Planning

Embroidery

The planning on this gown started with the programming of the embroidery.

This is how the embroidery looked in the preview of my embroidery programming software compared to the embroidery on the original bodice. Here’s a close-up of the bodice without any markings:

I am planning on doing the embroidery with ivory and silver threads. Here are the previews:

Upper embroidery on the bodice:

French lily on the bodice (will be enlarged for the forepart embroidery):

Borders / trim embroidery – can be endlessly lengthened & used on overskirt and hanging sleeves as well as the sides of the bodice:

Jewelry

Compared to other Elizabethan portraits Maria Stuart doesn’t wear much jewelry with the gown:

• Three flowers, looking as if they were made of corals or were enameled, decorate the top of the bodice;
• The same flowers decorate her hair,
• a long necklace of five strands of alternating white/golden pearls;
• small, leaf shaped golden/diamond earrings,

• Left hand:
• a golden armband which is either enameled in different colors or set with multicolored stones
• a ring with small black stones

• Right hand:
• the same armband as on the left side,
• a thumb ring with pearls and darker stones plus
• either a fan (?) or bouquet of flowers, probably made of gemstones and gold

Other than that, Maria wears no jewelry – except, of course, that her gown is decorated with an almost insane amount of pearls.

Materials I’ll need (or already used) for this gown (constantly updated with further planning and making):
(This includes a price breakdown for the materials – I’ve made the experience that people are incredibly curious as to how much one would have to pay for the materials if they would make such a gown themselves.
Remember, however, that the below shown costs are *just* the plain material costs – so if you would have someone make you such a gown with the above listed jewelry, you’d have to pay their work as well.
Considering that I estimate this gown & jewelry to take roughly 200 hours of work, and considering that a *good* costume maker should earn at least $15 per hour (remember, she must pay taxes from that, *plus* make a living somehow!), *plus* adding some funds for research, shipping of materials and the finished gown, notions etc. – about $150 or so….
This means the price for a gown like this should have at least $3150 *added* to the below listed, plain material costs, if you would want a professional costume maker to make you this gown.)