15th century upgrade

[sister_raphael]

About 17 years ago, my sister went to a couple of re-enactment things and made herself some really cool clothes, most of which have sat in the back of her cupboard since then. One outfit is so pretty I've been eyeing it off for years, and while I was taking photos of it, I asked if I could buy it from her and after a great deal of consideration, she said yes.

It has a wonderful headpiece with a padded roll and heavily jewelled headpiece and the gown itself is a pretty brocade.

Now, 17 years ago, reenactment in Australia was a very different creature. Resources and information were far a few behind and many of the costuming books were, compared to todays available information, not as accurate as we understand today. Looking at the outfit with current knowledge, I saw that it would be a minor upgrade to turn it from What Was Good 17 Years Ago to What Is Good Now.

To do:
- replace all the buttons on the sleeves.
- remove the button loops and replace with buttonholes.
- remove the button loops and buttons from the back. (no longer accurate)
- sew up the back.
- open the side seam and sew in re-enforcing strips on both sides.
- sew a lot of eyelet holes down the sides.
- make a lacing cord for the side.
- remove the padded roll from the headpiece and re-shape a little.
- remove current brooch (best available at the time)
- add new 15th century reproduction brooch (already have one)
- add a fillet to attach the cauls onto (raise them a touch to better fit my smaller  head.)
- remove stitched on veil.
- redo neck line.

It sounds like a very long list, but the dress is a perfect fir for me and most of the hard work is done. I've already removed the button loops and buttons from everywhere and sewn up the back seam and opened and pinned the side seam. I've removed the padded roll and veil and separated the sections from the headpiece.

I did talk to my sister about what I would do before I bought the outfit from her in case she felt I was just taking it apart, but she understood the bulk of the dress and headpiece is great and it's just the finishing touches which we thought were great back then that do need updating to keep up with current knowledge about medieval clothing construction.

The fabric is gorgeous and while not a reproduction, is much nicer than a lot of the upholstery fabrics which I see being used and reused which are only vaguely right. And a lot of people are happy with them, which is cool too. Different people have different budgets and clothing standards, and that's cool. Anyway, I sure don't have the money for a reproduction patterned brocade for this kind of dress right now, and the pattern is acceptable to me, so I'm happy. My sister is happy that the dress won't be languishing away in a box in the cupboard, so it's a win win.