This is a full 16th century Elizabethan outfit I made for my friend S. It was a labor of love, wool and fingerloop braiding. The kirtle laces up the front so S. can get into it by herself. I have yet to find any examples of front lacing kirtles worn with fitted gowns.

The first layer is a linen/cotton blend shirt (the collar has since been cut down to a narrower width) with a raspberry wool underskirt that has a hidden pocket.

Next is a forest green wool kirtle with tied on sleeves, hidden pockets and a sage green linen apron

Over that is a worsted wool olive fitted gown lined with a linen/rayon blend. The wool purse was made from scraps of my red kirtle and is hand sewn, with little hand-made tassels.

Not pictured is a hand sewn linen coif with insertion work.

Works that inspired it