Next Projects: Lady Sidney ensemble and a Dutch Coat

The next projects on the docket are pieces for cast members of Bristol. I'm very pleased to be making an ensemble (gown, forepart, sleeves, and hat) for my friend who joined the same year as I did and, ask anyone, playing maids of honor we were virtually inseparable that first year...

...strolling the streets...

...loitering in meadows...

...and scoping out the boys.

Six years later, she now plays Barbara Gamage, Lady Robert Sidney. Sir Robert Sidney, if you recall, is played by this guy...

...my real-life brother, whose outfit was also made by yours truly. 

So I always sketch outfits to confirm the overall look and general direction of the details. 

The main parts of the overskirt and bodice will be a dark navy blue velvet accented with gunmetal-grey and golden-yellow. Some of the fabrics are still in the acquiring phase but a trip to Sol's in Chicago proved very helpful and enabled me to get started on the hat-action.

Behold! 

 Dark grey upholstery-weight cotton velvet

 Navy silk shantung brim-rim wrapped with gold cord

And my personal favorite find of the Sol's trip: gold/blue shot silk organza. Effffing awesome. Bias-cut strip tubed and puff-secured with gold cord. 

I believe my friend has a silver-or-pewter Sidney pheon (remember this?)

brooch/pin that will be showcased center-front (probable feather-action emanating)

Ok? Sounds good to everyone? Great.

Moving on!

The Dutch Coat is basically something between a short surcoat with sleeves but shaped more like and worn like a short-cape. This is the best period depiction of it I could find: 

I have no pattern for this but draped and drafted my own. I've handmade and beaded the trim, I'm now working on putting the trim down onto the cut pieces of red velvet. 

So that's that. For now.