I'm planning to create a Grayson women's outfit but wanted to get some advice.

The only images I've seen have been the two versions of the cover of the novel "Flag in Exile," by Gary Ruddell & David Mattingly (I have the former). There are some descriptions of what Grayson women wear, but they're mostly centered on Honor Harrington's outfits (see early Chapter 4 of "Flag in Exile" for example). It did, however, mention that fabrics used by the upper class women include brocades & the vests were based on a tabbard. I've seen photos of Tillie's recreation of Honor's garb but want to do something a little more simpler for myself.

I'd like to know things like fabric selection, what patterns to alter, appropriate footwear and whether my past work in medieval costuming can help in this case.

I'm all ears... I might even use this thread to chronicle my progress.

Bri

Since I haven't heard anything since my initial post, I'll just follow my instincts. My starting off point will be the pattern for the "All Purpose T-tunic," found in "Forward Into the Past: An Introductory Guide to the SCA." The guide can be found in pdf form on the Society for Creative Anachronism's (SCA) website:

http://www.sca.org/officers/chatelain/pdf/...IntothePast.pdf

The project continues...

I always thought it was a BIT weird that on Grayson, they have women wearing clothes that sound medieval in design, but the men more 20th century American for their formal wear (they wore ties and suits in the council)...so that always struck me as a bit off....I probably should have asked David Weber when I had the chance about every day clothing....

grant you, the Grayson attitude toward women were rather sexist...but still, I would think they would want their women to LOOK appropriate for their "time period" which was supposedly more 20th century American, which was considered a "throwback" in terms of fashion compared to what the rest of the Honorverse was wearing...

so, while there is the description of elaborate vests and brocade, I think the look may a little more modern for "our time" than medieval....I'm thinking more like what some of more Russian influenced haute couture designs would look like in the past decade or so...

I know that folkloric look was popular a few seasons ago - but we're now a few years away from that...can't remember which designer (european, I'm sure) who went for that look in a big way a few years ago...(fur hats, boots, bright colors with embroidery - the works)

Honor Harrington's Grayson "dress" costume is pretty simple, since she just chose her "house" colors and not much in way of adornment (grayson medal was the only jewelry) - not to mention she was planning to FIGHT in it...

I had debated making the gown a bit more fitted and the vest a bit shorter and snugger, but I was also having the formal Manticoran Navy dress uniform made at the same time (which wind up costing me about $800)_ and didn't want to spend a lot more money in making the Grayson dress more fitted.

(I had another tailor make it for me, using a very basic chemise pattern) - I may still want to do a "dressier" version of the dress in the future by having it a bit more fitted and shaped...

At long last, here's a photo from the recent Dragon*Con. As previously mentioned, I went with an adaption of the tried & true medieval t-tunic/overtunic combination. It was worn with a simple broad-brimmed straw hat. The necklace was of my own design & construction with glass beads in complementary colors, copper beads & accents, turquoise beads and a howlite center stone in a copper setting.



Thanks to Kitha for the photo.

You know, that costume could possibly do double duty as a Genii in disguise costume; it looks very similar from what I recall the Genii wore when Sheppard & co. first encountered them and were pretending to be simple farmers. Granted that many people might not recognize it as such but it's still something to think about, maybe add a Genii pistol hidden in the dress somewhere to help sell the notion of being a Genii and not just some simple farmer.

Since the "Royal Manticoran Navy" thread is primarily focused on RMN & RMMC uniforms, I wanted to note here that my Grayson Space Navy officer's jacket was photographed at D*C, before...



... and after the parade



Thanks to Steve ("Blackhawk") for the shots.

It was good to meet you at D*Con, I liked the Grayson uniform. I keep wanting to do a Honorverse costume but it keeps getting pushed to the back of the costume line. I like the tunic dress also.