Focus

The focus of the “Portrait Garb” projects are to recreate garb/costumes worn during the time frame and location decided upon for each of the projects (see each Project page for specifics on each). While part of this includes learning a bit about each of the people whose portraits we are recreating, we are not taking on their personae. The exercise is to learn what they wore, how they made it, how they wore it, and how it fit into their lives and the culture of their time.

 

Many times there is more than one portrait for a person. Therefore, there can be more than one member doing portrait garb for the same person. For example, there are several portraits of Katherine Parr. Several people can make garb from her portraits as long as each person chooses a different portrait to recreate.

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You are not required to participate in every project. Everyone can pick those projects that most interest them. And if you want to be involved in them all….. the more the merrier!

 

Portrait Participants

This is the main focus of each of the projects. Participants choose a portrait/picture done during time and location chosen for each project and make outfits based, as closely as possible, on these portraits. When we are asked to do an event, these are the people that will be invited to participate. People asking for demonstrations tend to want to see the walking portraits and the people attending these events are fascinated by them.

 

Portrait “Inspired” Participants

A secondary aspect of the projects are for those who wish to wear the appropriate costumes but not necessarily recreate a specific portrait. There were many people that either did not have portraits made, or their portraits did not survive. Therefore, people are welcome to join the project who are not doing “Portrait Garb” but costumes "inspired" by the parameters of the project.   People participating at this level may be asked to participate in an event as Ladies/Lords- In-Waiting as those in the Portrait garb are always in need of help getting dressed. While the outfits look wonderful, some of them are impossible to get into by oneself.

If this sounds like something you might be interested in attempting, please read: