Some pearls of wisdom on life according to My Lord God Dylan:
* Curry and seduction never occur on the same day
* Children only have two sleeping positions - the swastica and the crucifix
* People turn to Jesus because they've got no one else
* If it feels like you've shit yourself, then you have
* Australian place names were made up by drunk people.
There were so many other funny bits, most of which I cannot quote because it all blurs into a pile of laughing frenzy. I am now tempted to buy the DVD, any DVD with him on it. Whose 'Black Books' DVD's do I have by the way? DV? Wenchi?
Way back in the depths of time, I once wrote about costuming on this blog and indeed it was the reason I started it (well, the original HoC anyway). In the spirit of trying to bring some of that content back (and hey, if Honey Death can do it, so can I), here's the next frock.
It's by Clouet, around 1550. I've looked at other French portraits of the time and a lot of them are similar half-portraits, which is really unfair. What does the skirt look like, dammit? How rude of renaissance portrait artists to not think about us poor, suffering historical costumers. They should have done full length portraits, damn their eyes.
Anyway, I have loads of milk chocolate brown cotton velvet and I was thinking a nice gold (maybe with black shot if I can swing it) silk for the pretty bits and white silk for the sleeves. There's not a lot of astentation to this dress, which will make it a lot easier to have completed for Midwinter. I won't need a new chemise, I have a corset on loan (and a farthingale if I need it - thanks Spyd!), so the underpinings are sorted.
I think I may need a bit of help in some of the contruction, especially the puffy sleeves. I've had a suggestion of tulle, which would work, but isn't period. I'll see what the experts (read: laurels) say. I'll also need help with the hood, and no doubt fabric for same. I can sacrifice some of the pearls off my other french hood (which isn't that crash hot) so that will save some $$. Miss Krin, do you still have my hood, or have I put it somewhere 'safe'?
I was also thinking, if I have enough time, of making a jacket just in case I get too cold. I have no idea what sort of chest covering the French did at this time, as I have only found one partlety-type thing in the portraits (below, left), but there are examples of jackets being worn for this period... in Italy! Grr. There is a Clouet sketch of Catherine de Medici (below, right) in a coat from 1560. Can I justify it? Hmm, not sure.
Plans must be made and stuck to if I'm going to have this finished on time. Wish me luck.
