The Armour Archive

Charlotte J

I'm not sure of the exact "cut off" from smocks to "miniature" adult clothing for kids... but.. I've been reading the book Medieval Children by Nicholas Orme (it seems a bit simplified but still a "good read") and I think the cut off is when the child is weaned. That seems to be a big turning point...

Charlotte J

Grimstone, this is away from the main question, but I'm intrigued by your example of little boys graduating from short into long pants. How recently was that done in the UK? I don't think it was the custom here in the USA, at least not in the past 60 years or so. At least I'm almost 39 and don't re...

Charlotte J

Dang, bad on me for not looking at this discussion sooner. It seems that for about the first year of life, children were mostly swaddled. After that, they wore looser gowns, or smocks. Then, they graduate to smaller versions of adult clothes. I haven't determined what the cutoff is, though I think a...

Charlotte J

So, anybody coming?

Charlotte J

Hi all! The Paston Website is finally up and running. It took a little longer than anticipated due to us not having internet access for almost a full month. m I hope people can still make it! I'd like to make this an opportunity for people try try out LH for the first time, if they'd like. It's not ...

Charlotte J

Alcyoneus wrote:Hazel Codpieces???? That's a switch.

Culpeper's Herbal.

When you've got the right wood...

Charlotte J

Turf benches, you really need turf benches.

We've been doing some reading on the subject lately as well, and Jeff really wants to do some hazel coppices.

Karen, thanks for that list... we just bought a house on a 3 acre lot.

Charlotte J

Some periods had veilings and hats that more completely swallowed hair than others What I mean to say, is that no matter what period it is, you can pretty much find some example of what you describe above. More were blonde in the Codex Manesse than should ever occur in nature, even in Germany. Hair...

Charlotte J

For women, aren't there many historical periods and impressions where the hair can be or should be completely concealed or covered? Tim Precisely. If you cannot achieve a period correct style, then cover it. I can't really think of any medieval time period where it's not acceptable to cover a woman...

Charlotte J

Soper Lane takes commissions:

http://www.et-tu.com/soper/cgi-bin/mods ... e=sale.htm

Charlotte J

I've done it, but not for pay. I don't think I would, either. It's a LOT of work, and I couldn't charge what it'd be worth it for me to do.

I'd say $100 for 10 yards is a steal. $10/yard? That's pretty cheap.

Charlotte J

Not the actual effigy, but I'm not sure if this counts as a "cute little model"

http://www.gothiceye.com/pictures.asp?c ... &offset=90

http://www.gothiceye.com/pictures.asp?c ... &offset=99

Charlotte J

Exactly, arming clothes are a whole different kettle of fish.

Charlotte J

My gut feeling is that the translators of the TS might not have included the passage about linen clothing, nor illustrated it with pictures of everyday people doing everyday tailoring tasks, unless it made sense from a European perspective and they expected that readers would actually get something...

Charlotte J

I still have doubts about whether the outer layers of clothing worn by the upper middle class and gentry were made of linen. There is a medical treatise that indicates that linens are great for cooling effects, but I haven't seen rock solid evidence that it is correct. John Jehan de Pelham, esquire...

Charlotte J

Late 14th century, and it continued to develop from there into the 15th.

Charlotte J

So, if the question is "how did they do XYZ?" it should go in Historical Research . On the other hand, if the question is "how can I make my persona/armour/soft-kit/equipment/campsite look like XYZ?", then it should go into Interpretive Re-creation . Most of the time the ansswer to q2 is the same a...

Charlotte J

Most reenactors I know are pretty good at knowing the difference between a color that can be achieved with ink and paint, vs. colors that fabric can be dyed. As far as the fabric drapes, again, fur-lined wool *does* look quite a bit like the fabric in the pictures. One of these days, when I finish l...

Charlotte J

So, in an illustration or picture, where does one make the call between something that is artistic convention, and something that accurately depicts something in period? I don't think there's a distinct line or rule to follow - unfortunately it takes analysis of each source. There's a few things to...

Charlotte J

GB: Heavyweight wool lined in fur does indeed drape very differently from fabrics that we're used to seeing in everyday life. I wish I had some pics of my fur lined pieces in drape, but they really do look a lot more like what you posted than say, a bedsheet, or even an unlined wool. Those images ar...

