Lady Guinevere gown

This beautiful medieval-inspired gown is a very light silk shantung. When I say light, I mean it. The entire finished gown is only 8.95 ounces. I have a jewelry scale that weights down to 1/100th of a gram, so this weight isn’t an estimate! That weight includes 9 yards of gold gimp trim around the neckline and going down the back, the armcythes, and the top of the sleeves, as well as at the bottom of the solid part of the sleeve where the two silks meet, and the bottom of the gown. Most of the weight is the trim!

The underskirt is gold brocade and has two rows of the gold gimp trim. It has a very flat self-waistband and closes with a hook and a few eyes to choose which feels most comfortable. This skirt would be lovely worn without the gown over it and with just a gold or bronze dupioni corset.  The same brocade is used to make the belt, which also closes with hooks and eyes, and has two hooks so that the purple skirt can be held up.

I made two thread eyes on the front of the purple skirt that aren’t too easy to see unless you’re looking for them.

Though I have been referring to the gown as purple, it it actually shot with magenta.  You can see how this makes the silk shift color in the photo to the left.

More photos are in this Facebook album
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Guinevere belt

“Retro”post from 2008:

 

pic7105pic2ac4A grand total of eight days before it was needed, I received a request I couldn’t pass up, to make a lovely belt similar in styling to the belt donned by Lady Godiva in Sir Edmund Leighton’s portrayal of her, and based off a photo sent by the client.  From there, it was left up to my interpretation.

The end result is a belt I didn’t want to drop in the mail (oh, that was painful!).  I think I will have to make one for myself!

pic6007pic3e0bI used a silk/rayon brocade backed with cream satin, edged with gold-painted brain, and dotted with glass pearls (can also be made with cultured pearls).  The waist part is interlined for support.

The gown this is over is Eowyn’s “white wool” gown that is set to be complete by spring, for another client.  It worked so well for showing this belt!  It can be worn for Lady Guinevere, Lady Godiva, Lady Eowyn, any Lady!  It is a very substantial, rich belt, suitable as an heirloom or for a wedding.

The hooks/eyes are under the right side.

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