body type and historical clothing
Nov. 25th, 2002 11:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
anotheranonI've been reading a thread on one of my costuming lists about the best historical fashions for different body types/facial types - i.e., if you're curvy, go for any period involving hourglass-shaped corseting; if you have thick long hair, Gibson Girl hairstyles will be easy to create, if you have a pale oval face with a high forehead, medieval headdresses will look good on you, etc.
I have concluded that the best styles for me are Regency, early 20th c. Poiret/Erte type fashions (think Titanic), and just maybe Italian Renaissance (~1400-1500). I am all shoulders and bust with no hips or waist so anything tube shaped and low cut works. I used to be able to do flapper but it would be difficult without a bust flattener now - ah, the side effects of birth control.
Looking at my face I fit into no historic period I can concieve of. My features are mostly northern European (I guess) but my coloring emphatically is not, and olive skin only became fashionable in the 1930s. This, of course, is what makeup and wigs are for.
The discussion progressed into an exploration of the way people from different countries/time periods gesture and carry themselves. Not completely alien to me, as I've read somewhat about the training wealthy young 17th-18th century men and women would recieve in dancing, deportment, and posture, but I never thought about how it would affect how "authentic" one looks in their costume. And there is also the factor that a costume can seriously affect the way a person acts, if only because of limitations of movement.
Yet another reason why training in public speaking, body language, etc. would be a good idea for public schools, IMHO, but now I'm going off on a tangent.
Time for bed.
I have concluded that the best styles for me are Regency, early 20th c. Poiret/Erte type fashions (think Titanic), and just maybe Italian Renaissance (~1400-1500). I am all shoulders and bust with no hips or waist so anything tube shaped and low cut works. I used to be able to do flapper but it would be difficult without a bust flattener now - ah, the side effects of birth control.
Looking at my face I fit into no historic period I can concieve of. My features are mostly northern European (I guess) but my coloring emphatically is not, and olive skin only became fashionable in the 1930s. This, of course, is what makeup and wigs are for.
The discussion progressed into an exploration of the way people from different countries/time periods gesture and carry themselves. Not completely alien to me, as I've read somewhat about the training wealthy young 17th-18th century men and women would recieve in dancing, deportment, and posture, but I never thought about how it would affect how "authentic" one looks in their costume. And there is also the factor that a costume can seriously affect the way a person acts, if only because of limitations of movement.
Yet another reason why training in public speaking, body language, etc. would be a good idea for public schools, IMHO, but now I'm going off on a tangent.
Time for bed.
