Branwyn Maura Bass

This incredibly talented costumer, who is also known as Marguerie de Jauncourt, called 'La Affayte', in the SCA, is wearing what she likes to call her "screaming red bliaut", which you can also see in another closeup picture here. I think this is one of the most beautiful medieval dresses that I have ever seen, and every time I look at it, it makes me want to drop all of this 16th century stuff and try 12th century instead! :-) Marguerie has sent a wonderful description of the gown, which you can read below, and you can also email her at chimericalgirl(at)home.com.

The dress is made of a rather heavyweight scarlet linen, trimmed with an applied band of fabric that is (mutters) printed in an appropriately period motif to simulate a complex band of embroidery or applied work. The 'v' neck is bound in a narrower band of the same.

The belt is also a convincing piece of fakery , made with another band of printed-fake-embroidery applied to a wide, heavy trim that mimics cardweaving. The cords and tassles are added, though the real thing would have more likely been a long, broad cardwoven band and the cords/tassles integral, made from deliberately extra length in the warp threads. I'm awful at cardweaving things wider than an inch, so I went ahead and made it this way, and I still have not replaced it.

The bliaut is worn over a natural-coloured linen undergown with a keyhole neck and slightly tapered sleeves. This is a simple gored tunic, with a narrower skirt and shorter hem. The neck is decorated with a pattern-woven white linen band, hand eased to fit (really really hard...).

The gown is cut according to my theory on bliaut construction. It laces at the sides to fit, has a broadly gored skirt, and the sleeves are belled by use of a square gore set onto a rectangular piece. The 'v' neck is actually a vertical slit that opens into a v shape when worn. It is patterned specifically after one of the ladies on in the royal portal of Chartres Cathedral, including the wide decoration at the cuffs, though her hem is so damaged by time that I can't tell if her gown also has trimmings there.

The braids are false, as my hair was only to my shoulders at the time this was taken. The veil is a simple oval pinned in place.