a skirt over the chemise and under the dress. BTW, Thank You for posting the fact that there is a pattern for the Shinrone gown. I've long wanted one of those gowns but not really had a good photograph of one, so this was two for the price of none!
Dayna
Well
The "Irish Gown" we think of in Faire is not H/A, so one would say anything you want, however as a "Faireism" we were told that every women at the time would in fact have 2 skirts and she would never show her smock. We were told that smocks or what we call chemises it would be gross to show one's underthings, due to well the lifestyles in the time period we play within.
So if you would have an Irish Gown for Ren Faire use, it would have a skirt that woudl have been worn with it.
I hope that helps!
Cilean
It could possibly work, like others said, with the right length sleeves on the chemise.
However, assuming that chemise = underwear, and we don't show underwear is a safe idea.
I'm not really an expert, but I'd look at clothing sites and how they show their irish gowns if they show them with an outfit.