I'm doing some tentative research for a 16th century Spanish woman's outfit. Looking through Alcega's pattern book, I'm a little confused as to the terminology and want to know whether it's a translation error or whether there are genuinely two different garments being described:
For example, the translation for f. 57a-f. 58a are described as "kirtles", but seem to show a skirt. Even the patterns for "kirtles" and bodies show what looks like a bodice and a detached skirt. I'm accustomed to a kirtle being an all-in-one gown or bodice with attached skirt. This is further confused by the fact that f. 55 - f. 57 are described as "skirts" - the pieces seem to have curved seams but otherwise look like skirts made to cover the lower half of the body only. So, I guess my question is whether for Spanish 16th century: is there a difference between "skirts" and "kirtles", or are the words interchangeable for a woman's lower body garment? Thanks in advance, Allison T. _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
