Available on The Tudor Tailor's YouTube channel soon
The garment autopsy - a mystery 16th century underpinning revealed
Join Jane and Ninya to relive the exciting revelation of a previously unpublished Tudor garment. A detailed examination of a recently discovered 16th century farthingale sleeve is the focus of the next Tudor Tailor online event.
Dr Susan North’s in-depth investigation of the garment was a huge hit at the launch conference for The Typical Tudor last year. Susan, who is curator of fashion before 1800 at the V&A Museum in London, revisits her examination of a previously unpublished 16th century garment she undertook in front of a live audience at the Missing Persons conference in Nottingham in October 2022.
Jane and Ninya also discuss with Susan why such survivals are so rare and the reasons they sometimes come to light in good condition. Reconstructions of the farthingale sleeve and its silk satin oversleeve demonstrate how the two were worn together. The team also present convincing pictorial and documentary evidence for the fashion for farthingale sleeves being worn throughout society and not just by the elite in London.
Programme
2pm
Welcome – Jane & Ninya
2.15pm
Who is Dr Susan North?
Jane and Ninya find out how Susan began studying historic dress, hear about her work as curator of fashion before 1800 at the V&A Museum in London, and some of the most interesting findings from her doctoral research into linen garments.
2.45pm
The garment autopsy: interrogating & identifying dress
The Tudor Tailor offers an opportunity to experience the excitement in the courtroom in Nottingham when the farthingale sleeve was revealed for the first time. Susan considers why new discoveries of extant early modern garments are so rare and speculates on the circumstances under which they are preserved. She also demonstrates her investigative process as she examines a 16th century garment she has never seen before.
3.30pm
Q&A with Susan North
There are plenty of matters arising from the discovery of the farthingale sleeve. Put a question in the chat on the Zoom screen to hear what Susan and the Tudor Tailor team can share about its material and construction.
3.45pm
Refreshment break
4.15pm
Evidence for farthingale sleeves
Jane and Ninya share details from their research for The Typical Tudor including pictorial and documentary evidence which demonstrates how quickly farthingale or trunk sleeves became fashionable and spread throughout society – they were not just for the elite in London.
They also reveal the results of recent x-ray investigation of the farthingale sleeve and the silk satin oversleeve, which suggests how the hoops were constructed.
5pm
New Who do you think you were? video premiere
Gentlewoman Catherine Tollemache
After the video, see how the farthingale sleeve works as part of a late 16th century ensemble featuring a new reconstruction of the slashed and stamped silk satin oversleeve.
5.20pm
Final comments and questions
5.30pm
Thanks & close