RenaissanceFestival.com Forums

Faire Garb => Garbing => Topic started by: renren on October 13, 2009, 11:53:56 PM

Title: Some trim advice please?
Post by: renren on October 13, 2009, 11:53:56 PM
I am planning to make an italian gown,and trying to be historically accurate,and was wondering, is there a type/pattern of trim that would have been more common for italian renaissance?

I have provided a link a site that sells said pattern http://www.sewingcentral.com/cgi-bin/Web_store/web_store.cgi?page=pp41.html&cart_id=2702237_23794 (http://www.sewingcentral.com/cgi-bin/Web_store/web_store.cgi?page=pp41.html&cart_id=2702237_23794)

Was thinking one of the top three on the picture..

Thanks! :)
Title: Re: Some trim advice please?
Post by: gem on October 14, 2009, 12:56:11 AM
I recommend doing some portrait research.

Try
Festive Attyre (http://www.festiveattyre.com/research/index.html)
Florentine Persona (http://www.florentine-persona.com/)
Realm of Venus (http://realmofvenus.renaissanceitaly.net/)
Kat's Purple Files (http://katerina.purplefiles.net/)

Enjoy!
Title: Re: Some trim advice please?
Post by: renren on October 14, 2009, 11:10:24 AM
Ooo, lotsa links! Thanks, Gem!
Title: Re: Some trim advice please?
Post by: gem on October 14, 2009, 02:10:24 PM
I didn't have time for a "real" reply!  Speaking very generally, trim on early Italian gowns (late 15th/early 16th) tended to be either nonexistent or very simple.  Italian costuming is all about showing off the cut and the fabric, and not so much about the embellishments.  Bands of plain contrasting fabric (guards) were popular, even among the wealthy; maybe a small string of pearls or goldwork at the neckline.  One of the portraits at Festive Attyre shows two women standing side by side; one wears a gown with black guards, and her companion has a small amount of gold trim at the hem of her underskirt.  Later in period, it became more popular to embellish the camicie/chemises with lots of embroidery.

Have fun!  The Florentine Persona site has a review or a dress diary of the pattern you're thinking about.