Thank you Robin! You are correct about the fit, they belonged to a bustier lady than I. I will put them on and lay down to see where to alter them. Or is there a better way to alter them?
I wondered about lining them but the seams are all serged. Franchesca : -----Original Message----- : From: [email protected] [mailto:h-costume- : [email protected]] On Behalf Of Robin Netherton : Sent: Monday, April 18, 2011 12:55 PM : To: Historical Costume : Subject: Re: [h-cost] Different kind of modesty question : : On 4/18/2011 12:52 PM, Franchesca wrote: : > I love wearing cotehardies. However, I sweat under my bosoms when I do : wear : > them. : > : > Has anyone found a solution, costuming wise, for hiding this or stopping it : > from showing through a fitted garment like a cotehardie? : : First thing is to remember that this style was not created in a world where : temperatures routinely went into (or past) the 70s even at the hottest time : of : year. Plus, best evidence suggests that women then were, on average, far : less : "busty" then than they are now. (I do watch for and collect images of very : busty women in these dresses, but they are rare.) So the problem is likely, in : large part, a modern one. But it's very common for modern re-enactors! : These : steps may help, costuming-wise: : : 1. When fitting, raise the breasts up. If you lie down while fitting, you will : find that the breast mass spreads out and settle closer against your body. If : you fit around that shape, tightly enough that the breast mass stays in that : position when you stand up, there is less of a "crease" beneath the breasts : to : get sweaty. Bonus: you also have a much closer-to-period silhouette, with an : elevated bustline, and breasts will not "bounce" or fall out of your neckline. : : 2. Wear a linen chemise, just loose enough to provide some bulk under the : bust. You will find it is both absorbent and cool. Bonus: It's authentic. : : 3. Line your dress, ideally with linen or a firmly woven wool. This, too, will : help absorb any sweat that makes it through the chemise. And yes, it's more : authentic. : : Surprisingly, adding the layers of linen does not make the dress significantly : hotter in wear; I've found that if anything, it makes it cooler. : : --Robin : _______________________________________________ : h-costume mailing list : [email protected] : http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
