Programming - Netherton Lectures

(An experienced costumer & academic researcher specializing in
Western European dress of the Middle Ages)
Giving a series of lectures on Saturday, March 31, 2007.

Ms. Netherton will give a full day of lectures on Saturday.
The morning session will feature her well-known pair of talks on
"The Gothic Fitted Dress" (a medieval fashion known to many modern
costumers as the "cotehardie") and "The Greenland Gored Gown"
(the style often called the "10-gore dress").

Bio:
Robin Netherton is a researcher specializing in Western European dress of
the Middle Ages. Since 1982, she has given lectures and workshops on medieval clothing
for academic audiences, historical societies, reenactment groups, and other organizations.

An experienced costumer as well as an academic researcher, she addresses both the
practical aspects of medieval clothing construction and the significance of costume in
history, art, and literature. Her lectures emphasize approaches for researching medieval
costume and ways to avoid common myths and mistakes.

Ms. Netherton has lectured to sold-out houses in such cities as Boston, Seattle,
Philadelphia, Denver, Orlando, Portland, and San Jose.
She also spoke at the 2003 Costume-Con in Chicago.

This will be the first time she has offered her full-day program in the St. Louis area.

Morning Session: 9 a.m. - noon [must be registered for as a single session]
TWO FOURTEENTH-CENTURY DRESS STYLES
The Gothic Fitted Dress The fitted fashion popular throughout much of Europe in the late 14th and
early 15th centuries (often called a "cotehardie") has been the focus of much speculation. A detailed
analysis shows the various versions and uses of this style, how it evolved from earlier unfitted
fashions, and how it set the stage for the more structured fashions of later periods. The lecture
examines some likely construction techniques as well as the social significance of the fashion in life
and art.
The Greenland Gored Gown Costume books frequently cite the burial finds from 14th-century
Greenland as examples of medieval European clothing construction. This lecture re-examines common
assumptions about these gowns in light of overlooked details in the original study report, the cultural
context of the Greenland colony, and the likely methods of clothing construction. The discussion gives
special attention to the "10-gore" gown and its significance for the study of 14th-century European
fashion.

Afternoon sessions may be registered for separately (or for all 3)
Session A: 1:30 - 3 p.m.
WHEN MEDIEVAL MEETS VICTORIAN: THE ROOTS OF MODERN COSTUME SOURCES
Too often, books present "facts" about medieval and Renaissance dress that are actually
misinterpretations dating from the Victorian era. This lecture traces the development of modern
costume scholarship and examines the motives and methods of 19th-century costume historians, to
help the 21st-century costumer recognize -- and compensate for -- Victorian influence in current
sources.

Session B: 3 - 4 p.m.
THE FIFTEENTH-CENTURY V-NECK GOWN
The "Burgundian" style that dominates 15th-century women's fashion in Western Europe is in fact two
separate styles, which have distinctive characteristics and different methods of construction. An
examination of artwork provides clues as to how the two styles developed and the ways in which they
may have been made.

Session C: 4 - 5 p.m.
SAINTLY INSPIRATION: USING MEDIEVAL RELIGIOUS FIGURES FOR COSTUME RESEARCH
Medieval saints' images can provide many interesting costume details -- but they're also a source of
confusion and error. An understanding of various saints' stories and symbols can help researchers
find useful information and distinguish realistic depictions from invented ones. The lecture looks at
such famous medieval fashion models as Catherine, Christopher, Francis, Jerome, Mary Magdalen,
Sebastian, Ursula, and Wilgefortis.

How to reserve:
This lecture series is open to any CC25 member, but to ensure
you get a seat, you'll need to sign up in advance.

People interested in attending only the lecture series can purchase
one-day memberships for Saturday by mail or online
(membership info).
One-day memberships also get you access to the rest of
the CC25 programming on Saturday, including the evening events.

Please be sure to specify that you want to be put on the sign-up
list for the Netherton lectures at the time you register.

One-day memberships will also be available at the door,
but same-day registrants are not guaranteed a seat at the lectures.

If you have already purchased a membership & are
interested in attending please email your request to:
slcg@email.com
Specify "Netherton lecture" in the subject.

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