i had always assumed that the sleeves not attaching under the arms was for ventilation/cooling, especially during summer and under all those layers, etc when i watch movies. thanks to your channel, i now know that sleeves were interchangeable for different reasons, such as variety, cleanliness, wealth, etc. i so enjoy watching your videos and learning about historical dressing. thank you.
I feel like I'm the only 20something straight dude watching this channel, but goddamn I love it and I'm hooked. I'd love to see more content - the tailoring process maybe, tools that may have been used in the period, etc. Really digging all the historical insight here. It's like that Skull-something guy who's really popular doing those videos about historical weaponry. This is cooler IMO.
Those pre-corset dresses are a true marvel: Every part seems so functional and simple compared to the later styles, and yet the overall effect looks every bit as beautiful, if not more ...
I always look forward to when you release a new video - such fun! I must ask, though - how in heaven's name do you keep from poking the living daylights out of yourself with all those common pins? I don't think I could ever do it! I fear I would be bloody by video end! I'm such a klutz! I do admire the clothes tremendously, though. Give Merlin a kiss for me!
See, I have half a mind to take inspiration from old styles to give myself a wardrobe that is extremely practical and durable. It's gonna be wildly anachronistic, but everything will have a reason.
I am very interested in how the lower classes dressed. Sure the garments of the upper class are beautiful, but it's interesting how people like you and me dressed.
I love these videos. In my teens my mother purchased me a book titled 'The Anatomy of Costume', illustrated by Victor Ambrus of 'Time Team' fame. It covered Old World clothing from the Ancient Egyptian and Biblical periods, through classical Greek and Roman times, Byzantium, Dark Ages, Medieval period to the 1970's, taking in American Colonial and French Revolution fashions along the way. It's still in my bookcase now, and I get it out now and again to look things up, especially if I'm drawing one of my fantasy outfits.
I love this. Simple practical lines and flattering and cozy too. Just like the Tudor lives of the mid 16 century. Glad that they still didn’t get worked up about showing a bit of ankles.
I know we’ve seen the dressing up process for a lot of the 1800s, but I would absolutely die for a couple videos on some dresses that’ve been in previous videos. Like your 1871 yellow summer gown ( it’s so so pretty!! ) ...just so I get to stare at them longer Your channel is an absolute godsend, you look so lovely in everything from every era you put yourself in...thanks for sharing your work with us!!!
WOW! I can't believe how fast you finished off that second gown that black dress looks every elegant indeed. The best part about the black is Merlin's hair will not show
That was fascinating. It seems in historical videos, there is a lot of focus on what the upper class wore; so it was cool to see what the middle class lady looked like. Nice work!
Lovely!! I’ve been enjoying all your videos, but have always had a pull to the Tudor and late medieval. Love how you present each video, and always appreciate the bonus Merlin content! (And as servant to a Siamese who insists on special treats before she can start eating, yeah, cats!)
My favourite part of these videos is the moment the outfit FEELS like the era to me - for this one, it was once the apron and bonnet went on 😊 it just HITS me with historical feels 😂😘
Splendid, as always! Thanks for posting clothes for the "rest of us" rather than just the elite folk. I'm afraid if I'd lived back then I would have been constantly yelping from being poked by pins...
A joy to watch as always. I think it wonderful, that in times where cheap and fast is the thought way to go, there is a haven were craftsman(woman)ship is practiced with grace, knowledge and care. Thank you for your wonderful videos.
I used to do historical reenactment, but I was of lower class My dress, though similar, was blue as blues and greens were the cheapest fabric, and obviously aprons etc were white as that was the cheapest. The sleeves were mandatory unless you were inside your own house, or working, so when I had to leave to walk around I had to have sleeves on - this meant I never unpinned them, just kept them tied behind my back so I could easily slip them on (I found them very uncomfortable though) Its interesting how easy you found the lacing, I definitely struggled with it everyday However, I loved wearing the outfit! It was so fun and comfortable, and I love the way the bodice sits, I miss doing the reenactment
i like middle class and working class clothes of pre-Victorian society less flamboyant and more practical as both genders worked to bring in the bread, any machines or an army of servants to do all the work was reserved primarily for the royals and nobility (the “Toffs”).
