Projects

The most recently completed project is a cotehardie, V-necked (Burgundian) gown, and truncated henin for Jane, my apprentice, to wear as she was fought for in the most recent Middle Kingdom crown tournament. Up to this point, she has been wearing a dress that I refer to as "the sack." Now that we know that the patterns for both the cote and gown work well, the sack is being retired by burning at Pennsic and she's got a good pattern to make new clothes for Pennsic.

The gown is c1450 and is the hybrid between the houppeland and the V-necked gown c1470. The body and sleeves are not as tightly fitted as they become later in the century. The truncated henins would be shorter than the one Jane is wearing by about 6 inches or so. Her henin is more appropriate to the 1470s, but she really wanted a taller hat for her looser gown, so we cheated a little.

The cotehardie successfully supported her bust and the gown stayed on her shoulders with no fuss. The green belt actually works with the color combination and was supposed to be subtle, but obvious.

The inspiration is: Detail from "A Donor and His Wife" by Petrus Christus c1450.

Here is Jane in her finery: