The Completed Cotehardie!

My completed cotehardie! You can read about the construction here, about the veil here and here, and about the hose here.

I'm wearing two dresses--known as cotehardies in costuming circles. The blue dress is a supportive layer that laces up, and could be worn on its own or with an overdress. The pink overdress is cut to the same pattern (except I should've raised the neckline a bit) and closes with buttons. I'm wearing both dresses over my Regency short sleeved shift. The blue sleeves are a little too tight to be comfortable over my 18c shifts. With a little wear they would be fine. I considered making a sleeveless shift (there are extant examples), but in the end, my Regency shift worked fine.




The side and back views. I really enjoyed lifting the pink skirt to show the blue underskirt. Apparently a little too much, as I don't have a picture of the back without lifting it! I am planning on wearing it at Costume College though, so pictures then :)


I wore a sash over the blue dress and hung a velvet bag based loosely on this one and my knitted kitty pouch. My hose are bias cut wool.


The blue dress worn on its own.


And a back view without holding the skirt up!


And finally, a post faire picture. After a hot day (in the 90s!), it does feel very good to relax your costume a bit :)