All posts tagged: 1600s

The Historical Sew Fortnightly: The ‘Something Simple’ challenge

To ease into the Historical Sew Fortnightly challenge for 2013 there is a bonus challenge due on the 31st: ‘Something Simple‘. I thought it would be nice to give us something a bit easier to start with, and I think it’s good to remember that not every important historical garment is massively elaborate and over-the-top. Throughout history people have depended on simple, workable garments – the historical equivalent of our T-shirts. There are lots of periods when even the very rich wore mix-and-match separates that were (relatively) washable and easy to make. One of the things about Princess Alexandra that particularly impressed Queen Victoria when they met was her frugality in dress – Queen Victoria commended her for wearing the same jacket with multiple skirts, and thought it demonstrated a praiseworth restraint and sensibility in dress and character. I was hoping to do a whole post of simple historical inspiration, but the problem with simple, easy to wear, easy to make garments is that not many of them have lasted to come down to us. …

Rate the Dress: Elizabeth of Bohemia pre-bohemia

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week there was no Rate the Dress, as I rated the Oscars instead. I hope you enjoyed that, and thank you for your patience. The week before last I presented a very deco 1920s frock, and quite a few of you were vocally NOT IN FAVOUR of it. The poor thing got compared to a kindergarten uniform, a girl scout uniform, maternity dress, Nancy Drew (and you didn’t think that was a good thing), air hostess on a 1970s children’s show, or just the airplane the air hostess would be in. Maybe overwhelmed by the dislike, many of you quietly gave it rather high ratings, but it wasn’t enough to keep the much-maligned frock from a sad 4.8 out of 10. This week, let’s go back a few centuries, and look at an always contentious ‘child in an adult frock’ Rate the Dress. For a 17th century royal, Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Anne of Denmark and James I of Scotland and England, had a lucky life. She had a idyllic childhood. She wasn’t married …

Rate the Dress: Late Elizabethan pastels

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week I showed you a very bright blue plaid dress, and despite the fact that so many of you said you liked blue, most of you did not like this blue, especially not in a plaid! Rowenna even called it “The Plaid Scotland Rejected.” A few of you were more favorable though, and felt you could pull it off. It averaged out with a marginal rating of 5.4 out of 10. This week, let’s take a deep, calming breath, and tone things down a little with a 1605 portrait of Anne of Denmark. Well, kinda tone things down. This is early 17th century fashion we are talking about after all, and while the wife of James I of England is clad in muted whites and pinks, there is nothing toned down and muted about her silhouette. Anne’s hair is piled high, and her famously beautiful neck and bust are framed by a fine lace collar and pink trim. Blue and pink ribbon rosettes on her bodice further lead the eye up to her best …