Mary Stuart’s cream gown
This life size portrait of Mary Stuart, painted by an unknown and probably German artist and dated to the early 17th century, is hanging in Hamburg’s Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe; the photo was – together with several detail shots – taken by me. I fell in love with the gown the moment I saw the painting.
As I have *lots* of the white (and, as already proved, very well dyeable) jacquard left which I am using for the ‚Jamillia‘ gown and which I have also used for the sleeves and forepart of the Maria Di Medici gown, I thought it could not hurt to add this gown to my planning…. and perhaps start dyeing some of the jacquard… and if I’m already at this, drawing the pattern pieces to the fabric couldn’t hurt either… and afterwards, perhaps cutting those pieces out… just so that I already have the fabric pieces when I need them….
I know, I’m totally insane. But I always wanted to make something with incredible hanging sleeves – well, this is my chance. I will have to construct the hanging sleeves myself, though – from something likely but not equal that’s already included in Margo’s Lady’s Wardrobe. Well, from the „Pelican“ gown I’m already used to construct my own versions for sleeves – so this won’t be a problem, I guess 
The plan includes to bring my embroidery machine into embroidering me some cream/silver borders as well as a nice design on the front middle bodice (as it’s not pinned to the bodice, I refuse to call this a ’stomacher‘) and the forepart, which I have already programmed. And the gown will need pearls – lots of them
The one thing I’m most looking forward to, however, is to actually wear the finished gown for a visit at the already mentioned museum, to have a picture taken right next to the portrait.
That, by the way, is my biggest dream – to have one picture of myself with each of the costumes I made for myself, taken right next to the original painting or – in case of a movie costume – next to the original costume. So far I have just one of those pictures, which I treasure much.
For this gown let me first take you to the planning stage for this gown.