Kate Hanson

I can never see enough of these gorgeous late 15th century Italian gowns! Kate really looks like she belongs in a Renaissance painting, and I love all of the fabulous details such as the necklace and taped hair-roll. You can read Kate's description of this outfit below the picture, and you can email her at krhansn(at)bellsouth(dot)net.

This is my second dress! The first I made is also Italian renaissance, this second one I thought I'd try my hand at very simple basic couching to individualize my dress and fancy it up a bit. I overlayed black braid, couched with gold thread, on top of the wide black band. The dress fabric is definitely mostly synthetic ($1/yard at Walmart), which seems a good idea on my practice gowns, the camisia is 100% cotton. I had the greatest time with the pendant and lacing my hair which is actually synthetic too from a beauty supply store. The pendant is very much like the one in Ghirlandaio's Portrait of a Lady, 1480; made of bits and pieces of this and that from my beadwork table. I am not yet a member of SCA, but am going to try it and my dress on Saturday at an event called 'Scriptorium'. This gown is very comfortable, just a wee bit hot in this Florida weather. Oh, and that's Debbie, my beloved dog.