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| Another outfit of the English Civil Wars, this time consisting of a boned bodice and skirt, and assorted accessories. The bodice and skirt are made in red wool by Abimelech Hainsworth of Leeds. The bodice is fully boned in steel. It is fully lined in white linen, and the sleeves have integral white linen cuffs. The bodice fastens at the front, lacing over a stiffened stomacher panel. I made the eyelet holes used to fasten the bodice by hand, stiffened by a metal ring. They are sewn into two separate strips of linen (appearing in the picture as a slightly different shade of red), so that when the holes eventually become worn, it is only necessary to replace the linen strips. The bodice is taken from a pattern in 'The Cut of Women's Clothes' by Norah Waugh, and has squared armholes, which are typical of the period. Again, obviously, I adapted to fit a modern person. |
| The skirt is gathered onto a waistband and fastens by means of ties. The skirt is made from around five metres of fabric. As is believed to be the case with all skirts of the time, this one is unlined. (Although it is hard to be absolutely certain of this detail, as only one skirt from the mid 17th century is known to have survived - now in the collection of the Museum of Costume, Bath). Also helping to make up the outfit are a linen coif (cap), a linen kerchief (neck tucker), a linen chemise (not seen, but loosely based on an extant example at the V&A), and a "bum roll" (aka French farthingale) made in linen and padded with wool (and again unseen). This is another outfit that was entirely hand finished. |