Charlotte J

Karen, m'dear, 40DD IS generous.

Indeed, I think it's easier to support a DD in a non laced dress than, say, a B. A's tend to creep almost no matter what you do. (needs very careful fitting on each dress).

Charlotte J

Badly made clothing is not the same as say well made clothing that has worn out or the user has gained or lost weight et so that the fit is not the same as it was. I would put the badly made part within the scope of your point rather than they didn't wear badly fitted clothes. Selling second hand c...

Charlotte J

First of all, "cotehardie" ladies gowns don't always have buttons anyway. Quite often they were laced or have ambiguous closure methods. I have achieved support in a pullover gown, but I'm rather large chested, and double jointed in the shoulders. I think with a smaller bust it would be darn near im...

Charlotte J

Bad idea. The only material large enough to yield statistically sound results were the mass excavations conducted in the early 20th century of medieval lepers' churchyards for the study of lepra. In fact, no other material was available. So there you go, some 300 years of leprosy churchyards was ma...

Charlotte J

Again, my limited source for that back is a Herbert Norris book, plus, the Wingeo patterns. The woman who makes the Wingeo patterns swears she's done tons of research on the Bliaut, but my guess is she's using the same books that I"m using. I've also heard of some peole suggesting that the skirt wa...

Charlotte J

Remember ladies.. the 15th century styled wide belt is not a bust supporting device.. Charlotte... What picts are you looking at I've only seen a bit of LH picts from the web and most ladies are wearing the kirtle, I have seen very few V-neck gowns. -annette You're right, not a lot of folks wear a ...

Charlotte J

I ahve to admit, a lot of the books I have access to are of the 'Victorian Era', which I know Robin Netherton personally dislikes. Reyne It's not just Robin... Nor did we all get the idea from her... Tasha, Interestingly enough, the person who did the dress with the long torso didn't even bother wi...

Charlotte J

As another misconception... I'd like to dispute the idea that people regularly wore ill fitting clothing, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries. I've seen more pictures of 15th century LH groups, so I've noticed it more there. And I usually deal with women's clothing, so that's what I can addres...

Charlotte J

Woah... there are some things you don't discuss... politics, religeon and the construction of Bliauts Hahaha! So true! The best version I've seen of this implemented was acually quite simple, in the waist area. It consisted of your basic rectangular tunic pattern, made fitted through the waist (yes...

Charlotte J

J. Morgan,

Forgive me, I forgot you were the topic starter!

I was just thinking that the phrase "It's just a game" isn't a misconception about something in history, but a decision on how to reenact/recreate.

Charlotte J

Also, "I can do whatever I want, 'its just a game'". Yes, it IS just a game. But games have rules. I don't understand the roots of his one. Nobody in MY gym class ever said "I'm gonna use a bat and three tennis balls for football. Chill out, its just a game." Your first example was good, but this o...

Charlotte J

I think the big issue with that is weight. Hey, as I understand it, most noblemen in metal suits were *riding* into battle, as in the horse was carrying the extra weight on four legs, instead of the nobleman hiking on his two legs for miles. Hiking was for people who can't afford a horse. Still, a ...

Charlotte J

A couple in Atlantia had some very lovely garments with pewter cast bezants, when they were reigning. I'm remembering several references in Fashion in the Age of the Black Prince to embroidered garments, mainly hoods and hats, etc. I can't remember about clothing. All of our books are packed up thou...

Charlotte J

Thanks, I'd heard that there was an image from the Luttrell psalter showing a man in garters but that illumination isn't in the British Library selections. I don't dispute that garters existed; women wore garters. What I'm saying is that I've been unable to find evidence that men wore garters in th...

Charlotte J

David's guys hosen sure looks a lot better - the other pics look like they're wearing baggy sweatpants instead of hosen... David, your stuff looks great. The snugger styles have certainly been around in fashionable circles for many years by 1388. We're not talking about a 5 year travel time, we're t...

Pastonpalooza IV - Website up!

Re: Development of the houpellande

Re: Bliaut

Re: Bliaut