In the last two weeks of October, after communicating with Kathleen, she suggested that I should first finish the support of the big skirt below, so as to facilitate the draping of the upper part. Although I checked relevant books in the library, the support is called Spanish Farthingale in the picture, but I think its shape is more like a support called Panier which is later than that time.
I made Panier with calico according to the pattern I’ve found. Because it was so big, so I hang it on the laundry rack and looked at it about the width and thought it seemed a little bit narrow. Then I added 12 inches in the center that is 24 inches in front and back pieces sepatately. And then sew them up to check it again, the overall width is relatively satisfactory.
In the second week, I spent most of my time reading books for essay writing. I found several books introducing the Baroque period in the library, and this was the first time I read books about historical costume seriously. During these years, I was studying design, I always looked through books fast to find information that I needed. This was the first time for me to read text patiently. Although I only finished up one book a week, I believed that the speed will be gradually improved. I learned that the evolution of costume was greatly affected by the political and economic situation at that time. When religious disputes are fierce, clothes are relatively conservative. When the overall social environment is relatively stable, people will add a lot of exaggerated decorations to clothes to show their wealth and social status. At present, whichever country is the most powerful, its fashion trend will slowly infiltrate into neighboring countries. Even if some conservative countries do not accept it completely, they will also reflect the influence through the details of costume. Local intellectuals would then worry that such cultural invasions would make people less sensitive to their own culture, sometimes even requiring the king to issue bans on what people could wear. However, it is difficult to reverse the trend. In fact, although the social environment will affect clothes wearing, it can also be used to observe the current stage of society development through costume and whether people have the energy to consider things other than basic needs.