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The Challenge
To celebrate the Realm of Venus' tenth anniversary
on the wonderful world wide web I am issuing a challenge to dedicated
historical costumers everywhere: to create a complete man's, woman's or
child's late Italian Renaissance outfit of any social class and based on the period 1480 - 1610
from the skin out, including an accessory, in four months. That's only
one layer or accessory per month - you can do it! (Changes or
additions made to the rules prior to the start of the challenge are
shown in dark, bold red.
The Details
You'll have from April 21 to August 21 to plan,
buy for, cut, stitch, assemble, complete, and photograph for submission an outfit from the skin out.
This will be made up as follows:
Layer 1: A camicia/shift/smock/shirt or
drawers or corset/pair of bodies. I don't expect you to make all
three.
Layer 2: Either
an underskirt or under-dress/petticoat, or doublet and
slops.
Layer 3: The
final layer will be either an over-dress, or a loose gown, or
a cloak/cape.
Layer 4: An accessory -
any one of the following: fan, pocket/pouch, hat/jewelled accessory for
the hair, zibellino (also known as a "flea fur"), hanky,
gloves, girdle, or shoes. A partlet, a set of Venetian shoulder/neck ruffs (if they are separate from
the partlet), standing ruff/collar, and a muff are all also accessories.
All who take up the challenge will have their
photos, a short bio, and a description of their proposed outfit listed
here.
To enter, please send me an e-mail (address
below) with these details listed: (Entry is now
CLOSED)
- your name
- your location (state and country only)
- a short (two to three sentence-length)
bio, including whether you are a novice (as defined below)
- a short description of your proposed
four-layer outfit
- please ensure your head/shoulders photo
is attached
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All entrants will be required to send me individual progress photos (one
per week maximum), along with photos of their outfits when
completed, which will be uploaded to this page so we can all follow
along. The final photo/s of the completed outfit need to be
sent to me no later than the 21st August 2011.The winners will be announced on August 23 2011, the
anniversary of the Realm of Venus.
The Rules
Rules? well, ok, I guess a challenge like this
needs rules. So...
- All items must be started ON or AFTER April 21 2011
ACST (See countdown timer
above). The only items begun before this date accepted as part of
your outfit will be one of the underwear items listed above. ONE item of
underwear must be made from scratch within the competition period, along with the all the upper layers
and one accessory.
- If you don't manage to finish all four required
levels don't worry, you will still be in the running. However, those
who attempt and or complete all four levels will end with more points
than those who only attempt/complete one or two.
- This is a challenge for individuals,
not groups, therefore only items sewn by the by the entrant with no
help from anyone else will be accepted. However, help with pattern
drafting, draping, and/or fitting is allowed. Use
of commercial patterns is also allowed.
- Anyone may enter
multiple outfits if they wish, however points will be allocated on a
per-garment/item basis, not cumulatively.
- Progress photos must be sent: one every 4 weeks mimimum, one every week maximum. This will help to
keep you all motivated and enjoying the challenge! Photos of the
completed outfit to be submitted to be a minimum of three (front,
back and side), or more if you wish.
- Points will be allocated as follows:
| 10 points for each layer
completed. |
| 10 points if EVERY layer is
completed. |
| 10 points for any extra
layer/accessory (over and above the four required) completed. |
| 5 points for any layer
started/attempted but not completed. |
| The
above points will be awarded to everyone who enters, according
to the criteria. |
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| Additionally,
the points below will be won by the person who best meets the
criteria: |
| 10 points to the
best attempt at historically accurate DESIGN |
10 points to the
best attempt at historically accurate CONSTRUCTION
(This does NOT include textiles used - period-accurate and
non-period textiles will be on an equal footing to allow for
differing budgets). |
| 10 points for each
inclusion of HANDWORK other than sewing straight seams,
ie: hand-made lace, buttons, embroidery, weaving, shoes, use of
fur (real or faux) to create/line a garment or accessory. |
10 points to the
best attempt by a sewing NOVICE
(A novice for this purpose is someone with less than three years
of sewing experience). |
10 points to the
best attempt by a NOVICE in Italian Renaissance
clothing/costume
(A novice for this
purpose is someone who has attempted less than three Italian
Renaissance - 15th-16th centuries - outfits prior to this
challenge). |
The OVERALL WINNER
will be the person with the highest total points from ALL
categories above. Other winners will be Best Design, Best
Construction, Best Handwork, Best Novice: Sewing and Best
Novice: Italian Renaissance |
All entries will be
evaluated by me, with the option of enlisting the help of
volunteers should the number of entrants get unwieldy.
With thanks to all
of you for making the first ten years of my website thoroughly
enjoyable!
Bella Lucia da
Verona
(Anabella Wake)
The Realm of Venus
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