As far as I know, Italian gowns were only stiffened, they didn't wear stays. The Venetians were stiff as a board, with a kind of cardboard and glue built into the bodice. Today's Venetian ladies either wear stays to mimic this, or bone the bodice, or stiffen it some how as you described above. I say ditch the stays and stiffen the bodice! I used boning and a heavy duck cloth to hide the bones. The Florentine ones, though, very said to be soft! Not stiff like the crazy Venetians.
I wouldn't put any lace on the Florentine neckline... most of the paintings out there didn't have any lace on the gown-- just on the camicia underneath. I think a cluny lace would look more like the old style lace they used, a venise would be okay if it was small and airy enough.
I could be wrong, I'm certainly no expert! I just love love love these kinds of gowns and can't wait to see yours!
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2014-09-21 12:35 am (UTC)As far as I know, Italian gowns were only stiffened, they didn't wear stays. The Venetians were stiff as a board, with a kind of cardboard and glue built into the bodice. Today's Venetian ladies either wear stays to mimic this, or bone the bodice, or stiffen it some how as you described above. I say ditch the stays and stiffen the bodice! I used boning and a heavy duck cloth to hide the bones. The Florentine ones, though, very said to be soft! Not stiff like the crazy Venetians.
I wouldn't put any lace on the Florentine neckline... most of the paintings out there didn't have any lace on the gown-- just on the camicia underneath. I think a cluny lace would look more like the old style lace they used, a venise would be okay if it was small and airy enough.
I could be wrong, I'm certainly no expert! I just love love love these kinds of gowns and can't wait to see yours!