Young Lover's Gown

This beautiful, Renaissance inspired gown was created for a local film adaptation of Tennyson’s ‘The Lady of Shalott’. It was designed for a specific character mentioned in the poem and there were many key design features that needed to be considered.

‘Or when the moon was overhead,

Came two young lovers lately wed…’

The gown itself consists of a crisp silk chemise, gathered at the neck and trimmed with braid and soft lace, with flared medieval style sleeves. The over-gown is a high-waisted, fitted open robe which laces at the front with gold braid and gleaming gold aglets. The edges of the robe are trimmed by hand on both sides and around the neck with metallic braid and a glimmering fabric called silk kempala and individually stitched pearls and crystals. There is a little boning in the bodice to help with structure and support. The detached sleeves are laced to the bodice via two pairs of eyelets under the arm. The sleeves are also laced down their length with gold braid tipped with handmade pearl and copper aglets which gives a lovely flattering detail to the upper arm with a distinctive medieval flare. The gown is worn with the Lady Laurel circlet.

It would make a stunning wedding ensemble which is delightfully different to many medieval themed gowns and it helps give the illusion of height to smaller women and flatters the stomach and arms on fuller figures.