So my next obsession is with what is called the  
"Transitional" gowns. This is what happened in the late 1400's to early 1500's between Houppelandes/Burgundians and the
traditional Tudor Gowns that you think of when
you think of Henry the VIII and his wives.  This
time period is fascinating to me in terms of how
the clothing evolved, and also because there are
a lot fewer images to work from. I have completed two gowns. One inspired by the Lady and the Unicorn Tapestries and one by several other images that I have found. Some of the images I have posted here, which mostly range from the
1480's to around 1510.

Click on the images to get a larger view.  The under dress of both gowns is a kirtle which is
more or less a cotehardie that more than likely
laces up the front. The over gowns seem to close
in various ways, but there are a lot of images of
them being fastened up the front (probably
hooks and eyes or maybe hidden lacing), some
lace up the back and there are several examples
of the over dress being a split skirt, but the split
is on the side instead of in the center, and the
dress laces up at the bodice on that same seam
(look at the lady and the unicorn images below).
I started with that style and then I moved onto the one that laces up the front (brown velvet dress below). Next is a rear lacing one! I am loving the hats here too.