Bernadette Banner | Unpacking the Hamilton Costumes: Historical Accuracy? How to Take Liberties With Period Costume @bernadettebanner | Uploaded July 2020 | Updated October 2024, 6 days ago.
Also. Irrelevant, but when are we going gender blind and getting a woman playing Hamilton?
*I’m referring at this point to the stays in Hamilton providing a vertically flattened silhouette, eliminating bust curve in the bodice that would not have been apparent in the 18th century. This was poorly worded (‘flat front’) as stays technically were not entirely flat down the front at all; particularly as the century progressed, stays became more and more rigid down the front, the center front peaks more prominent to the point where busks were used to push the center front seam out away from the body and into a point. See for example the extant stays on pages 106 and 110 in ‘Patterns of Fashion 5’ by Janet Arnold, et al.
[1] Paul Tazewell was trained in Shakespeare and other historically-based productions: (observer.com/2016/06/hamiltons-costume-designer-talks-about-modernizing-18th-century-style/)
[2] Examples of women in stays as outerwear:
-lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/RXwgcAdCV6a-eUXyg6z5yp0xvcpePye2co6t-ePm54oufBvn2EGHTccctCUXbwneLsCub18iFbR5oGV7CqvFCOFCc83G3oo
-collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O699348/old-chairs-to-mend-print-vendramini-giovanni-john
-i0.wp.com/spitalfieldslife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Cries-of-London-10.jpg?w=600&ssl=1 (Francis Wheatley’s ‘Cries of London’ series)
-i0.wp.com/spitalfieldslife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Cries-of-London-9-Version-2.jpg?w=600&ssl=1 (Francis Wheatley’s ‘Cries of London’ series)
[3] Portrait of King George III: artuk.org/discover/artworks/george-iii-17381820-28467/search/people:george-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/page/1/view_as/grid
Screenshot of the elbow dart was taken from this video interview: ABC Costume interview: abc7news.com/hamilton-abc7-video-backstage-at-watch/5552487
IMAGE CREDITS:
Portrait of a Lady, 1764. The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/17447
Dress, Ca. 1760. The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/79220
Robe à l’Anglaise, 1785-87. The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/81105?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&when=A.D.+1600-1800&ft=fashion+plate&offset=0&rpp=80&pos=76
Dress, 1795-97. The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/82284?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&when=A.D.+1600-1800&ft=fashion+plate&offset=160&rpp=80&pos=202
Coat, 1787-92. The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/82457?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&when=A.D.+1600-1800&ft=coat&offset=0&rpp=20&pos=17
Tailcoat, ca. 1815. The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/657342
Want to get started with hand sewing?
🧵
🕯Check out my Skillshare original course, “Hand Sewing Basics: Working Wonders with Fabric, Needle & Thread”. To sign up for a free trial and take the class, visit https://skl.sh/bernadettebanner1
This channel is made possible through the generous support of Patreon members. To become a patron, visit patreon.com/bernadettebanner (although videos will remain free for you here regardless).
Beyond YouTube:
IG @bernadettebanner instagram.com/bernadettebanner
Management contact for business enquiries:
bernadette@helmtalentgroup.com
bernadettebanner.co.uk
Music:
‘Charmed Encounter’ by Arthur Benson, epidemicsound.com
‘Yellow Light’ by Arthur Benson, epidemicsound.com
‘Incidental Encounter’ by Arthur Benson, epidemicsound.com
‘Minor Indiscretions’ by Arthur Benson, epidemicsound.com
‘Odd Behaviour’ by Arthur Benson, epidemicsound.com
Also. Irrelevant, but when are we going gender blind and getting a woman playing Hamilton?
*I’m referring at this point to the stays in Hamilton providing a vertically flattened silhouette, eliminating bust curve in the bodice that would not have been apparent in the 18th century. This was poorly worded (‘flat front’) as stays technically were not entirely flat down the front at all; particularly as the century progressed, stays became more and more rigid down the front, the center front peaks more prominent to the point where busks were used to push the center front seam out away from the body and into a point. See for example the extant stays on pages 106 and 110 in ‘Patterns of Fashion 5’ by Janet Arnold, et al.
[1] Paul Tazewell was trained in Shakespeare and other historically-based productions: (observer.com/2016/06/hamiltons-costume-designer-talks-about-modernizing-18th-century-style/)
[2] Examples of women in stays as outerwear:
-lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/RXwgcAdCV6a-eUXyg6z5yp0xvcpePye2co6t-ePm54oufBvn2EGHTccctCUXbwneLsCub18iFbR5oGV7CqvFCOFCc83G3oo
-collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O699348/old-chairs-to-mend-print-vendramini-giovanni-john
-i0.wp.com/spitalfieldslife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Cries-of-London-10.jpg?w=600&ssl=1 (Francis Wheatley’s ‘Cries of London’ series)
-i0.wp.com/spitalfieldslife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Cries-of-London-9-Version-2.jpg?w=600&ssl=1 (Francis Wheatley’s ‘Cries of London’ series)
[3] Portrait of King George III: artuk.org/discover/artworks/george-iii-17381820-28467/search/people:george-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/page/1/view_as/grid
Screenshot of the elbow dart was taken from this video interview: ABC Costume interview: abc7news.com/hamilton-abc7-video-backstage-at-watch/5552487
IMAGE CREDITS:
Portrait of a Lady, 1764. The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/17447
Dress, Ca. 1760. The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/79220
Robe à l’Anglaise, 1785-87. The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/81105?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&when=A.D.+1600-1800&ft=fashion+plate&offset=0&rpp=80&pos=76
Dress, 1795-97. The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/82284?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&when=A.D.+1600-1800&ft=fashion+plate&offset=160&rpp=80&pos=202
Coat, 1787-92. The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/82457?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&when=A.D.+1600-1800&ft=coat&offset=0&rpp=20&pos=17
Tailcoat, ca. 1815. The Metropolitan Museum of Art metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/657342
Want to get started with hand sewing?
🧵
🕯Check out my Skillshare original course, “Hand Sewing Basics: Working Wonders with Fabric, Needle & Thread”. To sign up for a free trial and take the class, visit https://skl.sh/bernadettebanner1
This channel is made possible through the generous support of Patreon members. To become a patron, visit patreon.com/bernadettebanner (although videos will remain free for you here regardless).
Beyond YouTube:
IG @bernadettebanner instagram.com/bernadettebanner
Management contact for business enquiries:
bernadette@helmtalentgroup.com
bernadettebanner.co.uk
Music:
‘Charmed Encounter’ by Arthur Benson, epidemicsound.com
‘Yellow Light’ by Arthur Benson, epidemicsound.com
‘Incidental Encounter’ by Arthur Benson, epidemicsound.com
‘Minor Indiscretions’ by Arthur Benson, epidemicsound.com
‘Odd Behaviour’ by Arthur Benson, epidemicsound.com
