I've been staring at the few pictures that exist for 25 years, and have discussed it with several people who have seen it in person. (I, unfortunately, am probably the person who knows the most about 16th C. Irish clothes who hasn't actually been TO Ireland. Just imagine what I will know after I've been there. Someday...)
Draw a line from 15th C. V-necked gowns, to the German "Cranach" dress. Luke Gernon noted, in the 1620s, that they (Irish women) "*They have straight bodyes, and long wasts, but theyre bodyes come no closer but to the middle of the ribbe, the rest is supplyed with lacing, from the topp of their breasts, to the bottome of theyre **plackett, the ordinary sort have only theyr smockes between, but the better sort have a silke scarfe about theyre neck, which they spead and pinne over theyre breasts. " * The photos available show the dress on a manequin of the wrong size and shape. The front opening in the skirt should be closed at the bottom of the bodice, leaving a U-shaped opening in the bodice. No one has mentioned the shape of the front piece, but as there is not evidence remaining of the fastening of the bodice, the original closure was not under tension and so was probably, like most other garments of the time, worn over another garment laced closed for support. I believe the shape of the edge is due to its storage on an ill-fitting dummy. Do check Kass' site for her observations. She did actually get to measure the garment. Regina Lawson Voorhes Historical Clothing Coordinator Clan MacColin of Glenderry _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
