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Golden Knight
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Other Credits
Modelled by Alexa Figuerres, Photographed by Lauren Trojanowski
Outline the story …
I was inspired by the theme of “into another world” by interpreting it as high fantasy with knights in shining armor. I’ve always enjoyed the idea of women warriors like Eowyn from Lord of the Rings or Snow White in Neil Gaimen and Chris Riddell’s Sleeper and the Spindle who ride into battle in armor. The former also speaks to Christian tradition of a woman, Joan of Arc, concealing her identity as an armored solider. For my interpretation I wanted mix these elements of armor with a classically feminine underdress, like a warrior queen or saint who is both beautiful and battle ready. As with many high fantasy stories, I wanted to play with anachronism in the silhouette with nods to Medievalism in the armor and even to late Victorian and Edwardian fancy dress interpretations of Medievalism.
Outline the construction…
My goal was to create golden armor in the style of 14th century light cavalry armor (notably worn in the 1903 Albert Lynch painting of Joan of Arc) using corsetry and tailoring techniques. I patterned the armor using cardstock to create a mockup and to draw the style-lines that differ from the pattern of the base. The armor has a base of coutil with horizontal and vertical boning channels inside reminiscent of an Edwardian bust extender. There is a double layer of stiff french tailoring canvas sewn to the coutil to help the entire piece keep its shape. On top of the canvas is icewool to obscure the harsh seams and darts of the base from showing through the top layer of metallic leather. All pieces were flatlined together, edged with millinery wire to help the edges keep their shape and finished with leather binding over the top that was stitched in the ditch. The shirt was patterned with more shaping that the typical period shirt and with full bishop sleeves and handstitched button loops at centerfront and cuffs. The skirt silhouette is Edwardian to harken back to the year the Lynch painting was made. It features a pattern matched centerback and cartridge pleats. There is horsehair in the hem, which was finished by hand. All pieces were patterned and made by me.
I love the mix of the traditional masculine armour together with the femine skirt and flowy blouse. It is also so impressive you managed to sew the top part of an armour. It looks truly stunning and heroic in the gold
I really thought that was actual armour pieces! Well done, the construction behind this is absolutely out of this world. Beautifully made.
You’ve done an amazing job. It reads as armour! And I love how the two different fabrics that show compliment the armour, while highlighting it’s uniqueness. So impressive.
I’m amazed that you’ve managed to create such a look of metal with just leather! I had thought it really was metal.
The final effect is incredible! I love the nod to the Joan of Arc painting and Pre-Raphaelite affection for the medieval era with the gored skirt.