Medieval

 So, I mentioned earlier, that people from the National Galery contacted me, that they would like to have some clothes to bring a couple of their famous pictures live for some historical interpretation sessions with children.

After a few meeting I managed to convince them, that it is not really possible to make one bustle dress that can be worn from girls aged 10-16 (you can fit them to ONE size and add enough so they can be adjusted a few kilos/cm extra up and down, but not a few SIZES), they decided to have two dresses from two pictures, that can be worn by the museum's employees, and many things shown to the youngsters (layers, cuts, support-system and a lot more). 

One of them was a lot more complicated affair, an 1870-ies bustle dress, for which you already seen what is under that dress.

The other painting was a medeival one, MS master's Visitation.

They wanted to represent Elizabeth, the figure on the right.

I set out looking for a silver brocade or taffeta, and the museum people selected a beautiful, though somewhat loosely woven silver brokade. I did convinced them, that in order to have more-or less historically accurate rendition, they HAVE TO HAVE a linen undershirt, not in least so they have a layer that, unlike the brocade, can be regurarly washed. 

Once again, the deadline was very thight, and I simply had no time to make a photo of the making process, I can only show you the finished pieces. I haven' used a bought pattern, I used the one I made my early renaissance dress about 9 years ago, and fitted it to a size 38 dressmaker's dress form.

Here it is worn by me. It is to thight for me, as in the order form the museum specified size M/38EU, and though I lost a lot of weight, I still consider myself on the bigger side of 38.

And here it is worn in the museum, at one of their event with children.