
Title: 1150 CE Female Bliaut Inspired Fantasy Dress 3 | |
Entry #: GGB2021.035 | |
Alternate Names: Buttercup’s Dress from Princess Bride | |
Year: 1150 CE | |
Time range: 1150-1250’s CE | |
Era: High medieval | |
Gender: Female | |
region: Europe | |
Countries/cultures: Europe, france, england | |
Maker: Vincent De Vere | |
Difficulty: 2 | |
Confidence: Fantasy based on historic garment |
Intro:
Buttercup’s riding Dress from the first part of the Princess Bride. This movie costume is very similar to a Bliaut.
Women’s or men’s over-garment characterized by the tunic like construction with side closures resulting in a more fitted silhouette. The attached skirts were full and floor length for women and shorter for men and the sleeves were commonly fitted above the elbow and trumpet shaped or widened out below the elbow.
Description:
Although similar to the basic t tunic dress the differences in the sleeves and the under-bust to waist area distinguish them. The sleeves vary in style, but predominantly are characterized by the fitted upper sleeve and the widened lower sleeve. The lower sleeve by be in the form of a trumpet sleeve or as extreme as examples that drag the floor. A lined sleeve that could be turned back to expose an expensive inner liner would also be seen.
The other major distinguishing feature is the under-bust puckering of the fabric. There remains multiple ways to achieve this look, but many have had success by elongating the under-bust to waist dress length by some number of inches and by adding lacing on the side of the dress to achieve the fitted look. Most evidence of the dress is found in areas of French fashion influence.
An Attempt of Buttercup’s dress. Much like a Bliaut but the sleeve had cuffs that were an adaptation for the movie.
Inspiration Images


Common Materials
- Fabrics:
- Some think images of fine pleats to represent silks
- fine wools
- rich fabrics
- perhaps linen
- Ornamentation:
Effective Substitutions
- Fabrics:
- cottons
- linen blends
- wool blends
- muslin for undergarments
- Ornamentation:
Ensemble Components
- Underdress
- Bliaut overdress
- various head coverings
Accessories
- a belt wrapped around the body
- pouch or purse
- wimple or veiled head covering
Source/Links
https://www.eg.bucknell.edu/~lwittie/sca/garb/bliaut.html
http://danikaulakisart.com/bliaut.pdf
https://adamselindisdress.blog/2014/04/28/12th-century-dress-the-bliaut/
Version: 3 | |
date: 3/6/2021 | |
Source of Period Pic: Chartres cathedral ,Angers cathedral, France, sculpture at West Portal (detail of existing Commons image :Image:Angers Cathedral sculpture at west door TTaylor.jpg | |
Model: | |
Photographer: Vincent De Vere | |