(Photo courtesy of Eryn Carantaur.)
The girls and I love Eowyn’s informal dress from the Lord of the Rings: Two Towers movie. Eowyn wore the dress when the people of Rohan headed to Helm’s Deep.
(Click on the link and scroll down past Legolas’ costumes to the Eowyn section; scroll past her fancy gowns to the informal dress to see more views.)
That dress is something I’m planning to work on soon… when I get a chance! This will be for both the girls and myself, and I would like it to become part of our daily wardrobe even. It looks comfortable and warm, and we love layers! If I could incorporate merino wool in the under-dress or over-dress, I know we’d be toasty.
I was confused as to how the under-dress could be fitted without any visible zippers, laces or buttons. So I asked a friend of mine who knows much about medieval costumes. She said that a lady was often sewn right into her under-dress by a servant! On the other hand, the overdress (the cotehardie) would use laces or buttons or whatever worked with its style. As I’m not planning on recreating an exact historical garment, I’ll add something to allow us to get our under-dresses on and off without having to sew them closed each time! 
I might even sew the under-dress out of merino wool interlock, and then the stretch of that fabric will allow us to get it on and off like a t-shirt.
It might be awhile, but I’ll share more when I have time to begin this project.
Hi Mama,
Are you really going to make me and Naomi that absolutely fabulous dress?!
If you are, thanks!
~Haniya
I’m going to try, sweet! Love you — Mama
I was a little confused by the dress. Are you going to make the grey part or both parts. I see the outer part has ties on the side. Are you going to make it like that?
It does look comfortable and I am looking forward to seeing it done.
Michelle, I’m going to make both an underdress and overdress for each of us. I think I will do the ties on the overdress, yes. The underdress will probably be wool. But since I just got the roll of merino wool that I’ve been waiting on for a couple of months, I’ll have to make baselayer tee-shirts for my husband and the rest of us first. Love, Wardeh
Wardeh,
I can’t wait to see them! I just bought a shirt yesterday (on sale?) made of merino wool, so I could try it out. They are VERY expensive, so I see why you are making your own. I may have to venture and try that myself.
Love,
Tiffany
Tiffany, there’s nothing like sewing with wool! It is easy to sew and to get such quality garments for a fraction of the price is very exciting to me! Enjoy your new shirt! Love, Wardeh
If you haven’t finished the dresses already I would look in Holkeboer’s “Patterns for Theatrical Costumes” on page 114 it gives the pattern for a side laced gown that is probably exactly what you are looking for. It was the transitional step between the Cyclas and the full-out sideless surcote. Also making your underdresses lace up the back would be a viable option. Most people probably didn’t get sewn into their underdresses every day as it would wear out the fabric and fabric was a valuable commodity. Good luck and God bless.
Carrie
Carrie, Thank you! I have made some dresses, and I’ve avoided the whole lace up thing altogether, as I’m not trying to make a period replica, but rather, to make this style work for every day in my life. I would like to read more about it, though, so I’ll look at my library to see if they have the book you mentioned! Thank you very much. Love, Wardeh