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| The Wardrobe | Sewing Room | Contact |
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| This gown was the very first I ever made. It was made over a 3 month period from mid March to Mid June 1993 to be worn at Kentwell Hall! |
| Reason for making the Gown |
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My character, Mistress Elizabeth Whytemere, was a young gentlewoman who was “attending” the mistress of Kentwell Hall, Lady Mary (Waldegrave) Clopton. Though Mistress Whytemere “serves” Lady Clopton, she is not a “servant”. |
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Mistress Whytemere would be learning how to run a manor or estate like Kentwell. This would include social skills, such as dancing and music, the skills of a housewife and also an academic education. As such, Mistress Whytemere would be accorded the same respect as any member of the Clopton Family. It was a bit like a “finishing school”. |
| Research and Design |
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The gown was based on a number of similar styles from the sixteenth century. The basic silhouette is a long torso with a pointed “V” waist and a wide hip area. (see image below). A large ruff is worn and is balanced visually by the large padded sleeves. |
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Mistress Jane Palmer of Dorney Court. 1597. |
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Many thanks to Dorney Court (Guidebook) |
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Design for 1593 Gentlewoman’s Gown. Copyright Bess Chilver ©1993 |
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As I was very new to this I did require some help. Julia Barrett (who was portraying the role of “Lady Mary Clopton”) kindly wrote to me with diagrams and advice on how to make my gown. I still made mistakes, but it came out very well in the end for someone who had been told by her school that she was useless as sewing!!!!! |
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Many thanks for the Images to:- |
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