I've been commissioned to make the first Renaissance costume for a 15-year old young lady. I took her measurements and mocked up a commercial pattern bodice for her, showed her several books for ideas - from 'Elizabethan Costuming for the Years 1550 -1580' to 'The Tudor Tailor' and 'Patterns of Fashion'.
Then we went off to the fabric store and found this gorgeous brocade:
Well, it says Italian Renaissance to me and period bodice pattern without princess seams due to the large motif. So. I drafted up a period bodice pattern while Emily looked through the Tudor Tailor and fell in love with the Tudor sleeves. Not my first choice, but that is what she wants!
I've cut out the skirt based on the Eleonora layout in Patterns of fashion - here are the parts ready for assembly:
For scale, the columns are about 12' apart. I cut the front and back pieces with the same design in the brocade at the waist. It would be impossible to match the pattern across the wedge shaped pieces, and since they did not do it in period - neither did I! Next step is assembly and fitting. We got a coordinating golden velveteen that will be used for a guard at the hem.
As soon as the customer gets her two-hoop skirt, we will have a fitting to hem!
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