Is it appropriate to have blackwork on bloomers? I know its OK for smocks and shifts and shirts, the reason why I asked is I was thinking of trying to do some blackwork and I thought why not put it on the bloomers where if I mess up it wont be seen.
I don't really know, but I don't think it would be a problem. The only thing is, like you mentioned: it won't be seen. It would be great from practice I think, but a little hard to display if you were really proud of your results. :D
I don't know why not; bloomers aren't period anyway, so you can do what you like with them! Plus, I've seen at least one pair of blackworked drawers from the period. :)
If you like more info on this or to get in touch with blackwork people, go to my links on the topic at the link below. They may be able to help you.
http://www.sirclisto.com/93.html
Lord Sir Clisto
http://www.sirclisto.com/table.html
There exist some Renaissance drawers, and the surviving items do have embroidery of various sorts.
My absolute über super mega favourite is the one saying "Voglio il core" (I want the heart) all over, but there's also nice items with embroidery on borders and openings. Three (including my favourite) can be seen at Bella's always excellent site:
http://realmofvenus.renaissanceitaly.net/workbox/extdraw.htm
The existence of drawers doesn't indicate that everybody used them. I think the surviving examples are all from Southern Europe (or more specifically, Italy, if I remember correctly), and they're assumed to have been used in elevated society or by courtesans (one doesn't rule out the other, in this case...). Depiction of women in drawers are of course scarce, I know of three and they're both by courtesans or flirtatious upper class women from Venice:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/courtesan2.jpg
What is this woman wearing underneath, you might think... Well, here's the answer:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/courtesan1.jpg
Drawers and chopines (high platform shoes)! ;D
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/vencourtesanca1600.jpg
Colour image from the newest "Patterns of Fashion", depicting an early 17.th century courtesan or the like in pink/red embroidered drawers
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/vencourtesan2.jpg
Here's another "look what I have underneath" drawing. It's from a book about shoes and was used as an example of how chopines were worn - but I don't know the origin of the sketch. It looks a lot like Vecellio's woodcuts, though, but with a modern finish.
These seems to be directly adapted from male fashion, which probably was the point. The female fashion in the mid and late 1500's picked up more and more elements from the male wardrobe - the doublet, the small-brimmed hat, drawers... Whether it was "power dressing" or just one of many examples of male and female fashion blending, is up to interpretation - but the new POF do describe the use of drawers amongst Venetian Renaissance women as a part of a "sexual play".
Thanks for the help everyone, I will give it a try and I will also try to get pictures when Im done.