How to increase your amount of garb without actually sewing

[frualeydis]

Loose weight.
Suddenly I can wear lots of my old garb. (Of course it means that there is also garb that has become too big, including most of my elizabethan stuff)

I had a friend over who was interested in one of my old loose 15th century surcoats (not wide enough to justify the term houppelande I think). So I had Rickard take down the "15th and some 16th century chest", which I hardly ever touch. Well, I looked in it and tried on most of the clothes. Result:

Cotton damask ca 1500 french/flemish gown with wide-ish sleeves and v-opening in back: fits, but needs kirtle and a band of contrasting fabric around the hem since it's too short. And I could stand to lose another kilo or two. Last (and first) time worn: November 1995

16th century Saxon court gown in dark yellow cotton velvet and light blue cotton damask, of the less common type with gored skirt (can be seen in a few Cranach paintings): Almost fits, see gown above. Needs petticoat and new headwear + new lacing cords. Last (and first) time worn: November 1997

Burgundy 15th century tight-fitting overgown with gored skirt in thin wool, based on french illuminations of dancing peasants: Fits, but needs short-sleeved kirtle. Last time worn: autumn 1999

Red and black german gown from 1525, in wool and velvet: Fits, may have to be taken in a little at the waist. Needs petticoat, gollar and headgear, and better lacing cord. Ideally the bodice should be shortened a little too. Made in 1997, last time worn: Renaissance days in Kalmar 2000. Here's a bad photo, and the inspiration:



As you see I had bad headgear but a gollar. Unfortunately I lost the latter when being very drunk at the aforementioned Renaissance days. Another picture from that event can be seen here, I'm the one wearing a cap. That was however the night after, when I was sober.

Comments

[chigrima.livejournal.com]

You know, if you have a picture of the Saxon one I'd love to see that gored skirt. ;-)

[kass-rants.livejournal.com]

Is taking down old gowns and making them wearable again a disease that's catching just now? Look what I worked on last night and this morning:
http://www.reconstructinghistory.blogspot.com/

[bippimalin.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a perfect treat to suddenly locate. :)
I whish I hadn't made such crappy garb before, then I might have had a similar experience somtime in the future. Ah well, if I decrease weight and then increase I have something to look forward to. ;)

[m-nivalis.livejournal.com]

Always a good thing with weight loss - finding old new clothing to wear. I'm glad you're getting a second chance of wearing them: You have so gorgeous outfits! How do you find time for it, what with family and all?

[myralea.livejournal.com]

i remember the cranach gown! it was one of the pretty dresses i had in my head when i started out my 16thC german explorations. i would love to see that gown on you again :-)

/m

[ginger-dragon.livejournal.com]

How nice! Like getting a brand new wardrobe. :-)