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 ...

Beginner's Lucet Tutorial

I got a message recently asking for a tutorial on how to make a basic lucet cord since the only tutorial on my channel so far has been an advanced braid that features working 2 strands. This is the video for you if you are a newbie to using a lucet to make your own lacing for historical garments. Lucet has been used for ties, laces, and applied trim. Typically it is thought that the style might have originated with Norse cultures in the early medieval period. I encourage you to dive into the history of lucet and the different braids you can make with it if you are looking for a quick and compact way to make cord that you can put down and pick up as your time allows. The piece I made for this video took about 2 hours in real time and I did not speed up any of the clips I used to teach the technique, I simply trimmed down the footage. Have you ever used a lucet before? Tell me about your experiences in the comments and your preferred style of lucet fork. Do you like the large U s...

Women's Hair in Mid 16th Century Florence- Class Handout

Women’s Hair in in Mid 16th Century Florence The Honorable Lady Isabelle de Calais www.tudorrevolution.blogspot.com To most of Europe in the Renaissance, Italy was seen as a source of learning, culture, and beauty.. While many women across Europe were covering their hair under hoods and coifs, the Italians had a long history of elaborate hair dressing which was embraced with zeal as the continent explored and revived classical learning. This class will outline some of the basic tools, techniques, and accessories used to create Florentine hairstyles from 1540 to 1590. Tools of the trade “Dirty Hair”- Many popular shampoos we used today are mean to achieve modern straight silky hair styles. To make your life easier when creating period looks use products without silicone and parabens. My favorite shampoos to use prior to period hair are from Lush Cosmetics. If you are using shampoos with those ingredients in them please don’t wash your hair for a day or two prior to styli...

The Tudor Revolution

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