The Armour Archive

It opens in the front only. I have been doing searches but am only getting patterns and such. I haven't really narrowed down a period... have just been lacing it criss-cross and it never occurred to me that that way of lacing wasn't done in period until Kass mentioned it in the smeg post. Figure that would be a little step for me.....

Probably with a lace! Sorry to hijack this but I wondered if you ever got my IM about your arm?
My ISP doesn't like several of the sites for IM's, and wondered how you were doin'?

Hrólfr

Can you describe the dress in greater detail? There are different methods of lacing for different styles of dress, for different periods -- The Zen of Spiral Lacing may have the style you're looking for; it covers spiral lacing and ladder lacing methods.

Well right now I just wear a bodice over a chemise top with a plain skirt.

Hrolfr, I don't have internet at home for the time being so haven't checked IM's in awhile. Arm still broke but I'm going to be on the field as a shield at Pennsic

_ALL_ of my wifes german dresses are done with one string.. starts tied off at one of the bottom eyelets, then kinda "zig zags" but its only one string.

As far as I know, we have yet to find a single painting (at least of that period) showing the 'modern" shoelace style.

Maeryk

Thanks since I'm buying a new bodice tomorrow I might as well try to at least tie it in a more correct way.

The important part is how, or rather WHO UNlaces it.

I could have sworn I saw a period ducumentaion that shows the bodice worn without a chemise and with the laces open and dangling. I will have to look for it but I am almost positive thats what I read. I know the people on this board are trying to go more period so to be safe I would suggest wearing it that way till I get back with you on the documentaion. It should not take me more than a year or two to find it.

"How should I lace my bodice?"

Tightly enough to support your ample busom, but not so tight that I couldn't un-lace it with one hand.

Post pictures of you in your unlaced bodice and we'll try to figure it out....

Morgan is a wise man.

Criss-cross lacing is period, but VERY limited. I think the examples we found were like from 1470-1480 in a particular area of Italy. Almost all others were zigzag, or ladder style.

Romans and Byzantines had it up to the 6th Century, or so, but somewhere the Romans lost it, not sure about the Byzantines.

Alcyoneus wrote:Criss-cross lacing is period, but VERY limited. I think the examples we found were like from 1470-1480 in a particular area of Italy. Almost all others were zigzag, or ladder style.

The only place I've ever found cross lacing is on buff coats in the 1630s and 40s.

Ladder lace it, Shamey. It's the first step on the road to being historically correct.

The important part is how, or rather WHO UNlaces it.

I carry a shroud cutter for just such emergenies.

Here's the original topic http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/ ... ght=lacing , I think Kass was on hiatus at the time (and missing us terribly?).

http://www.abcgallery.com/G/ghirlandao/ ... aio20.html

But, as discussed, apparently very limited in distribution.