Early Italian Renaissance Women’s Gowns
What is generally thought of as the “Ever After” style of dress, made popular by the movie “Ever After: A Cinderella Story” is being seen more and more at the renaissance festivals. The movie is set in France, but research leads me to believe that this style was more prevalent in Italy rather than in France, and set in an earlier time period than the movie dialogue suggests.
(Top Left: Drew Barrymore in Ever After Movie Gown. Right: Pat Sova in modified McCall 2806 with Simplicity 8735 sleeves. Bottom Left: Trish Pratt in adjusted Simplicity 9531.)
Some good paintings to look at are by Leonardo DaVinci. A lot of them show the high waist dresses and the really great sleeves. One thing to point out, is that Leonardo lived 1452 – 1519 and the fashions he depicts would be closer to the turn of the 16th century. Elizabeth’s reign, 1558-1603 began nearly a half century after his death, which is the time period that most Renaissance Festivals are set in. 
The main things to look for when trying to recreate this silhouette, are: a snug fitting, fairly lower cut neckline, high waist bodice. A chemise that puffs through the sleeves. A full, long skirt.
Now remember, the world recently went through a plague, the pregnant, or fertile, look is “in”. In Italy, women’s hair is generally worn in braids, or up with hair taping, or a turban, sometimes left down with a netting over it, while the rest of Europe wears coifs & hats.
In any case, if you’re going to the Ren Fair and you want to have fun, don’t let a little thing like Italian or English Renaissance stop you from dressing up and enjoying yourself!
I’ve included here some specific parts of Italian Renaissance paintings that are of the style mentioned above.
| BOTTICELLI, Sandro Portrait of a Young Woman c. 1475 Galleria Palatina (Palazzo Pitti), Florence |
 |
* | COSSA, Francesco Allegory of April: Triumph of Venus 1476-84 Palazzo Schifanoia, Ferrara |
 |
| COSSA, Francesco del Allegory of March: Triumph of Minerva 1476-84 Palazzo Schifanoia, Ferrara |
 |
* | GHIRLANDAIO, Domenico Birth of Mary 1486-90 Cappella Tornabuoni, Santa Maria Novella, Florence |
 |
| GHIRLANDAIO, Domenico Birth of St John the Baptist 1486-90 Cappella Tornabuoni, Santa Maria Novella, Florence |
 |
* | GHIRLANDAIO, Domenico Resurrection of the Boy 1482-85 Santa Trinità, Florence |
 |
| GHIRLANDAIO, Domenico Visitation 1486-90 Cappella Tornabuoni, Santa Maria Novella, Florence |
 |
* | CARPACCIO, Vittore Meeting of the Betrothed Couple 1495 |
 |
| * | RAFFAELLO Sanzio Lady with a Unicorn c. 1505 Galleria Borghese, Rome |
 |
||
| RAFFAELLO Sanzio Portrait of a Woman (La Muta) 1507 Galleria Nazionale, Urbino See the detail of the blackwork on the chemise neckline and sleeves |
 |
* | Carpaccio, Vittore Two Venetian Ladies c. 1510 Museo Correr, Venice |
 |
| ANDREA DEL SARTO Portrait of the Artist’s Wife 1513-14 Museo del Prado, Madrid |
 |
* | RAFFAELLO Sanzio Portrait of Jeanne d’Aragon 1518 Musée du Louvre, Paris |
 |