Actually, to my surprise- in the research I've done, they could be *quite* flamboyant, just in a different way to the wealthy- sewing was a skill practically *every* woman was taught as a child, so dressing something up with some embroidery was easy enough to do- & there were plenty of natural dyes, native to the UK; a lot of them were yellows, browns & greens- but also a rich tomato red, from madder- blues from woad (indigo was the more expensive blue dye)- even coral pink, from lady's bedstraw, or a soft pink-brown from alkanet, pink from sorrel or purple from elder. The Scots also had a heap of colours that largely came from various lichens & stuff- though Scotland was not exactly a wealthy country in comparison to England. Neither had to rely solely on expensive imports. The rich & royalty could make a statement in their clothing, but so could the ordinary folk- if they chose to.
Thank you for showing how the Middle class ladies dressed! I liked seeing all the layers of clothes, and your description of how to wear them. You are very interesting to both watch and read the notes in your videos! I liked the orange(?) kirtle with the black apron and white shawl best! That huge hat was interesting, too! The reeds that you mentioned in your notes, are they the plants??? How strange. By the by, how long did it take you to sew the whole dress, hat, etc? Did you sew it all by hand? ~Janet in Canada
mastersadvocate yes, reed is a plant! The same plant as is used for wicker chairs, actually. The reed is flexible but sturdy. It was used as boning to give more structure to the garments.
Love these videos, Izabela! I guess that smock neckline must be pretty broad to accommodate nursing (of course not something you can demonstrate in a video for us!). I have the Tudor Tailor book and made a kirtle, but I need to remake the bodice; your videos were some inspiration the first go round, and hopefully when I can remake it I'll get the fit better. But also I can see now that my expectations for the closure were mixed up (it doesn't need to be 100% together, but can have space), so thanks for that. :-)
This one is unexpected but so cute! I looked up the painting you referenced and this is very accurate! I keep coming back to rewatch this one. Maybe its just because i love that orange color so much. My favorite vids of yours are your medieval/Tudor dress vids, but I also love the 18th c vids. Thanks
I love your videos. I have always wondered how people back long ago dressed. Thank you so for you knowledge and great presentations, and the bits of humor.
@priorattire -- Do you know why no one seems to have embroidered their partlets? I understand most women would have been busy sewing and knitting for their families, but to not even stitch on a simple flower or leaf . . . Lack of colored thread or yarn? extreme expense thereof? Even a bit of blackwork on black with scrap threads to produce a sort of brocade effect. Sumptuary laws?
All of your videos are so informative and completely charming. I am currently in school for historical costuming and what could be so fascinating is dry and boring. You make it fun and interesting.
It might sound weird, but seeing that there are hardly any portraits/pictures of pregnant women from previous eras and since you mentioned in various videos that clothing could be adjusted to the growing bump as needed, it would be interesting to see how the shape of the garment would have changed and how it would have looked in real life.
Question: For a very hot summer day, would a smock, kirtle, apron and coif be considered respectable coverage, without the sleeves, partlet and flat cap?
Really interesting video. I’d much rather wear any of that on a daily basis than the Elizabethan or Catherine of Aragon gown. Looks much more comfortable and practical. I noticed the underarms are kept free w/ detachable sleeves and parltlet. For hygiene purposes?
The way the first look was comprised of all sorts of bits and pieces made me think of a modern kid playing dress up with whatever random articles of clothing they could find.
It's rather amusing to see modern style "gurus" talk about accessorising and mix and matching as if it is a new thing. By having all their clothes in seperate parts - sleeves, bodices, skirts, jackets etc - the historical lady could get away with only having a few items and yet multiple outfits for most occasions, just by mix and matching the parts.
That smart black gown is also what she would most likely have been married in! Most ordinary brides just wore their best dress and your best dress was usually in brown or black!
I always look forward to your videos. They are just so enjoyable! Why did they prefer straight pins being shown? I guess I'm wondering if there were safety pins that could be hidden but used in place of straight pins being shown on the front. Or anywhere as well. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
This is great! Thank you so much. I always choose a persona of the "middling sort" to represent, because I can't stand wearing floor-length gowns. My garb always ends either at the lower edge of the calf or just above the ankle, regardless of the era.
