Tudor Gown by Lady Rixende de Rouen

Lady Rixende de Rouen in the completed gown at
Laurel's Prize Tourney, October 2002.

HRM Mary-Grace and Lady Rixende de Rouen before Atlantian Coronation April 7, 2001 .

Tudor Gown
English Tudor Style
16th century

About the Piece

This dress was done in honor of Her Royal Majesty of Atlantia, Mary Grace of Gatland. HRM Mary Grace and I have known each other for about 7 years, and began playing in the SCA at roughly the same time in Meridies. We discovered that we are sorority sisters after meeting through the SCA. Small World! This dress was inspired by the Portrait of Princess Elizabeth from Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd (Arnold, p.4).

This dress is a work in progress, as several shortcuts were taken to ensure that it would be wearable for Atlantian Coronation. As it is a very heavy dress, my goal is to complete the additional work needed by Steppes Twelth Night in January.

Production Details

My inspiration fabric for this dress was the black and white brocade which was used for the forepart. It was purchased several years ago, and was waitiing for the right occasion to be used. However, I only had a yard of the fabric. I began searching for a tone-on-tone brocade of similar scale. Unfortunately I was unable to find one. The fabric I did find was a tone-on-tone brocade with a smaller scale interwoven vine and heart pattern. Unfortunately, the pattern is not visible in this photograph.

The sleeves are lined with black cotton velveteen, and the forepart is trimmed in cotton velveteen as well.

To be Completed

I want to add the beaded trim and belt as seen in the portrait of Princess Elizabeth, and some couched or embroidery work on the cotton velveteen trimmed area of the forepart.

Resources

Arnold, Janet. Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd. Leeds: W.S. Maney & Sons Ltd.; 1988