1500''s Dress - am I mad?

[Pandora II]

FI and I went to see his youngest brother''s gf who is a ballet dancer in Swan Lake at the Albert Hall last Saturday and ever since FI has not stopped going on about how gorgeous the queen''s dress was in it and wanted to know if my wedding dress would look like that. This is very unusual for FI as he''s not really into commenting on women''s clothing at all - he has also been very unenthusiatic about everything I''ve shown him so far in the way of dresses.

Now my initial thoughts had been for something like one of the lace pronovias gowns in a mermaid shape and with sleeves. I have been thinking that lace dress and lace veil might be a bit much and could look a bit like an antique shop!

So I have been looking for something similar to this dress - just to get ideas.

If you can imagine this in a light weight ivory silk that drapes a bit more, with an embroidered ivory/gold underskirt and pearls on all the brocadey bits - could it look good? I''m 5ft 10" and a UK 12 (I think that''s a US and a 36B bust. The sleeves will need a lot of reducing in size etc, but I love the neckline and bodice.

My venue is also 13th century so it would tie in - however I want it to look weddingy rather than historic re-enactment and it will be in really good fabrics etc (I''ve seen loads done really cheaply in crushed velvet etc and it is not a good look!)

 

[rainbowtrout]

try Cymbeline, they have a fair amount of old-school corset-like designs. if not them, there are plenty of places that specialize in this sort of dress--however often the finished dress is not that high end, just the corset.

Also keep in mind that this style of dress is H-E-A-V-Y. Really, really heavy. Especially if you make it out of good fabric and true to the time period.


http://www.romantasy.com


These people are supposedly good. You will have to just get past the fetish or Ren-festy element if it bothers you, those are the people that order most of these types of items.

 

[rainbowtrout]

http://www.corsetsandcrinolines.com/links.php?grp=2


The UK seems to have more and better products in this area, btw.

 

[Pandora II]

I''ve found some great corset companies near me who do amazing work at reasonable prices - I''ve had a look at the construction of the bodice for this and although I sew a lot it''s definately a job for an expert. Definately seem to be more resources in the UK which was a surprise!

The rest of the dress is not too difficult and I love doing beadwork so I can have hours of happy fun.

I wouldn''t try to make a historically correct replica though - so I''d use a less full farthingale (hooped thing under the skirts) and lighter weight silks rather than very heavy brocades. I''m aways freezing though so I don''t mind if it''s reasonably heavy.

It''s more a question of whether it will look nice and weddingish enough - or if it''s a bit too odd! I''ve never been someone who stuck to fashions - but I don''t want to look like a dodgy 80''s bride!

 

[rainbowtrout]

I think it could go either way. Have you tried on any costumes from that era just to see if they suit you? If you go with a seamstress I would make sure she is also a very good stylist and can "contemporize" the dress without ruining the period feel.

 

[Love in Bloom]

Will hubby 2 be wear clothes in the same period fashion as well? If you wear a period piece in a 13th century venue (sounds fantastic BTW

) I think it would look best if his garb follows the same theme.

 

[rainbowtrout]

Hehe LIB I would actually say the opposite! The contrast of an all white 15th century inspired gown with a tux would be divine!

Men''s fashions from that period are a little peacock-y for me lol

 

[musey]

Date: 6/27/2007 8:24:47 PM
Author: rainbowtrout
Men''s fashions from that period are a little peacock-y for me lol

haha I was thinking the same thing...

 

[Pandora II]

Thanks for all the links Rainbow - some great pictures there! I wore something similar for a play years ago which looked nice. I love sleeves and I have very broad shoulders which tend to look good in that kind of style - I look awful in strapless or anything that isn't structured. Whereas the very flowy, simple dresses look ethereal on some people, they just look drippy and like I'm wearing a nightie on me.

I think I'm going to have to interview some seamstresses - or talk my mother into giving me a hand (bar the corset bit)

FI wanted to wear chainmail

, but I think he's going to wear formal morning dress. I'm not sure tights would be a good look for him. If I could get everyone to dress up I would - but most are not those kind of people, so I think it will just be me.

I saw some pics of a girl with a beautiful historic wedding dress in coloured brocade and her husband in morning dress and it didn't look odd at all - they sort of comlimented each other

I feel very excited about this idea - which I haven't yet about anything else.

 

[Love in Bloom]

LOL, not full on peacock! Just like Pandora said, not an historically correct replica. Perhaps a brocade vest and some nice pants (not necessarily tight ones). Maybe he could wear some tall boots with a fancy vamp too, if you are into that. I think it would look really good.

 

[sumbride]

When I saw that picture, I immediately thought of a more modern version that I lusted after when I first started shopping, Maggie Sottero''s Rosemary Leigh

It''s obviously not a "period dress" but it has a very similar neckline. Might give you some ideas of what it would look like in white.

 

[OUpearlgirl]

I don''t think that would be crazy at all. My dream dress would look exactly like Christine Daae''s in the movie version of Phantom of the Opera in the "Think of Me'' scene..

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 6/27/2007 9:39:26 PM
Author: sumbride
When I saw that picture, I immediately thought of a more modern version that I lusted after when I first started shopping, Maggie Sottero''s Rosemary Leigh

It''s obviously not a ''period dress'' but it has a very similar neckline. Might give you some ideas of what it would look like in white.

Wow, that is one I bookmarked very early on, but had forgotten about - that is how I''d like the back to look. That is really helpful!


The other site I found with AMAZING dresses - but way out of my price range is Chantal Mallett at www.18thcenturycorsets.com - Oh to look like some of them!

 

[MustangGal]

This designer has a few dresses that look similar to that style http://www.stpucchi.com/main_sale.html I remember seeing some in a bridal magazine with the big sleeves and skirt and all.

 

[Erin]

I always thought this site reminded me of ''period'' attire

The sleeves on this remind me of the picture above

http://www.marysbridal.com/bridal/6160.htm

 

[rainbowtrout]

OMG...that site...so beautiful....


I want one!!!! (the chantal mallett!)

 

[Pandora II]

I know! I am soooooo jealous - I would love her job. She is incredibly talented.

They are some of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen in my life - I love nearly all of them. If I had the money I would go to her over any of the "big name" designers. They certainly make women look like WOMEN!

I love the sleeves on "heidi"

 

[Pandora II]

And this one is gorgeous!

I had a long talk with my mother tonight about the dress. She says she's not surprised I'm thinking of going for this and I definitely should. The ones I was looking like are very like the sort of evening dresses I wear and so are not particularly different or "special" for me. She thinks I should just indulge my wildest fantasies, and have the dress of my dreams.

The room we are getting married in is part of an old abbey, so it's big and very tall, with stone floors and walls and huge stained-glass windows - and the most enormous painting of people killing each other on a battlefield

, so it can easily take a "big" dress.

I am finally feeling really excited about my wedding!

 

[litebrite]

Go for it! I think it will make your wedding incredibly unique. The golden dress you posted - I love the scalloped bodice! Plus some of the prices on the St. Mary's site are much better than normal bridal shops.

The other thing I can think of is to go to theatres and to see if you can buy a used dress that has that loo, or to a costume shop where the sell used costumes.

Also I agree with the poster who warned against how heavy that era of gowns are - great for winter, but not so much for a summer/spring wedding.

PS: I love Pronovias, I think I'm getting one of their gowns, but without lace.