But off course your kitty would be named _Merlin_ 😺😄♥ This was very interesting! I have always been more fascinated by how life was through out history (really, from antiquity on...) for those who comprised what we now call the 'middle-class'. It seems that there just isn't much information out there about the lives, homes, fashions, and general way of life in the "middle" like there is for both, the highest, and lowest ends of the social class structure.
I love your videos! Question - on a windy day how would you prevent the white triangular kerchief from blowing off your shoulders? I’m surprised that isn’t pinned in place as well??
When you were lacing up the kirtle did you use one lace to go up and if so I think it would be very helpful to see a short tutorial or a close-up of how exactly you secured the lacing when you were done. Beautiful work as always!
Delightful glimpse of Tudor fashion. Where do you get the fabric to match these projects? That’s probably a tale in itself. Also, would a middle class Tudor family own a mirror? Or would women fit themselves by feel instead of looks? A maid would probably help to check the line and fit of garments for a wealthier woman. Fascinating to ponder. Thanks again.
I have often wondered how comfortable the shoes were, not having left or right. Apparently they were very hard to wear in, and I've read that the better off would make a servant wear them for a while to get them ready worn in. Some years back I had re-enactors in to talk to my classes. The man said there was no problem with the shoes, but I noticed his wife shaking her head, so I think that she did not agree.
For Renaissance pleasure fair, (usually in the U.S. late Tudor/ early Elizabethan) what would a middle class widow wear, since black is terribly expensive? Would the coif and flat cap be black also? Would the smock be black or white? Would the stockings be black or brown? Also would the kirtle be black? I presume that such clothing that needed repairs would be embroidered black on black? What garments, besides stockings were knitted? do you know if anything was crocheted?
True! It's so difficult to find a blouse or shirt that fits both at the waist and at the bust. If it fits at the bust it's too loose at the waist, and if the waist fits just right the bust is getting flattened
How would a middle class Tudor woman buy her clothes? Did she make them herself? Was one of her servants a seamstress? Were their clothes shops in those days? Were there professional seamstresses who came to your house and took orders?
AliceMarieM she would most likely buy them as bolts of cloth (kinda of like what you find today in fabric stores) from a textile merchant, she’d take her own measurements (with help from a maid if she could afford one), and made them herself. There were professional seamstresses out there but the many were also employed by the Toffs and could charge fee and set their own hours. if a middle-class woman planned to make a dress out of expensive fabrics such as silk, brocade, velvet or lace (yes velvet and lace were both very expensive back then) only then would a professional seamstress be hired to do the work as a normal middle class family could only afford one attempt.
I know there was a second-hand clothes industry in the 18th & 19th c, but it could have begun earlier (though I have no evidence) - yes, sewing was one of the main skills women were taught, & it was one of the professions women were omnipresent in (though it is interesting to note that *'professional'* embroiderers, ie. employed by the Queen, were *men* ) - employing a specific seamstress would be unlikely, unless you were at the higher end of the middle class. There were 'mantua-makers', seamstresses, glovers, hatters, tailors & cobblers; these were the professions that related to the making of clothes, shoes & outerwear Buying clothes 'off the rack' didn't yet exist- that came in in the 19th c.
I know you probably don't like talking in your videos but I'm really curious as to how to pronounce some of these words like coif. I'm from america and can only imagine how they are pronounced clothing everyday objects that have new names. Sounds fun
Please do more of middle class folk. You don't often get to see what they wore. Thanks.
This is rad! I never knew about the difference between the two shades of black fabric - fascinating!
i had always assumed that the sleeves not attaching under the arms was for ventilation/cooling, especially during summer and under all those layers, etc when i watch movies. thanks to your channel, i now know that sleeves were interchangeable for different reasons, such as variety, cleanliness, wealth, etc. i so enjoy watching your videos and learning about historical dressing. thank you.
I feel like I'm the only 20something straight dude watching this channel, but goddamn I love it and I'm hooked.
I'd love to see more content - the tailoring process maybe, tools that may have been used in the period, etc.
