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This workshop
focuses on the decade in the 17th century in when great changes
took place, not only politically, but also in fashion. The decade,
which started in England with the restoration of monarchy, and a
style of dress which was strongly influenced by Dutch fashion of
the propserous middle class with its reminiscence of the first half
of the 17th century, and then changed in the course of the decade
to the 'persian mode' when in 1667 Charles II dressed in long coat
and vest with breeches. This ensemble which developed until the
end of the 17th century into the classical silhouette of the wide
skirted justaucorps and tight waisted mantua everyone thinks of
when imagining Baroque costume. It was a long way though with very
distinctive fashion changes before this was accomplished.
We will look
at male and female clothing from 1660 through to 1670 and occasionally to the earlier and later decades to point out fashion changes
and the importance of influence from military, economy, and politics
to the fashion of the time. The class won't be restricted to the
costumes, but all accessories will be taken into consideration as
well, a costume is never complete without the right hairstyle or
wig, gloves, sashes, shoes, fan, jewelery, everything which makes
the appearance of a person, whether high or lower classes, aristocracy,
gentry or merchant, or even soldier and serving maid, but the class
will focus on the fashion of the aristocracy.
The class
concentrates on English fashion of the Restoration period,
but won't be restricted to this island. Influence from other
countries will be looked at and Dutch fashion and paintings
be studied, as well as the emergence of the absolutism of
fashion at the French court after Louis XIV's coming of age
in 1661.
At the
end of the course the participants will be able to put together
a courtier's costume with all its accessories and even make-up
where applicable, with the right choices of material, colour,
cut and execution for a given year in the 1660s, taking into
consideration the fashion changes of this decade, and portray
a member of the restoration court of King Charles II, the
'Merry Monarch' and his famous beauties. |
Part 1