STUARTS

Note - not dollshouse size

The Stuart period was an exceptionally turbulent time in English history, which you might expect to have made people less interested in their dress, but far from it. We start the era with some of the most romantic and wearable costumes ever devised and end it in stiff formality.

1640 in the reign of Charles I

The Lady in Outdoor Dress wears a satin gown that has lost most of the padding and restriction of the Elizabethan period and hangs naturally about the figure.      

The Cavalier Gentleman has a long doublet with big sash, worn over easy fitting breeches.   

Both costumes positively drip with lace, which was the new status symbol of the day.

1650 during The Commonwealth

The Puritan Lady is beginning to get her tight-lacing back but modestly covers her neckline and hair.  

The Puritan Gentleman has a costume which is exactly the same shape as the Cavalier, but without all the trimmings.  

 

1660 in the reign of Charles II

The Lady is now very tightly corsetted again, with a low off-shoulder neckline. Her skirts are caught back from the centre opening with jewelled clasps.    

The Gentleman wears the very strange 'petticoat breeches' brought back from France by Charles II and his courtiers. His outfit is loaded with yards and yards of ribbon, which was the newest thing.  

 

1690 in the reign of William & Mary

The Lady's skirts are now pulled right around to the back, where they form the first ever bustle dress, with a long train. Her headdress is called the 'Fontange'.     

The Gentleman is for the first time wearing all the ingredients of modern male dress - shirt, trousers (breeches), waistcoat and coat. From this point they gradually evolve into the forms with which we are familiar.   

Similar dolls to these are also available in dollshouse size, see Tobias and Leda

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