Fantastic Fashions By Kamren Thompson
summer. She said she spends about $500 per dress, fter strolling the grounds with other and she has spent about $3,000 total on dresses, accessories and jewelry. ladies of the court, Comtesse del Fannie Conroy, another lady of the court, said Marie Dupree rests inside the shade of the queen’s quarters. Her hunter- her sister made her gown. “When I auditioned, and I got the part, I started green and black 15th-century profusely begging,” she said. “I won out.” French-style satin dress billows over the arms of Conroy’s cream and floral dress, like most of the the floral chair she sits in. gowns, is separated into Multiple jeweled pieces. necklaces, including “I did several months several long strands research before I went of pearls, adorn her and found a couple of gown. Her long, patterns and brought it brunette hair is styled up there for approval,” for the French court, she said. including a matching, The hoop skirt is the green muffin-top hat first piece. It is usually complete with a large a succession of three black feather. flexible hoops sewn at Several accessories lengths to push out the hang around her waist, skirt. The second piece including a fan made is a skirt, and then the from a colorful array of women attach an outer green feathers, a small skirt. black purse and a white Some dresses require kerchief embellished corsets and bodices, with gold-jeweled but the last required brooches. piece is the chemise, Every year, Judy Lee, Fannie Conroy showing off her costume. or top, which must be who plays Dupree, laced up the back to be sports extravagant historically accurate. gowns of 15th century “You cannot dress by France for the Four yourself,” Conroy said. Winds Renaissance Lee said French women of the 1600s used to Faire. have servants to help them get ready. Now the “We are the most historically accurate fair women help each other. It takes them about two in the state of Texas for period costumes,” Lee hours to get ready every day. One of the most time said. “If something is not period, we will know consuming aspects for Lee is hair. immediately.” “You do not wear short hair in the French court,” Lee has participated in renaissance faires for she said. “I have wigs, but I prefer the more natural years. Her costumes, which many participants ones because it gets hot.” commonly call “garb,” are specially made Lee, with the help of Conroy, attaches natural depending on whether the dress is for winter or Tiffany Drake
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46 • The Pine Curtain