Really digging all the historical insight here. It's like that Skull-something guy who's really popular doing those videos about historical weaponry. This is cooler IMO.
Those pre-corset dresses are a true marvel: Every part seems so functional and simple compared to the later styles, and yet the overall effect looks every bit as beautiful, if not more ...
I love that you're doing middle class. It's interesting to see the differences with the upper class!
I always look forward to when you release a new video - such fun! I must ask, though - how in heaven's name do you keep from poking the living daylights out of yourself with all those common pins? I don't think I could ever do it! I fear I would be bloody by video end! I'm such a klutz! I do admire the clothes tremendously, though. Give Merlin a kiss for me!
Without fail I stop whatever I'm doing just to watch these
i often wait and watch them when im ready to strap in and be cozy
@Entraya Crosshill same
See, I have half a mind to take inspiration from old styles to give myself a wardrobe that is extremely practical and durable. It's gonna be wildly anachronistic, but everything will have a reason.
I am very interested in how the lower classes dressed. Sure the garments of the upper class are beautiful, but it's interesting how people like you and me dressed.
Just like us, they purchased the best fabric they could afford and did the best they could to look the best they could. Keeping up with the Jones'
I just posted a comment about lower class! I can't be bothered to retype it though 😹 but you can check out my other comment instead
You are unraveling all the mysteries of women's attire throughout the ages....thank you!
I love these videos. In my teens my mother purchased me a book titled 'The Anatomy of Costume', illustrated by Victor Ambrus of 'Time Team' fame. It covered Old World clothing from the Ancient Egyptian and Biblical periods, through classical Greek and Roman times, Byzantium, Dark Ages, Medieval period to the 1970's, taking in American Colonial and French Revolution fashions along the way. It's still in my bookcase now, and I get it out now and again to look things up, especially if I'm drawing one of my fantasy outfits.
I would so wear the shift and kirtle as a modern outfit now! It’s cute as is. Yes, the skirt would need to close....
I love this. Simple practical lines and flattering and cozy too. Just like the Tudor lives of the mid 16 century. Glad that they still didn’t get worked up about showing a bit of ankles.
I know we’ve seen the dressing up process for a lot of the 1800s, but I would absolutely die for a couple videos on some dresses that’ve been in previous videos. Like your 1871 yellow summer gown ( it’s so so pretty!! ) ...just so I get to stare at them longer
Your channel is an absolute godsend, you look so lovely in everything from every era you put yourself in...thanks for sharing your work with us!!!
Most of them is well represented in my book, with lots of photos there:-)
I see Merlin wearing his own black and white Tudor costume!
Wonderful video, love how "mix and match" everything is.
This was very useful for my part in the re-creation of Lord Marney's funeral procession.
WOW! I can't believe how fast you finished off that second gown that black dress looks every elegant indeed. The best part about the black is Merlin's hair will not show
That was fascinating. It seems in historical videos, there is a lot of focus on what the upper class wore; so it was cool to see what the middle class lady looked like. Nice work!
Thanx for closeups and keeping descriptions up longer.
you have amazing talent, and you help keep history alive. and being a bit saucy doesn't hurt. ;-)
I was waiting for a middle class outfit and the tutors is my favourite eta real tied it with a bow
That overgown looks so much more comfortable than all the faffing around with sleeves and things.
Thank you for this series! It helps a great deal understanding the layers and how things work together!
Lovely!! I’ve been enjoying all your videos, but have always had a pull to the Tudor and late medieval. Love how you present each video, and always appreciate the bonus Merlin content! (And as servant to a Siamese who insists on special treats before she can start eating, yeah, cats!)
Doesn’t matter what I’m doing, if I see a prior attire video, I click.
Removable sleeves are very useful indeed. Hot weather? Pack them in your purse. Got chilly? Whip em out and slip them on.
I was just talking about this with my partner last night. How come we dont do that anymore? Arm warmers are sort of similar, but not quite
My favourite part of these videos is the moment the outfit FEELS like the era to me - for this one, it was once the apron and bonnet went on 😊 it just HITS me with historical feels 😂😘
Such a gorgeous rust colour
Your videos are absolutely fascinating!
