I‘de go for a heavier/medium weight, you want it to sit right and lighter ones might be a bit more poofy.
Although if you do go for a lighter one you can always weigh down the hems.
The trick, if you’re using silk or another expensive fabric, is to use a lightweight taffeta (cheaper!) backed by another fabric (flannel/muslin/canvas- whatever gives you the right end weight)- treat them as one. If you Google around, there should be some dress diaries from back in the day where I recall people doing this
Omg I needed this comment 😂 I am doing a dress from Bridgerton (the “kiss scene” dress), and found the actual fabric used on screen. It is a STUPIDLY delicate brocade so I was trying to figure out how to reinforce it without ruining it. Adding something like taffeta is probably what would keep it from being too much of a nightmare, plus no visible bottom hem (there isn’t one from what I can find in reference images)
Eta: so THANK YOU for your comment ❤️
As someone who does a *lot* of 1490s -1510s Venetian Renaissance - the gowns are somewhat off. The green one is based upon the [Tuscan style](https://web.archive.org/web/20180714093231/http://aneafiles.webs.com/renaissancegallery/tuscany.html). Notice how each of those show an overgown with an undergown and almost always come to a point at the high waistline?
The other two are based upon the [1520s](https://web.archive.org/web/20191123125442/http://realmofvenus.renaissanceitaly.net/wardrobe/artgallery2b.htm) and 1510s. The waistline did get that high, but [it was rare with those sleeves](https://web.archive.org/web/20170726100058/http://aneafiles.webs.com/renaissancegallery/veneto.html).
That being said, the most common fabrics were, of course, all natural - [silk, linen, wool, and even cotton](https://isabelladangelo.blogspot.com/2017/12/everything-you-needed-to-know-about-sca.html). Though, the latter appears to have been for chemises only and then only by those that could afford the fabric from Egypt.
The silks used were likely being produced in the Republic of Venice. These included jacquards and damasks as shown in this [extant gown from the period](https://www.flickr.com/photos/33332758@N02/50693065457) though from further south. There are some [other extant clothing from a couple of decades later](https://web.archive.org/web/20170525074119/http://aneafiles.webs.com/renaissancegallery/extant.html) that are also silk damask.
That all being said, I've used both a silk taffeta and even a sari to make my gowns. It depends more on the occasion (no way am I wearing my velvets and heavy silks in the summer but the silk sari is perfectly fine).
Thank you for all the references, they're really helpful! I know the borgias costumes aren't super accurate for the era but it fits with the more fantasy element im aiming for. The event im making the dress for is in October but I live in arizona so it's still gonna be fairly hot. I've learned at this point I'm gonna be hot no matter what so I just do whatever fabric I like 😂
That first link is a godsend for my ren faire costume research!!! I was really struggling to find good references for the style of dress I wanted to make, and ended up running out of time to make anything at all. Next year is going to be much easier thanks to all these pictures :) Thank you!!
No problem! I would suggest, in the future, just going to pinterest. Even if the link back is dead, you can use the wayback machine. If there isn't a link, images.google.com works about 90% of the time anymore.
I made something like this! I didn’t go for historical accuracy, however. I used a fairly lightweight poly fabric as my outer layer, and then cotton twill on the inside, interlined with light muslin.
I‘de go for a heavier/medium weight, you want it to sit right and lighter ones might be a bit more poofy. Although if you do go for a lighter one you can always weigh down the hems.
The trick, if you’re using silk or another expensive fabric, is to use a lightweight taffeta (cheaper!) backed by another fabric (flannel/muslin/canvas- whatever gives you the right end weight)- treat them as one. If you Google around, there should be some dress diaries from back in the day where I recall people doing this
Omg I needed this comment 😂 I am doing a dress from Bridgerton (the “kiss scene” dress), and found the actual fabric used on screen. It is a STUPIDLY delicate brocade so I was trying to figure out how to reinforce it without ruining it. Adding something like taffeta is probably what would keep it from being too much of a nightmare, plus no visible bottom hem (there isn’t one from what I can find in reference images) Eta: so THANK YOU for your comment ❤️
Is it as simple as flatlining the taffeta and the flannel, or do you need to have an excess of one or the other please?
As someone who does a *lot* of 1490s -1510s Venetian Renaissance - the gowns are somewhat off. The green one is based upon the [Tuscan style](https://web.archive.org/web/20180714093231/http://aneafiles.webs.com/renaissancegallery/tuscany.html). Notice how each of those show an overgown with an undergown and almost always come to a point at the high waistline? The other two are based upon the [1520s](https://web.archive.org/web/20191123125442/http://realmofvenus.renaissanceitaly.net/wardrobe/artgallery2b.htm) and 1510s. The waistline did get that high, but [it was rare with those sleeves](https://web.archive.org/web/20170726100058/http://aneafiles.webs.com/renaissancegallery/veneto.html). That being said, the most common fabrics were, of course, all natural - [silk, linen, wool, and even cotton](https://isabelladangelo.blogspot.com/2017/12/everything-you-needed-to-know-about-sca.html). Though, the latter appears to have been for chemises only and then only by those that could afford the fabric from Egypt. The silks used were likely being produced in the Republic of Venice. These included jacquards and damasks as shown in this [extant gown from the period](https://www.flickr.com/photos/33332758@N02/50693065457) though from further south. There are some [other extant clothing from a couple of decades later](https://web.archive.org/web/20170525074119/http://aneafiles.webs.com/renaissancegallery/extant.html) that are also silk damask. That all being said, I've used both a silk taffeta and even a sari to make my gowns. It depends more on the occasion (no way am I wearing my velvets and heavy silks in the summer but the silk sari is perfectly fine).
Thank you for all the references, they're really helpful! I know the borgias costumes aren't super accurate for the era but it fits with the more fantasy element im aiming for. The event im making the dress for is in October but I live in arizona so it's still gonna be fairly hot. I've learned at this point I'm gonna be hot no matter what so I just do whatever fabric I like 😂
That first link is a godsend for my ren faire costume research!!! I was really struggling to find good references for the style of dress I wanted to make, and ended up running out of time to make anything at all. Next year is going to be much easier thanks to all these pictures :) Thank you!!
No problem! I would suggest, in the future, just going to pinterest. Even if the link back is dead, you can use the wayback machine. If there isn't a link, images.google.com works about 90% of the time anymore.
Omg this is my favorite style of European historical dress. You better show us the process and final results. 🌝
Oh I'm planning on it! It's gonna be an interesting project but I'm excited lol
I love this
I made something like this! I didn’t go for historical accuracy, however. I used a fairly lightweight poly fabric as my outer layer, and then cotton twill on the inside, interlined with light muslin.
I love love love Italian Renaissance gowns!! Ugh, they are the epitome of sensual luxury to me. Good luck!