Working on some art that might just turn into a short comic series. Here's Dylon before and after #chemo hair loss. 💚 . . . #comicstyle #cartoonz #caricatures #lifestory #myhusbandisawesome #illustrationartist #vectorlove #artinprogress #webtoon #weekendprojects https://www.instagram.com/p/B4JVDeBlnZZ/?igshid=1oxh58y6ogy6d
Last week was all about the headgear. In this latest (literally; I lost track of time a bit this afternoon, sorry) installment of my historical paper dolls series, we discuss the bliaut, a unisex High Middle Ages fashion trend. (I was going to make an entire post about the High Middle Ages, but the fashion is so similar to the Early Middle Ages that it’s a bit redundant.) So Alun and Joyeuse once more don their medieval underpinnings.
The bliaut (or bliaud) was a long, full-skirted outer tunic, with tight-fitting sleeves that flared out into a trumpet shape. While bliauts were only moderately fitted in the beginning of the period, over time, they became increasingly tight to the body. (This transitioned into the cotehardie, but that’s another post.) It was most popular in France and French-influenced areas, but examples are found throughout the medieval world. After the medieval period, the bliaut became the darling of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, and can be seen in many of their paintings.
Alun is showing off the men’s bliaut. While it was still moderately-to-tightly fitted to the abdomen, there’s no evidence of side-lacing or pleating like the woman’s bliaut. Therefore, we can assume the tight fit came from deliberately cutting the torso rather narrowly. Whether the skirt was calf- or ankle-length, the fullness most commonly came from gores below the waist area. A tightly wound belt helped show off one’s torso and its shapeliness. I have yet to find a nice bliaut-type sleeve for male Sims, so this outfit is a bit of Simprovisation on my part.
Women’s bliauts were trumpet-sleeved and tight to the abdomen, like men’s bliauts. A key feature of the women’s bliaut was the deliberate folds around the wearer’s abdomen, emphasized with how the belt was tied, again to enhance the figure. Unsurprisingly, bliauts are a source of controversy among historical fashion circles, mostly because nobody’s quite sure how they were constructed. I decided to go with my personal favorite interpretation.
Modeled on the Revival Clothing site’s bliaut, which appears to be based on stone carvings from Chartres cathedral, Joyeuse wears a ‘stomacher’ over her close-fitting, one-piece tunic. This interpretation centers on the theory that the bliauts were made with plisse fabric (fabric which has been gathered into pleats, soaked, and had the pleats “set” through pressure.)
Another interpretation was that the dress was deliberately cut and sewn to be tight to the body, thereby producing wrinkles when worn. While this is impossible to reproduce in The Sims without a lot of time working with a bump map, it’s an interpretation I’ve gone with for Joyeuse’s second bliaut. (Or at least attempted to demonstrate, by choosing a very slimline dress.)
The bliaut girone was a mid-twelfth-century development, where the bodice and skirt were cut separately. This led to an increasingly tight bodice and a very volumized skirt. Skirt volume may have been achieved through goring (triangular sections of fabric sewn into the skirt), or by sewing a wider skirt to a narrower bodice. Whether one wore the bliaut girone or the simpler early bliaut, it was a very dramatic, regal look, favored by luminaries such as Eleanor of Aquitaine.
I could not close without a reference to the Pre-Raphaelites and their ideas of what a bliaut looked like.
These were fanciful and not terribly accurate, but still very dramatic.
(I based the photo off this painting. But I did style Alun’s facial hair based on this painting.)
Now, go shopping!
Alun’s bliaut: Chinese historical outfit by Qingshuangtongzi which was reuploaded here | belt by Amethyst Sims | Anto Theo retextured by Ifca Sims
Alun’s Pre-Raphaelite Outfit: Nightswatch armor and felt shoes by Severinka | Facial hair by Venus Princess | Shorter bob hair by Oepu
Joyeuse’s Early Bliaut No. 1: the Mirkwood Gown by Vectorlover | Barbette and turret hat by me (to be released shortly!) | Sleeves Accessory by Venus Princess | LeahLillith Blazed retextured by IfcaSims
Joyeuse’s Early Bliaut No. 2: the Elven Fantasy Robe by @simlicious | LeahLillith Kelaya retextured by IfcaSims
Joyeuse’s Bliaut Girone: Elivah dress (V1) by Venus Princess (I edited it to allow for everyday wear) | Sleeves accessory by Venus Princess | LeahLillith Creature retextured by IfcaSims
Joyeuse’s Pre-Raphaelite Outfit: TSM Maiden Dress by @danjaley | Anto Luna hair retextured by Sims of Ice and Fire (the perfect Pre-Raphaelite hair, in my opinion) | Coronet by The Merrye Makers
Never Underestimate The Power of a Good Outfit On a Bad Day👗🎀💝 #likeforlikes #fashion #style #styleicon #fashionista #fashiondiaries #follow #followforlike #vectorlove #shopoholic #shoponinsta (at Fashion world)