Splendid, as always! Thanks for posting clothes for the "rest of us" rather than just the elite folk. I'm afraid if I'd lived back then I would have been constantly yelping from being poked by pins...
All these videos are absolutely fascinating as is Merlin (and her husband in real life who sometimes appears is a hunk!)
Another wonderful, entertaining video. Hey Merlin!!!
A joy to watch as always. I think it wonderful, that in times where cheap and fast is the thought way to go, there is a haven were craftsman(woman)ship is practiced with grace, knowledge and care. Thank you for your wonderful videos.
I used to do historical reenactment, but I was of lower class
My dress, though similar, was blue as blues and greens were the cheapest fabric, and obviously aprons etc were white as that was the cheapest. The sleeves were mandatory unless you were inside your own house, or working, so when I had to leave to walk around I had to have sleeves on - this meant I never unpinned them, just kept them tied behind my back so I could easily slip them on (I found them very uncomfortable though)
Its interesting how easy you found the lacing, I definitely struggled with it everyday
However, I loved wearing the outfit! It was so fun and comfortable, and I love the way the bodice sits, I miss doing the reenactment
I just love what you show us, it's a mini history lesson that you usually don't get to see. Thank you.
i like middle class and working class clothes of pre-Victorian society less flamboyant and more practical as both genders worked to bring in the bread, any machines or an army of servants to do all the work was reserved primarily for the royals and nobility (the “Toffs”).
Actually, to my surprise- in the research I've done, they could be *quite* flamboyant, just in a different way to the wealthy- sewing was a skill practically *every* woman was taught as a child, so dressing something up with some embroidery was easy enough to do- & there were plenty of natural dyes, native to the UK; a lot of them were yellows, browns & greens- but also a rich tomato red, from madder- blues from woad (indigo was the more expensive blue dye)- even coral pink, from lady's bedstraw, or a soft pink-brown from alkanet, pink from sorrel or purple from elder.
The Scots also had a heap of colours that largely came from various lichens & stuff- though Scotland was not exactly a wealthy country in comparison to England. Neither had to rely solely on expensive imports.
The rich & royalty could make a statement in their clothing, but so could the ordinary folk- if they chose to.
The black gown looks so good but the kirtle is so functional. Always so interesting. I love your videos, see you in the next one :)
Practical and gorgeous in the same dress. I love it. The cat is also adorable.
Oh my, did she just flaunt that lovely ankle? So scandalous.😯
Thank you for showing how the Middle class ladies dressed! I liked seeing all the layers of clothes, and your description of how to wear them. You are very interesting to both watch and read the notes in your videos! I liked the orange(?) kirtle with the black apron and white shawl best! That huge hat was interesting, too! The reeds that you mentioned in your notes, are they the plants??? How strange. By the by, how long did it take you to sew the whole dress, hat, etc? Did you sew it all by hand?
~Janet in Canada
mastersadvocate yes, reed is a plant! The same plant as is used for wicker chairs, actually. The reed is flexible but sturdy. It was used as boning to give more structure to the garments.
ooo the Tudor conference lasts right up till my birthday to bad that big old pond is in the way
Your videos always make me so happy!
Love these videos, Izabela! I guess that smock neckline must be pretty broad to accommodate nursing (of course not something you can demonstrate in a video for us!). I have the Tudor Tailor book and made a kirtle, but I need to remake the bodice; your videos were some inspiration the first go round, and hopefully when I can remake it I'll get the fit better. But also I can see now that my expectations for the closure were mixed up (it doesn't need to be 100% together, but can have space), so thanks for that. :-)
I love these
This one is unexpected but so cute! I looked up the painting you referenced and this is very accurate! I keep coming back to rewatch this one. Maybe its just because i love that orange color so much. My favorite vids of yours are your medieval/Tudor dress vids, but I also love the 18th c vids. Thanks
lol, "Or so you heard" indeed! Wonderful video, as always. Thank you!
That kirtle looks very pretty! I love the orange color.
Thank you for another beautifully done and informative video!
I got so inspired and made myself a dress :))) Thank you so much, your vidros are amazing!!!
Lol..I am quite happy to see your Cat but I do enjoy all of your content 😻 I think the deep orange fabric is so beautiful!
