Changing of the Guards...

[liadethornegge]

So here I am again, wearing the gown with guards pinned on in a couple of different options. On one side, the diagonal guard on the bodice goes from under the arm down to front/back waistline. On the other, the diagonal goes from the point of the shoulder down to the waistline. I could also just go with the guarding down the front and around hem. I don't know if it is very visible in the pictures (view the full version) but I have also got a guard pinned around the collar. I could go either way on that as yet, but I think it would look odd without it. Also have it at the cuffs, but could go either way there.

I am also considering going quite fancy: slashing all the black wool guarding and backing it with the remains of the gold silk. I don't have a huge amount of cabbage left, but the guarding is quite narrow and I feel confident I have enough silk to do it. If I don't slash the guard around the hem, that is. I could do all down the front and the bodice diagonals.

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Edited To add: OK, I've decided that the guards coming from the shoulder down to the waist is the best idea. Unanimous vote in favour of that so far, and I like it better myself. Will also probably do guard around the cuffs, for continuity - every other edge that will have picadils (front and collar) is bordered with black.

Comments

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

I think I prefer guards just along the opening and hem; especially if you're making them slashed. With the extra guards, I like it best when they come from the shoulder.

/Eva

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Hmm, well, I can certainly start by just doing along the front opening.

I do like them coming from the shoulder as well. It looks stylish to me.

How about in back? Just the diagonal, or the one down the centre as well?

[tattycat.livejournal.com]

I like the long diagonal guards-- they're both stylish and very slimming.

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Aah, that's why one likes them so much :)

Actually, they also enhance the optical illusion of the triangle atop a triangle (a smaller one with wide shoulders going down into narrow waist atop a big one going from narrow waist to wide hemline).

Yes, definately from the shoulders if I'm doing them. Thanks!

[aeddie.livejournal.com]

I like the diagonals from the shoulder.

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Well, there seems to be a concensus, so from the shoulder it is! Thanks for commenting :)

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

If you're going to do the diagonal guards, I vote for "shoulders"

[peronel.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to think if I've ever seen diagonal guards like this on an English gown. I'm sure I must have, but I can't think where. Hmmm.

Just to be perverse, I like from the shoulders at the front, and from the armpits at the back. I know that doesn't work. Sorry!

It is looking ravishing.

Peronel.

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Aah, you have a point there with the documentation bit. Thanks for pointing this out, I'll have to look for it. And, as I said in answer to Aleydis, I can start with just the front and hem guarding and add diagonals later if I want them.

With the difference in front and back, I actually rather agree with you. The under-arm in front makes me look dumpy, and the shoulder stretches me out. Whereas the underarm on the back helps to create the v-shape much better than does the shoulder one. Maybe my back is already quite long enough? Odd :)