Queenly transformation ideas, please!

[Orphena]

Hello fabricologists!

So, as stated elsewhere, I am currently in discussion with a start up faire to play the role of Queen Elizabeth in June. There is no court, no villagers, but the performers and vendors will likely play along. IF all arrangements go thru (as I VERY much hope they do!), I would like to make a few updates to my current garb. I do NOT have time to sew an entire new gown, but could likely manage forepart / stomacher / sleeves if necessary - my gown is designed for mix and match!

So, I don't have time to hand sew millions of pearls on to my gown - but what could I do that would kick things up a notch?

My "main" garb



Here are some of the forepart etc ensembles I already have:


reversable:


and this:


reverses to this: (the sleeves reverse as well- I just removed them for a scorching day!)

[gem]

How fun!! All hail Queen Bess! 

I think you're off to an excellent start with the red/gold color scheme. I would maybe try to bring in the "essence of Elizabeth I" through your accessories--and make them over-the-top and as regal (ie, expensive-looking) as you can. Maybe a lace-edged flag fan with a gold E on it? (which you can wield like a scepter/wand, bestowing your royal favor upon your subjects as you pass). A big fan-shaped lace ruff + supportasse? A jewelled girdle dripping with pearls and gold? And you will definitely need to Elizabethize your hair--red, piled high, and adorned with pearls. Can you do a red wig if your own hair won't cooperate?

Go through portraits of Elizabeth I and see what makes her instantly recognizable in every one, and then pull out those details. To me, as you can tell from my suggestions, it's an abundance of gold, lace framing her face, and pearls everywhere.

Have fun! We can't wait to see what you come up with!

[Prima]

An amazing ruff would kick your gorgeous garb up a notch!

[isabelladangelo]

You don't need this until June, correct?  Then you have time to make a new gown.  You don't need a million pearls or anything like that.  That's not what makes QEI so easily recognizable.  Rather, its her hair (you'll probably need a wig), her eyes (using makeup tricks, you can soften your eyebrows and make your own eyes appear darker), and her large ruffs.

Check out the follow very much not pearled or beaded to oblivion gowns in these portraits of her:

http://www.elizabethan-portraits.com/Elizabeth11.jpg
http://www.elizabethan-portraits.com/Elizabeth44.jpg <-trim, not beads and even then, the trim is pretty much down the center
http://www.elizabethan-portraits.com/Elizabeth27.jpg  <-I always love the print of this dress.  I know a seller on eBay that sells India cotton block prints just like this (although QEI is probably wearing silk, not cotton).  Perfect for a hot June day!
http://www.elizabethan-portraits.com/Elizabeth30.jpg  <-Although this one has some beading, you can easily do without it.  Rather, a simple cut dress with trim and a high necked chemise would do well plus carry a "jeweled" fan.   Again, it's more about the hair and the richness of the fabrics than anything else.

I wouldn't use the dress you have because, although quite lovely, it also looks very Italian in cut.  A simple Elizabethan out of a nice damask with some pretty trim would work better - as long as you get a wig.  (or dye your hair red and perm it but a wig would be better overall.  Your hair will survive a wig better...)

[mollymishap]

I like the gold on gold one and the first gold one with the black & white underskirt/sleeve combo.  If you don't have time to hand-sew bling onto the garb, maybe just adding some gold venice lace strategically along the opening of the bodice, changing those dark laces to gold colored ones, and making (if you don't have one already) an open Medici ruff and a veil?  The ruff and veil especially will regal you up more.  Oh, and pearls, pearls and more pearls!!!

And one final thing: a crown.  Especially since it doesn't sound like you'll have much of a court to introduce you, you'll need something that indicates "Queen".  Certainly your presence & style will call attention to you, but a crown just...crowns the look...sorry, couldn't resist.  A crown & BIG red hair are must-haves if you're doing QEI.

WHoo-hoo!  I'm so excited for you!

[DonaCatalina]

Metallic organza would make a quick standing ruff to accent your existing gowns. I think the black/gold or the red/gold would work best.

a transparent lace collar like the one above would be quickest to make I think.
Fabric link

[Orphena]

Oh, I knew you would all help! It is the only reason I am even considering it! Anytime someone asks me how to go about making Ren stuff, I always point them here!

Collar / Ruff – Yes – I know this needs to happen. I was looking at the process explained here:  http://farthingalescorsetmakingsupplies.com/classes.php?article=10 . I have also been considering buying a ruff – but I need to make that decision quickly as I have 8 weeks before faire – and I don't want to spend too much as m'lords working hours are a little less than we are used to!

Girdle – If I have time, definitely – although my girdles are already quite jeweled – Goodness knows the little girls think so!

Hair – I have been looking at wigs, but do not have much experience. I did however find this:
http://onedelightfulday.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/buying-and-styling-historical-wigs/  Different era, but it may help! I also have several articles about Elizabethan hairstyles to work from. I think a wig will be an easier solution for me – as the weekend after this faire I am a mermaid (usually with blue tinged hair!) – so how much length am I looking for? Straight, or Curly? Other tips?

