#17th century fashion
Lettice Cressy, Lady Tasburgh of Bodney, Norfolk and her children by an unknown artist of the English School, 1605
The three older daughters seem to be channeling Elizabeth I…
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A photoset of the most peculiar historical fashion I know of:
The Danish/Norwegian fashion for women from the 1630-70. A key feature is the “bluetooth” like headgarb, the last stage of the wired hood worn in the Renaissance (seen in the lower right depiction). By the mid 17th century it was reduced to a flat, three-flap linen cap with a black exterior, and it was reserved for married women only. Seeing a woman wearing such a hood in a large family depiction means you either see the wife or a married daughter.
Other key features is the large white collar turned up towards the head or out over the shoulders, heavily starched, plus the short black jacket emphasizing the belly. A white apron is also often worn. Another interesting feature is that the style is often accented with red, in lining, undergarbs or jewellery. It recreates the popular “tricolor” combo of antiquity: black, white and red.
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One Dress a Week Challenge
May: Gold & Silver
The Three Musketeers (1973) / Faye Dunaway as Milady de Winter
It’s been a while since I watched these movies, but I’m pretty sure this is from The Three Musketeers and not The Four Musketeers. This beautiful silver gown (looks like satin?) is worn for a nature-themed fancy-dress ball, which explains the butterfly elements.
The costume designer for this film was Yvonne Blake, and I think she did a marvelous job! There’s nothing screamingly anachronistic, and the decoration looks appropriately sumptuous for the French court, with the silver lace and gem-encrusted trim.
One design element I like is the double string of pearls attaching to the central brooch. A single strand coming in from each side would be more expected, but the double strand is more visually interesting.
One Dress a Week Challenge
May: Gold & Silver
Restoration (1995) / Polly Walker as Celia Clemence
Celia wears this ornate metallic gown for the brief scene in which she and Robert are officially betrothed. I am honestly not sure whether this dress is gold or silver! If I had to guess, I’d say pale gold–but it looks gold in some shots and silver in others, and the fact that the whole scene is bathed in golden light confuses the matter further. Either way, it creates a spectacular effect, helped along by lavish jewelry.
James Acheson won a well-deserved Oscar for the costume design in this film.
