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     I was very pleased with the way this gown turned out! I really couldn't have asked for a better gown for my wedding - if people ask me what is my dream gown, I can always say that I made it! However, there are one or two things I'd change if I had the chance.

 Bodice:

~  The bodice was pretty much perfect. The neckline had the correct curve, the fabric pattern was centred perfectly front and back. It was back laced - the lacing holes were re-inforced by grommets which were over-stitched firstly with ivory cotton thread and then by gold thread for decoration.

~ I would have liked the waist to be a bit more "cinched" in - this I managed with my subsequent 1540s Bronze Gown. As it is, the photos of the wedding gown do show the torso as  a bit "squareish". However, it didn't really matter too much!

~ Following on from the second comment above, I wish I had made the depth of the "V" waist a bit deeper - again, I did this for the bronze gown.

 Skirt:

~ Initially I had some problems in getting this into the waist of the bodice. As I was having to sew the gown when Edmund was in work (we were living together in Colchester), and my Mum was not confident of helping me, I was in a bit of bother! Then Ninya came to my rescue when I was emailing her with queries and suggested my coming down to her studio and she would help me. And she did!!!! As a result - there isn't anything wrong with the skirt!!!!

~ The back is catridge pleated (as suggested by Ninya). The depth of the pleats are approx 2 inches! I am VERY proud of the back placket! You can't see it when it is worn thanks to the arrangement of hooks and hand worked bars!!!! It simply looks like the bottom fold between two pleats!!!

~ There is a 3 to 4 foot length train to the skirt. I didn't intend it to be that long - it sort of just turned out that way! However, it is rather nice I think!

 ForEpart:

~ This is made from the ivory dupion damask. Unfortunately, it is impossible to see the detail of the pattern in photos - this has given rise to the comment that I was showing off my smock!!! Hmm!

~ In hindsight, I should have bound the hem with a pale gold ribbon or something and echoed this on the "seam" and "puff" edges of the undersleeves!

 Over-Sleeves:

~ I loved these sleeves!!!! They took the full width of the fabric and were just lovely! Heavy though! As a result, the combination of the heavy encrusted jewels on the straps and the sleeves themselves did pull the straps off my shoulders!!!! That's probably my greatest grumble about this gown!

 Under-Sleeves:

~ The undersleeves are slightly stiffened with iron-on interlining and lined in habotai silk. The "Seams" and the "puffs" are decorated with amethyst and pearl clusters (were ear-rings!) and the frills were embroidered by my darling Mumsie!

 Hood:

~ This hood is gorgeous but not really authentic enough. This was the last hood I made in this style - all other ones have the "underbrim" attached. However, this one was very "coronet-ish". I had my hair loose behind (stupid damp weather! Messed up the curls in the hair!) with a cluster of silk and paper roses on a comb tucked underneath the back of the hood.

 shoes:

~  This were simply modern bridal pumps with a very low heel. If I had had the money I would have had a pair of 18th century style shoes made! Sadly that was not an option!

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