Isabella – New Gown -  I keep wavering. If I had your skill at fitting things right, and no other projects, I might take a stab at it. (Heck – I might anyways!)  I have a gorgeous red fabric that is going to be my next gown – but the bodice is what scares me! I simply do not sew as quickly as most of you – and am afraid of taking on more than I can do! Thank you for those portraits – they are a great source of inspiration! I love that you always help steer us back to history!

Molly – Crowns – where to start? I was thinking of doing jeweled hair pins to stick through the wig (and to secure the wig to my head!) – but what else should I be looking for? Any resources?

Dona Catalina – It sounds lovely – but what is metallic organza? How do I recognize it?

Thank you all! I am still open to more ideas / brainstorming!

[isabelladangelo]

For a wig, you want something more like this.  QEI had short, curly bright red hair. 

If you want to keep with the dress you have, do you have any left over fabric from that dress?  You could make a small stomacher that goes over the lacing and is pinned in place.   If you add some beading to the edges of the stomacher and used pins with pearls on the end, you could get something close to this look:

http://elizabethan-portraits.com/Elizabeth49.jpg

You'd also need a bumroll or a wheel farthingale but a bumroll is very very easy.  It's a slight crescent stuffed pillows with ties. 

[CenturiesSewing]

Do you have any set year that you are playing Queen Bess? If so it may be worth it to hunt for paintings to show what style was being worn by her and the Court then, and take a stroll through her wardrobe accounts for ideas, as the styles did change.

I think you can adapt your current dress to work with most years with some tweaking (She is said to also have gowns in the Venetian style if I recall right from QEWU), like others have said the hair and accessories will help sell it.

You can layer trims and cords onto a base guard of fabric and then tack that on to your existing gown, so should you need to change over the gown again later you can just removed the base guard and all the trim will be intact on that. Bit less work then sewing on pearls, and you can use invisible thread.

[mollymishap]

For a basic crown "look" you could go for something like view E of this Butterick pattern.  I don't know if it's still in print, but here's an eBay listing for it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Butterick-Making-History-5441-Crowns-Pattern-Bishop-Hat-Headpiece-Tiara-Medieval-/321105431558?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac3600c06. 

I'd stay away from any rhinestone tiaras & chunky medieval cross type crowns, though.

[Orphena]

Molly - That's perfect! I was looking all over for something like that! Unfortunately it is out of my budget, but I think I can see enough of it to cobble together a pattern of sorts. I've also been looking at filigree over at Fancifuls - perhaps to make jewelled billaments, or even to trim the gown itself.....

I'm frightened to say that I am leaning more and more towards making a whole new gown.... but I have decided to finish my current project (Mermaid Ensemble for a fantasy based festival) before I get started. Just have the bodice to finish, and the pattern is almost finished being modified.

I'm going to put my wig research over on the garbing board and ask for a few opinions..... but this festival has agreed to my terms, so the role is officially mine once the contract comes through.

[mollymishap]

So...how's it going with the dress?  Inquiring minds want to know...

[Orphena]

 .   Well, I've now managed to convince myself to make a new gown... out of this lovely red:

So I went shopping yesterday, and got some gorgeous fabric for the forepart and sleeves:

   sometimes it looks like this



I think it needs some embellishment, for whichI still have these:


I also made a crown out of some supplies I got in Toronto's beading / button / fabric district:



ordered a wig, and have started on some little favours for the kids. Once my hubby is actually home for a few hours, I am drafting him into service as my measurer - I'll jump into my corset (if only it was that easy!), and then I will be ready to start drafting the bodice. I've been doing some reading over on the Sempstress.

Edited to include pictures!

[Rowan MacD]

  If you want to mix up the head wear a bit, consider making long jeweled hairpins and placing them   for the 'ray' effect seen in many QE portraits. 
  Since you're handy with crown making, perhaps you could fashion a headband or something using the pins to hold them where you want. 
    Most of the QE's I've seen don't use a 'crown' per se; whether or not they have a court with them.  The red hair and the jewels in it are the biggest announcement you can make that you are Gloriana.
   Don't forget to load on the rings (thumb and pinky) and ropes of pearls.

[LadyElizabeth]

So I actually started doing qe1 because of the exact same reason as you. The faire I was to be queen of fell thru but I've been loving being her ever since getting more extravagant each year.

Definitely start with studying her portraits out there!

First suggestion, jewels and pearls and more of those! There's online bead stores u can get things from cheap like fire mountain gemstones. And easy way to get jewels in the hair is buy a string of large pearls and some thin wire and attach them to bobby pins.

Second You'll also need more trims on your gown. Sorry, those are usually expensive. You could use a fabric border on the front of the gown and around the bottom bordering it with a nice trim.

I'll try to post some pics of my stuff to give u ideas too. I've not been on here in years and need to figure out how to again.