Hem & H.A*
(Historically Adequate)

As mentioned in a  previous post , I decided to start on an outfit inspired by the Dutch folk hero Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer. I go into quite a bit of detail on the planning in that earlier entry, so for this one I'm just going to jump right into the construction process!

I was mid write-up on an  upcoming post for an outfit inspired by the Dutch folk hero, Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer, when I realized this coif needed to be it's own post.   (Please excuse the weird, super wide-angle lens of the iPhone's reverse view ) Let me back up a bit... As part of my research into my Keanu inspired outfit I hit a stumbling block as to what sort of head covering to make. 

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.

  Well, it's been a hot minute but I finally have an update for this (very neglected) blog! It's been a year (or three) of starts and stops. Despite the radio silence I've actually been working on quite a few slow-burn projects, including two that didn't quite go to plan.

Another Faire season has come to an end and I was really hoping to have my 1590s gown finished in time for the last weekend. However, about a week out it was clear that I just didn't have enough time to get the various pieces finished and assembled, so I decided to do a last minute pivot back to my trusty  blue waistcoat .

Here is the second of my Mix n' Match posts featuring the re-styling of my brown fitted gown . While I've incorporated several reoccurring elements and accessories from similar images, it's primarily an homage to the 1559 Doesburch family portrait.

It's been a bit of a quiet year on the blog. But I promise more has been going on behind the scenes. Since finishing the  brown fitted gown last summer I've been assembling various accessories (sleeves, petticoats, jewelry etc) in the hopes of eventually doing an epic 16th century "Mix 'n Match" photoshoot!

Here is what I hope to be the final construction/dress diary entry for my  brown fitted gown  now that all the loose ends have been (literally) tied up...Only this time it's been re-accessorized in the style of a Lucas de Heere print! This is the first time I've actually tried to reproduce a documented period image and while it wasn't totally successful the process was a lot of fun and definitely one I'd like to repeat.

At long last, the (at this point almost mythic!) Brown Fitted Gown is finally complete!!!   Frankly, I wasn't at all sure it would ever get finished! Especially considering that the first version was sketched out just shy of five ( FIVE! )  years ago, when I first conceived of the project and started this blog.  The design was tweaked several times along the way, with progress --or lack thereof-- chronicled in increasingly intermittent posts over the last few years ( YEARS! ).