Black & Cream Renaissance Gown with Red & Old Gold Trim, approx size 12, FS02

Description

This Renaissance Gown is comprised of two parts.  The outer gown is made of a heavy black polyblend fabric with a lovely swing to it. (And  I do mean heavy; the gown weighs six pounds!)   The pattern was cut to a size 12 but would fit slightly larger or smaller frames since the front lacing will allow a variety of chest sizes.  HOWEVER, the gown is 58 inches from back of neck to bottom of hem and cannot be shortened because the sleeves hang to within one inch of the floor.  So if you are shorter than 58 inches from base of neck to floor, you might want to look at the other gowns l made off the same pattern.  At this time I have made three gowns off this pattern, this black, a blue, and a blue and rose combination.  The gown has open sleeves adorned with gold cord bows.  The front lacing has gold and burgundy cord drawn through golden metal eyelets.  The front edge of the gown and the edges of the open sleeves are trimmed in old gold and burgundy.  The seams of the gown are covered to prevent unravelling.  The undergarment is of unbleached muslin and has elastic at the wrists.  The neck opening is designed to be adjustable with a ribbon that can draw the opening very close to the neck or very loose to fall across the shoulders.
The maximum size for this gown when laced with the solid gold cord as in some of the photos is a 40"-42" bust and a 35"-37" waist depending on how snug you want to lace it.  The maroon and gold cord is not long enough to fit that size as can be seen in the third photo and I don't have any more of that cord.  The gold cord is plenty long enough but is a slightly brighter shade of gold.
Both the gown and the undergarment have a small label with the name of my company, Thumbelina Gowns, sewn into an inner seam.   A description of the gown has been added to my design book, along with several photographs.  I do so to ensure that I never repeat a gown.  This is the only gown of this color combination I will make off this pattern.  This costume took 18 hours to make from first cut of cloth to the last knotted thread.