Bess Chilver

When I asked Bess if she would be interested in being showcased again for the 100th birthday of the Featured Attyre, she replied by sending me three gorgeous photos to choose from. The only problem was that I loved them all so much that I was completely incapable of picking just one! So luckily, Bess was kind enough to indulge me and let me post all three. WooHoo! The picture below is one of her older Kentwell costumes, but it was new to me, so I was quite thrilled to see it. You can read more about this gown below the picture. She also sent new pictures of two other dresses that you may have seen at other online costuming sites. This photo shows the beautiful Bronze silk Tudor gown that was posted on the AmIPeriodorNot site, but this time you can see it with the finished forepart and undersleeves. The third image is from Bess and Edmund's wedding, which has to be one of the more beautiful wedding photographs that I have ever seen! All three of these gowns are just astounding, and Bess's work is always such an inspiration for me. Be sure to keep an eye on her website, M'Lady's Wardrobe, for more info and pictures in the future. Bess has a ton of other wonderful dresses in her wardrobe, and hopefully, she have time to add a few more to her site simetime this fall.

This is my 1588 costume which I also used for 1600. Edmund is with me in a costume made by Ninya Mikhaila (I don't make his costumes - he says he couldn't copy with the howls of rage when I wasn't getting something right!). The velvet is probably a rayon or something but feels very silk like. Maybe a silk mix. The forepart and sleeves are an ivory silk damask with a fleur-de-lys motif. The hat is velvet with a silk band caught at three points with beads. The 4th point has black an white floaty feathers with pheasant ones at the back. This is all held by a beautiful gold brooch.