1680s French Gentleman

Once upon a time, in 1998, I went to the first event that L'Age d'Or and Kirke's Lambs ever did. It was in Basingstoke and commemorated the Monmouth Rebellion of the 1680s.

Back then I much preferred to cross-dress in historical costumes, thus I made the clothing for a gentleman.

However, as usual. I had not managed to finish everything, in fact, all I had was the hand-stitched linen shirt, the brocaded waistcoat, the cravat with lace imported from the US and unlike anything I would use later on when I knew even more about the period, the shoes, the stockings (again, I found much better ones later), the walking stick, the wig and the plumed hat. I did manage the gloves with bullion fringe, though, and had an embroidered kerchief as well as a white silk sash with gold bullion.

The coat was in fact one I made back in 1995 for my MPhil graduation party, back in Germany, and which wasn't by any means meant to be authentic. The breeches were tight black velvet 1970s breeches and did fine in a pinch, because they weren't visible anyway.

Between 1998 and 2004 I gained 3 dress sizes and lost 3 dress sizes, thus when I went to the UK Costume Convention in November 2004, I wore the old, but much-loved, outfit once again, during the Saturday evening Masquerade. It felt like slipping back into an old skin, which I don;'t mind anymore, but I much prefer the new skin. Getting older is a wonderful thing.

The 2004 light version of the 1680s French gentleman (sans waistcoat and with silk breeches)