Cute, cute, cute... no other words come to mind when I see Isabel.
Once again, another stunning vid. I loved it
I could watch these videos all day!
Merlin is so cute!!! A perfect kitty!!! I love your videos even tho I am not a seamstress ...
These videos are so much fun to watch and informative just glad I didn't live in that period.
I love your videos. I have always wondered how people back long ago dressed. Thank you so for you knowledge and great presentations, and the bits of humor.
That was a real treat thankyou.
@priorattire -- Do you know why no one seems to have embroidered their partlets? I understand most women would have been busy sewing and knitting for their families, but to not even stitch on a simple flower or leaf . . . Lack of colored thread or yarn? extreme expense thereof? Even a bit of blackwork on black with scrap threads to produce a sort of brocade effect. Sumptuary laws?
All of your videos are so informative and completely charming. I am currently in school for historical costuming and what could be so fascinating is dry and boring. You make it fun and interesting.
It might sound weird, but seeing that there are hardly any portraits/pictures of pregnant women from previous eras and since you mentioned in various videos that clothing could be adjusted to the growing bump as needed, it would be interesting to see how the shape of the garment would have changed and how it would have looked in real life.
Very interesting.....and a precious kitty too.
待ってました。大好きな動画です。いつも楽しみにしています。
"I've been looked forward to this. I love these videos and I always enjoy them" ~
Question: For a very hot summer day, would a smock, kirtle, apron and coif be considered respectable coverage, without the sleeves, partlet and flat cap?
This is so inspiring!! I really like the colors
I want that black gown! I would wear it everywhere in cooler weather.
...and thank you for making this entertaining mini-drama. No blood this time!
A masterpiece come to life!!!!! Absolutely lovely!!!
Really interesting video. I’d much rather wear any of that on a daily basis than the Elizabethan or Catherine of Aragon gown. Looks much more comfortable and practical. I noticed the underarms are kept free w/ detachable sleeves and parltlet. For hygiene purposes?
Would love to see an example of Tudor gown with a lace-up front!
ooh,that would be awesome!
The way the first look was comprised of all sorts of bits and pieces made me think of a modern kid playing dress up with whatever random articles of clothing they could find.
It's rather amusing to see modern style "gurus" talk about accessorising and mix and matching as if it is a new thing. By having all their clothes in seperate parts - sleeves, bodices, skirts, jackets etc - the historical lady could get away with only having a few items and yet multiple outfits for most occasions, just by mix and matching the parts.
That smart black gown is also what she would most likely have been married in! Most ordinary brides just wore their best dress and your best dress was usually in brown or black!
Thanks for an other fantastic vid!!
Спасибо огромное!!!!! С удовольствием вас смотрю!!!!! Очень интересно и познавательно!!!!!😀
I always look forward to your videos. They are just so enjoyable! Why did they prefer straight pins being shown? I guess I'm wondering if there were safety pins that could be hidden but used in place of straight pins being shown on the front. Or anywhere as well. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Safety pins were invented in 1849...
wonderful, wonderful video. Thank you for creating this content and putting it out there where it can be accessed for free.
I love your videos so much! I get lost in time...
This is great! Thank you so much.
I always choose a persona of the "middling sort" to represent, because I can't stand wearing floor-length gowns. My garb always ends either at the lower edge of the calf or just above the ankle, regardless of the era.
Hat is a little crazy!🤣 As if someone flipped a big pancake on one's head. Tfs.
Yay a cameo from Merlin, who isnt intrested in your offering. Figures typical cat, lol.
The girl in these videos has a natural, flawless beauty hard to find today, that is why she can really pull this off. Thank you really enjoyed these.
She is very cute and classy but sure knows her stuff it tires me out watching her get into these outfits
But off course your kitty would be named _Merlin_ 😺😄♥
This was very interesting! I have always been more fascinated by how life was through out history (really, from antiquity on...) for those who comprised what we now call the 'middle-class'. It seems that there just isn't much information out there about the lives, homes, fashions, and general way of life in the "middle" like there is for both, the highest, and lowest ends of the social class structure.
I love your videos!
