Why "The Tudor Revolution?"

Once Upon a Time...

There was an eager young girl in a small town that loved to learn about history. From the check wagon reenactors on school field trips, to women's suffrage, all the way back to ancient Rome. As this girl became a teenager, she began experimenting with her own dress because she was tired of trying to fit in and decided to have fun instead. She learned to sew, crochet, knit, and many other crafts, but there was always a curiosity and desire to know more about what had gone before. We have to know what has gone before in order to know where we are going.

In college, the girl joined a living history group that allowed for the study of several different time periods. The girl embraced her love of the renaissance and learning about the Tudors and Elizabethans. Several people wanted to tell this girl not to look up this time period because it is too hard, it is too expensive, or any number of other excuses. The girl considered their thoughts briefly, and then did what she wanted anyway.

2014 Phoenix Comic Con as a Panelist on Anne Boleyn
History and Pop Culture

This is my origin story coming into living history and historical costuming. Several well meaning people wanted me to make Norse clothing because that is what they liked to wear at events and I decided to go my own way. No one in the area was doing 16th century costuming at the time because it wasn't cool. I started a quiet revolution with my like minded friends to make the clothes we wanted to make and show others they can wear what ever they want too. We don't all have to have the same cookie cutter outfit, and events are far more interesting when there is variety. I have kept this revolution going in small but consistent ways everywhere I live. Study what makes you happy. Create what makes your heart sing. Don't be afraid to be the fanciest person at the ball if your clothes make you happy. You might turn into someone else's inspiration to level up their own game.

These days when I'm at costuming or living history events I am exceptionally happy, an that is because I wont my personal revolution to study and make the clothing that I love. Allow me to encourage you to follow your own passions and create the clothing you want to wear and see in the world.

1790's Round Gown from Summer 2020

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Pockets in the 16th Century?

So if you are new to my blog, Hello! I took July off to focus on work and realities of covid life. Thanks for hanging in there. This week we are doing to cover 16th Soccocia and their role toward the origin of pockets. People need a place to carry and keep their small items as they walk around. In the middle ages you might have a pilgrim satchel or a belt pouch. Some women in the middle ages had the brilliant idea to stop wearing their money purses outside of their over gowns and instead would wear them between their kirtle/sottona layer and over gowns. This arrangement still gave you access to the purse, but made it harder for thieves to cut your purse strings and run. Fast forward to the 16th century and we find the heirs to this practice in socaccia. We have some visual evidence of these in mid to late 16th century art out of Italy. This is a detail of Alessandro Allori's, Woman at her toilet, ca 1575-78. Currently in Florence, Church of Santa Maria Novella, Gaddi ...

Costumes in Wolf Hall

Many of us who love historical costume were completely smitten with the production shots we saw before Wolf Hall aired earlier this year. Now the series is available for sale through PBS, BBC, and even national retailers like Target. With the popularity of this series I want to take a moment and give those new to Tudor fashions a few notes before you take everything in the series as gospel. This is one of the most accurately costumed historical dramas that I have seen in years. The color palate, cuts, underwear, and fabrics are impeccable. But don't forget to do your own research into the clothing as you make your own ensembles. Odd Piece #1: French Hoods I appreciate the costume designer here for acknowledging French hoods need veils. I doubt though that you will find a single portrait from the 1520's or 30's in England or France that uses fine silk chiffon. Typically you will see a solid black veil on the French and English hoods. Medals done in profile from the time...

Making my Viking Apron Dress

This Week's vlog is the follow up to my Viking Age Tunic dress which I posted last week. When discussing the clothing of Birka and other Norse cultures, a woolen dress is an iconic look which is functional while tending a fire or many other activities. My apron dress is inspired by the finds out of Birka. The wool I used was a light weight suiting with a 2:2 twill weave. The long seams of this dress were finished with a machine for speed, and all of the seam finishings were hand sewn. I used a woolen finishing technique I learned about while flipping through Woven into the Earth by Else Ostergard. The technique involves using wool yarn and a couching stich of sorts to encase the raw edges of the wool. The end result is a low profile and durable seam around the neck and hem of my apron dress. I love that all of the hand sewn elements of this dress start to create a decorative finish on the outside of the dress and the only extra embellishment I added was a herringbone stitch over...

The Tudor Revolution

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