Blue dress update

I have done most of the hand sewing of the blue dress bodice. I stab stitched the bodice pieces together and then whipped the edges. I also stab stitched and reinforced the seams. I have one armhole to finish and then I will post photos.

Now I am ready to make the bias binding to decorate the bodice, and decide on what I am going to do about the lacing.

My inspiration portraits have hidden lacing.

       
St Ursula (also known as Woman with a book) by Carpaccio- denverartmuseum.org            



Portrait of a Lady by Carpaccio c. 1495 - wikipaintings.org














But I have a large bust, so I am thinking that I might be better served by eyelet holes for extra strength. I do have some lovely lacing rings for a front opening bodice, but I am not sure they will be strong enough.

There are many examples of front lacing dresses from Italy and surrounds that would work:

Portrait of a a Girl With Cherries by Circle of Leonardo c.1491-95 - paintingall.com
(See also http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/91.26.5)

Ghirlandaio's Portrait of a Lady - en.wikipedia.org

Portrait of Constanza Caetani by Fra  Bartolomeo c. 1489-90 from


http://www.angelfire.com/zine/kiarapanther/garb/gamurra.html

Ghirlandaio's Portrait of A Woman - artcyclopedia.com

I am thinking that this type of lacing (below) will add strength and be unobtrusive. I hope the horizontal lines won't ruin the look of the gold bias decoration.

Portrait of a Young Woman by Ghirlandaio c 14885 -  

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Domenico_Ghirlandaio_078.gif 

Portrait of a Girl by Ghirlandaio c. 1490 - from wikipaintings.org

Profile of a Woman by Botticelli c. 1480-85 from  

http://www.museothyssen.org/microsites/exposiciones/2010/Ghirlandaio/museo2_en.html

Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni by Ghirlandaio-    from wikipedia.org