Chicken Butt (The Latest Blue Dress)

In answer to the first post about my new court outfit for BAM...here it is:

navy blue cotton denim velveteen, red linen
sleeve linings, red microfiber half-sleeves
gold drapery tapestry fabric trim.  The overall
look was inspired in part by this. 

the deep-V back, which I am trying out here
for the first time, and which I adore; and the
long train, which I forgot to arrange nicely
for this picture, lol.  

sleeve layers

probably my favorite hair ever, for look and ease of wear
(although it was done in a hurry for these pics and looks
a bit slapdash).  Two braids crossed over my forehead
and tucked into my snood, topped by my circlet and then
my silk veil (which is usally worn much farther forward
than this; but I pulled it back so you could see the snood)

Tada!  I have GOT to start making sure someone photographs me at events.  I swear.  Maybe nobody likes me.  ;0)


I ended up using some "gold" and "crystal" (both plastic) buttons that I pulled off a pair of fancy half-sleeves, for this dress.  As soon as I find something for this dress I like better (and can afford.  Holy cow, buttons are expensive now that my discount place closed down!), these crystal buttons are going back onto the sleeves, because I like them better there.

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Более Россия вещи (More Russian Stuff)

With my outfit for Candlemas halfway finished, it's time to start working on Vasilii's as well.

You remember Vasillii...

We're slowly but surely cranking out more stuff for him for the upcoming war in the spring.  We're both going to need plenty of clothing for the week-long event.  He's up to here with shirts, and we're getting there on pants.

This red shuba, though, is his *only* court wear!   That's no good at all.

Radzivill Chronicle - 15th Century, via Sofya la Rus' website 

So, we're working on an opashen, which is a long (calf- or ankle-length) coat.  It buttons up the front, and the sleeves are nearly as long as the coat itself, and slit in the front so you can put your arms through the slits.  Opasheni were also worn without the arms in the sleeves at all, sort of like a cloak.

via Anglesey's online photo gallery

Here's a picture of one in the SCA, worn by then-king Vladimir of Atlantia...which I find utterly hilarious, considering how much he and Vasilii resemble each other.  I really hope they meet at war in the Spring, and that I'm there to see it.  "Hey!! You can't be the big blonde Russian,  *I'm* the big blonde Russian!"   And then the universe would implode. LOL.







Vasilii's opashen is going to be a soft, olive green "wool"  (it's actually a somewhat loose and fuzzy microfiber, which looks and feels like wool, but without the price, the itchiness (I'm allergic), the weight, or the heat).  I'm going to be using the brown faux-fur on it that I used on his shuba, as well as a gorgeous gold-and-black lightweight brocade we found that looks just smashing with the olive green "wool", in the trim and other little decorative accents.  I'd like to try to find some really pretty, high-relief braid to use for the button loops and bars down the front, and I found some really GREAT buttons to go with the outfit, with the Russian double-eagle on them!

 ♫  fabulous ♫

I also have a surprise for him, but since he reads this blog....


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