What would an English Lord be wearing in 1461 AD?

[Aaron]

...while riding a horse?

I've seen the "thigh high boots" in one reference and a nice tunic, but I can't get the headgear down right.

I'm trying to make a "sword and buckler" kit for the SCA using the "thigh high boots" from revivial to cover up the knees and the "garb" and "headgear" to cover up the armour and helmet.

Could you help out, please?

With thanks,

-Aaron

[chef de chambre]

...while riding a horse?

I've seen the "thigh high boots" in one reference and a nice tunic, but I can't get the headgear down right.

I'm trying to make a "sword and buckler" kit for the SCA using the "thigh high boots" from revivial to cover up the knees and the "garb" and "headgear" to cover up the armour and helmet.

Could you help out, please?

With thanks,

-Aaron

At this point, a Chaperone would still be the most likely headgear for a Lord, but it is from this point, through the 1470's that Burgundian court fashion catches on in England - the greatest point of change seemingly in the early 1470's, probably coinciding with the exile of Edward IV and largly being motivated by the Yorkist court.

The previous Lancastrian court would seem to have been more dominated by the French, and things French, given the court-patries involvement in France through the end of Anglo-Normandy, and the choice of marriages for the Royal family.

[Aaron]

Like this?

http://www.revivalclothing.com/index.as ... ProdID=248

or this?

http://www.revivalclothing.com/index.as ... &ProdID=27

I'm working on the "Light-Flight-Fight" suit, and I think the boots (shown) and chaperone/hood (shown) combined with a doublet would cover up a lot of the armour so I could do "sword and buckler" work.

It's not LH level presentation...but a "cover up" for SCA combat that I can also wear as "garb" when not fighting (when that happens).

With deep thanks,

-Aaron

PS: I'm glad you are here Chef. Your knowledge is very helpful.

[Aaron]

The boots would be green, for an amusing nod to one of Sir Vitus' greatest works.

[chef de chambre]

The chaperone as a developed hat, not as a hood.

[Aaron]

Hi Chef,

The hood is totally off the mark?

[chef de chambre]

Hi Chef,

The hood is totally off the mark?

That is the hood your great, great grandfather would be wearing.

[Aaron]

Ouch.

-Aaron

[Charlotte J]

A chaperon is not tough. It’s a padded roll, with a tube attached all the way around the inside of the roll. The ones I make usually end up somewhat pleated in. Then a long skinny tube stuck into the seam at one side. You can drape it up 16 ways from Sunday for bunches of different effects, all which look like some portrait or another.

You could always pad around a helmet, have the big tube covering the top of it, and hide the helmet completely. I know of at least one person who has hidden their SCA equestrian helmet in this way.

Ok, so this isn't the best chaperon I've made, and Jeff looks *really* shiny in this picture (yes, it's silk, ok?), but you get the idea.

[Charlotte J]

In this pic, he has a not quite so shiny chaperon hanging down his back. You can see the construction a little better in this.

[Aaron]

Whoa!!

I could hide almost ALL my armour under that!

Is there a pattern available for the chaperon? I bet it would keep the sun off the helmet...

And I've got the perfect fabric at home, just sitting in a box all alone!

With respect,

-Aaron

[Charlotte J]

Pattern? I don’t know, somebody might have a pattern.

It’s three tubes.

Make a tube, maybe about 5 inches wide, and longer than the circumference of your head by several inches. Start stuffing it. As it gets stuffed, keep trying it on, and figure out how long that tube needs to be. Stitch the tube end to end.

Make a long narrow tube for the tail.

Make another tube, somewhat wider than the padded roll, because you want that fullness. Stitch it in to the inside of the padded roll. Make it fit, use pleats or gathers, whatever. You won’t really see that. While you’re stitching that in, stick the long narrow tail in on one side.

Flouff.

I’m having a hard time describing it – if that didn’t work, lemme know and I can try drawing pictures.

I made the wool one in the car on the way to an event. The silk one took longer but I was interlining it in heavy linen, and lining the frouffy part with more silk. PITA.

[Aaron]

Flouff?

I'll do exactly what you say!

Thank you!

-Aaron

[Charlotte J]

Flouff is a technical term, you see...

[Charlotte J]

BTW - I'd suggest picking up a copy of The Medieval Tailor's Assistant. I know it covers a lot of the basics, and for $40 or so you have something that can help you with multiple types of garments. It's not the end all, by any means, but it's a decent start.

[brewer]

Aaron,

The gown can be made from RH005. You've already got RH003, which is the doublet & hose which go underneath. The gown goes overall.

The chaperon can be tricky to describe, easy has hell to do. Heck, you and Char don't live too far apart; I'm surprised you don't meet up an an Atlantian event somewhere. She could show you in, like, ten minutes.

Bob

[Charlotte J]

Good point, brewer!

Hey Aaron - check your PMs. Can you come down on Sunday? We're having open sewing day/workshop.

[Aaron]

Sunday is clear to come down now! I'll have the car packed with MY sewing machine (yes Maureen bought me one), fabric galore, trim in the tons, videocamera, an open mind, and the family and dog as well. Cosmo is a good beagle and Maureen and I will take turns walking him. He loves to be petted and has big brown eyes that would make the most battle hardened duke weep.

-Aaron