Rust Brown Kirtle

Another mini update!

As the world opens up again (post lockdown) events are now a thing! 

After two years hiatus, my local Renaissance Faire has re-opened its doors and so I decided to take advantage of a rare weekend of cool weather to debut a new outfit: a rust wool kirtle, which I had completed the previous year.

The inspiration for this specific look is taken from a 1654 watercolour by Gestina ter Borch (above), but the real impetus for making the kirtle in the first place was a painting of Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer, a Dutch folk hero from the siege of Haarlem (1572).

While trying to research the odd long-sleeved-partlet type garment she is wearing, I came across the (much) later ter Borch image and absolutely fell in love with the styling...in particular the gathered up skirt and green stockings! 

So with most of the accessories already in hand, it was extremely easy (and very fun!) to restyle the kirtle for the 1650s…though I still think the overall aesthetic still reads as passably 16thc.

The skirt is pulled up over a low slung leather belt with a red ribbon tied around the hips. I ran out of ribbon to make a tie for the hat --as seen in the watercolour-- but I just ordered some additional yardage and so may take new photos in the future to more closely approximate the look.

In the meantime I think the overall effect is super cute!

I still intend to do a more in-depth post when I write-up and photograph the Kenau look (as well as add the missing third row of trim to the skirt).  

I don't want this blog to turn into a series of photo galleries, so hopefully this will just serve as a preview until I get the full post up!

(EDIT: That post can now be found HERE)

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