Period costume is a lucrative trade for many designers and costumiers who specialise in replicating historical dress. Dressmakers who are commissioned to create costumes for theatrical and screen productions take great care to depict a time period as accurately and consistently as possible; of course, this means taking great care when selecting the correct Dress Fabrics. Costume designers face a number of challenges when replicating fashions from the past particularly, theatre costumes have to allow for the very different body shapes of the wearer so as a result a period costume is not always an an identical reconstruction of a period piece. However it is important for a designer to retain essential attributes in order to ensure authenticity and believability of the period. When we talk about period costume, generally speaking this includes any time period up to and including the first world war, of course fashion went through many important changes during this time and with improvements in the textile industry Dress Fabrics became more readily available towards the end of this period.
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Melton Dress Fabric is a popular choice for period costume,[/caption]
Of course, authentic 16th century Dress Fabrics are few and far between so the vast majority of costumiers have had to learn how to utilise the modern fabrics available to them which sometimes involves using a certain amount of artistic licence. The first point to consider when creating a period piece is what character you are creating your costume for; there is obviously going to be a vast difference in the selection of Dress Fabrics you would choose for a chamber maid compared to that of a lady of the manor. Wool is a very popular fabric for period costume, particularly for those focussed on the Elizabethan period when the vast majority of the world's economy revolved around the wool trade. The wardrobe of an Elizabethan would consist mainly of wool garments and would include a heavy coat, cloak or gown. The quality of the wool would of course depend on the nobility of the wearer, peasants would typically wear a heavy and more coarse wool whilst the more prosperous in society would choose a high quality wool which would be smooth to the touch and much more comfortable to wear against the skin. Our selection of Melton Dress Fabrics are a particularly popular choice with costumiers and are perfect for creating a range of stylish coats and jackets including duffel coats, macs and pea coats. A fine corduroy such as our 8 whale corduroy Dress Fabric is often utilised for creating more luxurious costumes for this period. Although not a genuine period fabric, this range of corduroy is often chosen for it's full body and sumptuous appearance and when taking into account the distance between a theatrical stage and front row of the audience, 8 whale corduroy looks very similar in appearance to a fine, good quality wool.
In 1574, Queen Elizabeth passed the Sumptuary Law which dictated who was allowed to wear what and the cost of the materials resulting in a vast difference in attire between the classes. Dress Fabrics available to the upper classes included, silk, satin and velvet. For an elegant period costume fit for a lady, our selection of velvet Dress Fabrics are ideal for creating costumes depicting a member of the nobility or the upper classes. During the Elizabethan period, velvets would be imported from Italy and were strictly for the consumption of the most wealthy in society. The less well off members of society would usually opt for practical clothing items made from light cool fabrics such as linen. The import and manufacture of cotton was prohibited until 1793 in an attempt to protect the Elizabethan wool industry which was England's chief export and source of industry at this time. Our selection of linen Dress Fabrics are ideal for recreating peasant smocks, chemises and petticoats.
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The famous "curtain dress" worn by Vivien Leigh was crafted from a beautiful emerald green velvet Dress Fabric.[/caption]
Of course, most period costume designers relish the prospect of being tasked with creating a luxurious period style evening gown reminiscent of the exquisite 19th century pieces worn by Vivien Leigh when she starred in the 1939 blockbuster Gone With The Wind. Walter Plunkett was the costumier behind the exquisite wardrobe of Ms. Leigh and the rest of the cast and was responsible for the array of impeccable designs as we witness Scarlett go from riches to rags and back again. The striking selection of Dress Fabrics selected to create the iconic designs are one of the most important aspects of the entire production and included corseted dresses and lace petticoats and it was these legendary designs which cemented Walter's reputation as the greatest period costume designer in Hollywood. It has often been claimed that no movie costume has ever captured the imagination of the viewing public quite like Scarlett's green "curtain dress". The elaborate creation was crafted from a velvet Dress Fabric and was designed to appear as though it had been crafted by the character's own hand. Velvet Dress Fabric is one of our most popular fabrics with costume designers and is useful for replicating the clothing of many eras including the Civil War era and for the depiction of characters such as Marie Antoinette.
Melton Dress Fabric is a popular choice for period costume,[/caption]
Of course, authentic 16th century Dress Fabrics are few and far between so the vast majority of costumiers have had to learn how to utilise the modern fabrics available to them which sometimes involves using a certain amount of artistic licence. The first point to consider when creating a period piece is what character you are creating your costume for; there is obviously going to be a vast difference in the selection of Dress Fabrics you would choose for a chamber maid compared to that of a lady of the manor. Wool is a very popular fabric for period costume, particularly for those focussed on the Elizabethan period when the vast majority of the world's economy revolved around the wool trade. The wardrobe of an Elizabethan would consist mainly of wool garments and would include a heavy coat, cloak or gown. The quality of the wool would of course depend on the nobility of the wearer, peasants would typically wear a heavy and more coarse wool whilst the more prosperous in society would choose a high quality wool which would be smooth to the touch and much more comfortable to wear against the skin. Our selection of Melton Dress Fabrics are a particularly popular choice with costumiers and are perfect for creating a range of stylish coats and jackets including duffel coats, macs and pea coats. A fine corduroy such as our 8 whale corduroy Dress Fabric is often utilised for creating more luxurious costumes for this period. Although not a genuine period fabric, this range of corduroy is often chosen for it's full body and sumptuous appearance and when taking into account the distance between a theatrical stage and front row of the audience, 8 whale corduroy looks very similar in appearance to a fine, good quality wool.
In 1574, Queen Elizabeth passed the Sumptuary Law which dictated who was allowed to wear what and the cost of the materials resulting in a vast difference in attire between the classes. Dress Fabrics available to the upper classes included, silk, satin and velvet. For an elegant period costume fit for a lady, our selection of velvet Dress Fabrics are ideal for creating costumes depicting a member of the nobility or the upper classes. During the Elizabethan period, velvets would be imported from Italy and were strictly for the consumption of the most wealthy in society. The less well off members of society would usually opt for practical clothing items made from light cool fabrics such as linen. The import and manufacture of cotton was prohibited until 1793 in an attempt to protect the Elizabethan wool industry which was England's chief export and source of industry at this time. Our selection of linen Dress Fabrics are ideal for recreating peasant smocks, chemises and petticoats.
[caption id="attachment_8916" align="alignleft" width="198"] The famous "curtain dress" worn by Vivien Leigh was crafted from a beautiful emerald green velvet Dress Fabric.[/caption]
Of course, most period costume designers relish the prospect of being tasked with creating a luxurious period style evening gown reminiscent of the exquisite 19th century pieces worn by Vivien Leigh when she starred in the 1939 blockbuster Gone With The Wind. Walter Plunkett was the costumier behind the exquisite wardrobe of Ms. Leigh and the rest of the cast and was responsible for the array of impeccable designs as we witness Scarlett go from riches to rags and back again. The striking selection of Dress Fabrics selected to create the iconic designs are one of the most important aspects of the entire production and included corseted dresses and lace petticoats and it was these legendary designs which cemented Walter's reputation as the greatest period costume designer in Hollywood. It has often been claimed that no movie costume has ever captured the imagination of the viewing public quite like Scarlett's green "curtain dress". The elaborate creation was crafted from a velvet Dress Fabric and was designed to appear as though it had been crafted by the character's own hand. Velvet Dress Fabric is one of our most popular fabrics with costume designers and is useful for replicating the clothing of many eras including the Civil War era and for the depiction of characters such as Marie Antoinette.