All posts tagged: 17th century

Rate the Dress: Adolescent Swashbuckling in 1608

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week I showed you an 1880s ensemble that has been enormously popular.  There were a few naysaysers (as always) but the general consensus was extremely positive.  I haven’t tallied the votes yet (The Project has completely taken over my life and I’m afraid you aren’t likely to hear from me again for a few days more), but I’m sure it will be in the 9s. Moving away from the feminine and the colourful, and the super popular, it’s time for black.  Early 17th century (always a worrisome era on Rate the Dress) black menswear (also problematic), to be precise. Well, kinda menswear.  Prince Henry was between 10 and 15 when this portrait was painted.  Not exactly manly, though the tailor and Peake the Elder tried their best with the pose and costume. Poor Henry barely got to be a child, his life overshadowed by what was essentially a custody battle between his still married parents.  And he never grew up to be a man either, his life tragically cut short by typhoid at 18, …

Terminology: What is a robe de cour or grand habit?

Published by The Dreamstress

Synchronisity is an amazing thing.  I wrote this post in January of 2012, and got it completely finished all save one last quote from Queen of Fashion that I wanted to add, and then got distracted and never published it.  And then, at the beginning of August, I came across my not-published post, and went to the library to borrow Queen of Fashion, only to find it was out.  Literally two days later Kendra at Demode posted about making a robe de coer and started the 2014 18th Court Ensembles Project. Well, Queen of Fashion has finally come back in, and just in time, because I’ve finally been tempted into joining the Court Ensembles project.  I actually have the beginnings of a 17th century robe de cour in my UFO pile, but it’s not 18th century, so instead I’ll be making this: Obviously I mean Mariana Victoria (yellow-gold brocade….rrrrow), though if things go really well Mr D is going to find himself sporting a russet velvet justacorpse. So, now that I’m making one, what is …

Rate the Dress: Sophie of Hanover, Princess of all the things

Published by The Dreamstress

Well, it was a hard hill for Tissot’s Princesse de Broglie to climb, pitting her against Ingres’ Princesse de Broglie in last weeks  Princess-Off.   Ingres’ painting is so well know, and so beloved, that any frock would have to struggle against it.  Still, it was an interesting battle, and I think Ingres’s princess did more poorly than she might have on her own, as Tissot’s avant-garde princess highlighted how safe and cliche her earlier counterpart’s frock was.  Still, Ingres’s 1850s Josephine was the clear winner, with 7.6 points out of 10, while Tissot’s 1890s Pauline could only manage 6.6 out of 10. I’ve been wanting to showcase this painting as a ‘Rate the Dress’ for ages.  ‘Pretty, Pretty, Princess’ fortnight seemed the perfect opportunity, and then, with uncanny timing, Willow on facebook asked if the Electress Sophia of Hanover counts as a princess. Does she ever!  Sophia was the daughter of the Winter King & Queen of Bohemia (and he was also the Elector Palatine), the granddaughter of the King of England, the wife …