I’ve held off on trimming the Ninon gown for literally years, because I loved it so much untrimmed, and have been afraid I wouldn’t like it as much trimmed. But I’ve finally sucked it up and done it, and (luckily!) I love it even more with trimming! For trimming  inspiration I wavered between the Beaubrun portrait that had been my primary inspiration throughout the making of the dress: And the van der Helst portrait of a couple, which appealed to me because of the simplicity of the trimmings (I know that a gazillion bows going up the front of your bodice doesn’t seem simple, but it’s really such a basic trim): At first I leaned toward the ribbon for simplicity.  I’ve got some rather nice quality viscose ribbon that is a good match for the ribbons on van der Helst’s woman in colour, width and texture.  I made a bunch of bows from them  and pinned them up the front, and while they looked lovely, the were a little too obvious. So I had a …