Question - on a windy day how would you prevent the white triangular kerchief from blowing off your shoulders? I’m surprised that isn’t pinned in place as well??
i think i would be pinned
When you were lacing up the kirtle did you use one lace to go up and if so I think it would be very helpful to see a short tutorial or a close-up of how exactly you secured the lacing when you were done. Beautiful work as always!
Delightful glimpse of Tudor fashion. Where do you get the fabric to match these projects? That’s probably a tale in itself. Also, would a middle class Tudor family own a mirror? Or would women fit themselves by feel instead of looks? A maid would probably help to check the line and fit of garments for a wealthier woman. Fascinating to ponder. Thanks again.
The Tudor Tailor shop on etsy!
LOVE this channel!
I have often wondered how comfortable the shoes were, not having left or right. Apparently they were very hard to wear in, and I've read that the better off would make a servant wear them for a while to get them ready worn in.
Some years back I had re-enactors in to talk to my classes. The man said there was no problem with the shoes, but I noticed his wife shaking her head, so I think that she did not agree.
Whenever I see lacing in these videos I think of the evil queen trying to kill Snow White with too-tight laces.
For Renaissance pleasure fair, (usually in the U.S. late Tudor/ early Elizabethan) what would a middle class widow wear, since black is terribly expensive? Would the coif and flat cap be black also? Would the smock be black or white? Would the stockings be black or brown? Also would the kirtle be black? I presume that such clothing that needed repairs would be embroidered black on black?
What garments, besides stockings were knitted? do you know if anything was crocheted?
Lovely - and I very much enjoyed the music too. I look forward to seeing that new book as well!
Deborah Rochefort I am in complete agreement
Love your cat!
Merlin vid bombs are the best!
I'm looking at this, trying to figure out how I can make this modern.
Hmmm.....
Further proof that the past was much kinder to us busty ladies than the present.
Yes, but a well fitted bra is everything.
@@clare5one Bras don't allow as customized of a fit as the kirtle shown in the video or even a corset or pair of stays. It's all in the laces!
@@MizzKittyBichon I was referring to 20th-21st C. underwear.
True! It's so difficult to find a blouse or shirt that fits both at the waist and at the bust. If it fits at the bust it's too loose at the waist, and if the waist fits just right the bust is getting flattened
Truer words have never been spoken
How would a middle class Tudor woman buy her clothes? Did she make them herself? Was one of her servants a seamstress? Were their clothes shops in those days? Were there professional seamstresses who came to your house and took orders?
AliceMarieM she would most likely buy them as bolts of cloth (kinda of like what you find today in fabric stores) from a textile merchant, she’d take her own measurements (with help from a maid if she could afford one), and made them herself. There were professional seamstresses out there but the many were also employed by the Toffs and could charge fee and set their own hours. if a middle-class woman planned to make a dress out of expensive fabrics such as silk, brocade, velvet or lace (yes velvet and lace were both very expensive back then) only then would a professional seamstress be hired to do the work as a normal middle class family could only afford one attempt.
I know there was a second-hand clothes industry in the 18th & 19th c, but it could have begun earlier (though I have no evidence) - yes, sewing was one of the main skills women were taught, & it was one of the professions women were omnipresent in (though it is interesting to note that *'professional'* embroiderers, ie. employed by the Queen, were *men* ) - employing a specific seamstress would be unlikely, unless you were at the higher end of the middle class.
There were 'mantua-makers', seamstresses, glovers, hatters, tailors & cobblers; these were the professions that related to the making of clothes, shoes & outerwear
Buying clothes 'off the rack' didn't yet exist- that came in in the 19th c.
What? They didn't go to Ye Olde Mark & Spencers?
:)
It is surprisingly beautiful.
Simple and practical. I like it.
sdraper2011 I agree! Some of the fancier styles seem like they would make me a bit claustrophobic, so many layers.
I think the 1400s and 1500s are my favorite styles. I loved this outfit.
The kirtle looks so Practical and comfortable.
I know you probably don't like talking in your videos but I'm really curious as to how to pronounce some of these words like coif. I'm from america and can only imagine how they are pronounced clothing everyday objects that have new names. Sounds fun
coif is COY-fff in a Midwestern accent.