It's more likely to be a complete *lack* of fitting, at least with the
folks wearing problem tunics that I've seen. It's as if people think
tunic, and equate that with a shapeless potato sack, or an over-sized
equivalent of a mundane tee shirt. Seems to be more prevalent, or
perhaps more noticeable, on larger people. And being one, myself, I
sometimes wonder how much of *that* is a combination of lack of sewing
experience combined with years of mundane/modern experience with
ill-fitting off-the-rack clothing. ;-( And, of course, having the wrong
fabrics (or less-than-appropriate fabrics) doesn't help any, either.
The other too-large/unfitted thing that I occasionally see is a strong
tendency to using a houpelande without any kind of supportive underlayer
(kirtle, gown, cote, whatever). Looks like a big, sloppy tent on just
about anyone of any size in that instance.
And speaking of armscyes, if I'm not careful, and do some moderate
tweaking of my body-fabric, I end up with the armscyes on my tunics and
rectangularly-constructed garments down around my *elbows.* I am
exceedingly large busted, and end up with *all* kinds of extra fabric
coming off my shoulders that was needed just below to cover the bust.
(And yeah, I know all about underarms gussets <g>. They only help so
much!) I finally learned when, working on a shift to go with a 16th
century Flemish outfit, and cross-referencing with some of my 18th c.
stuff in books, that I could carefully remove slanted wedges on the
sides of my body piece(s) from front underarm up over the shoulder to
back underarm, and the finished result not only fitted *much, much*
better, but the slanting was completely invisible unless you laid the
finished garment down and looked for it. Although I suppose it would
also show slightly if the garment fabric were striped. It's a solution,
though, that your average non-costuming joe might not think of.
--Sue
Cynthia Virtue wrote:
Adele de Maisieres wrote:
Oh, jeez, don't get me started. If I had a dollar for every fat
SCAdian woman who seems to think that _huge_ clothes are somehow more
modest/flattering/who knows what than clothes that fit, I would be a
wealthy woman. A fat, wealthy, well-dressed woman.
What are the particular fitting problems you see? Might be useful to
point them out specifically. My biggest annoyance is people putting the
armscye halfway down their upper arm.
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