16th Century for Manly Men

So I've been trying to be productive.  There's an event coming up this weekend called Boar's Den, and it's kinda loosely themed around Venetian courteseans... kind of like Dangerous Beauty.  Or at least that's my understanding of it.  Anyways, my kind of theme!  ^_^  My husband hasn't had anything new in a while.  I started thinking about the last time I made something for him.. and ::ahem::.. it's been eight years.  In my defense, after a large bit of drama in a previous kingdom, he decided to stop playing for a while.  Then he went to grad school and was much too busy to do any eventing.  But, he's interested in playing again because I said how nice everyone was here, but he has nothing to wear.  He also couldn't seem to figure out what he wanted, so I'm making him match me timeline wise till he figures out what he wants.  Plus I'm already well researched in this time period!  Bonus! 

So, I'm not sure about you, but I often have guys say that they won't do "late period" because it's not manly.  Well I have a great big :-P for you!  It can too be manly! 

The base of this outfit is similar to this fresco in the Villa Barbaro Maser done by Veronese in 1560-61.  I have to say, having done some painting, it is astounding that he managed to finish the sheer amount of paintings that he did in this villa in a one year time frame. O_o  I wish I were half as productive. 

Mike's doublet is out of a shot sage green silk that I have done trapunto and slashing on.  I slashed on the bias for minimal fraying. ::crosses fingers::  It's interlined and lined with a brown silk that shows through the slashings a bit as you move the fabric.  It has a small peascod belly (don't tell him... let's see if he notices), and I'm going to do the buttons out of large pearls as I don't have the time to do the cool thread wrapped ones.  Though they might get replaced at a later date.

The pants are out of a dark gray cotton velvet and I've edged the knee and side slit in a silver silk.  I don't have access to a scanner at the moment, but you'll have to take my word that in addition to this picture where the pants button up the front, they also have side fastenings sometimes.  His are going to fasten on the sides with three large buttons.  The hat will be out of the same dark gray cotton velvet, and if I have time (LOL) I'll make him a half circle cloak out of the same lined with gold silk.

I was thinking of slashing the silk lining the cloak too, to make little bursts.  Um, lemme see if I can recreate it in ASCII:

\ / \ / \ / \ /
/ \ / \ / \ / \

Yeah, like that.  Though picture them at 45 degree angles.  I ordered some cloth of gold and cloth of silver silk for really cheap.  Which sounded awesome.  I have other silk/metal weaves and love them.  These two though... ended up looking like silk lamè.  Esza, Aurelia, and I have renamed it the lame lamè.  But, it would be great to interline a cloak with and peek through the slashing.  Add a little bit of sparkle without the overwhelming urge to vomit. I think I'll use the silver one in his cloak and the gold one in mine (mine is kind of a caramel cotton velvet with a raspberry lining). 

I have some amazing silk brocade in tan and sage green with a very 16th century looking pomegrante motif.  It's really a rather manly brocade.  I'm going to make a jerkin out of that... though there's no way it's going to be finished for this weekend.  I've come to terms with that.  It's ok.  I even found some sage and gold shot silk to line it in.  It'll be so awesome when it's done.  Maybe by Estrella.  ::shrugs::  I'll have to have him come stand next to my display for the Artisan's Showcase ;D lol

Here's the doublet in progress.  I'll try to get pictures of the pants posted later this week.