#historical novel
If your fantasy world has historical connotations then having a grasp on historical fashion is really important. Talking about clothes can add layers of depth to your world, like the keftas in Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. In this post, I will mostly be focusing on historical fashion from Europe as this is what I know most about.
Class Hierarchy
If you want to show class and wealth differences, fashion can be key to doing so. However, this isn’t in the same way as we would see in modern times unless your world has the capacity for fast fashion. Being rich didn’t mean you had a closet the size of a barn with lots of floofy fabrics like in Bridgerton, it meant having a few garments in the latest fashion that you wore frequently. The less wealthy you were the more out of fashion your gowns or coats would be, however, gowns would often be altered where possible to fit the new style.
The poor would still wear imitations of high fashion, but in simpler ways with simpler fabrics. Second hand or homemade was the norm. Contrary to popular belief, being poor didn’t mean ceased to care about fashion and well get onto why later.
Regional Fashion
Just because something was the height of fashion in Moscow, doesn’t mean it was the heigh of fashioning Paris. On a smaller scale, fashions would take time to reach rural area’s and smaller cities, so fashion would differ from region to region within a country. If you want your world to feel vast, including differences in clothing preference from country to country and region to region could really help with this. Other characters can then identify more about a new character just by looking at them.
The Importance of Fashion
Historically, fashion held a much greater significance than it does today. This is because of what fashion meant in society. Through most of history in Europe, there have been very strict social rules that everyone had to abide by. Dressing in line with the fashion was a way of showing that you were in line with these social rules. This meant being fashionable wasn’t about setting trends and breaking out of the norm, it was about keeping to the norm as much as possible. Breaking out from the confirmative fashion could risk your place in society, affecting your relationships, marriage prospects and ultimately your livelihood.
Of course there were people who took risks that paid off and subsequently moved fashion onward, but fashion moved at a much slower pace due to the amount of time and expense required to make completely new garments and so these were relatively small changes.
Hope this was helpful!
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Fanart herein! I just read Stephanie Burgis’s historical fantasy Masks and Shadows, which is a pretty awesome story set in 1770s Hungary, about how romance blooms between an Italian castrato and an Austrian widow when they meet at the court of Esterhazy. And there’s magic and alchemy and Gothic horror too. Highly recommended!
Anyway, I love the central romance, and after I finished reading the story I couldn’t get the main characters (Carlo Morelli, the castrato, and Charlotte von Steinbeck, the widow) out of my head. So here they are. I really want a sequel!
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On Monday #RibbonsofScarlet COVER WILL BE REVEALED, one puzzle fragment at a time, creating a Revolutionary whole, just as the novel does.
Follow the reveal on Facebook or Twitter as each of 6 female co-authors unveils her own piece of the cover puzzle.
Schedule:
10 am Stephanie Dray
10:30 Laura Kamoie
11:00 Heather Webb
11:30 Eliza Knight
12:00 moi (Sophie Perinot)
12:30 Kate Quinn
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We all know that love isn’t always convenient. Nor does it always go smoothly–especially if your mother is Queen Catherine de Medicis!
This Valentine’s Day why not indulge in a tale of INTRIGUE and FORBIDDEN LOVE, 16th century style? Or give it as a Valentine?
MÉDICIS DAUGHTER is available on Amazon, B&N or wherever books are sold.
Voila mes amies! Whether you are a royalist or revolutionary, the time for action is now! I am are delighted to announce that my latest novel, RIBBONS OF SCARLET, is now AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER EVERYWHERE!!! ***As an aside my faithful ones, please note BARNES & NOBLE CURRENTLY HAS THE LOWEST PRE-ORDER PRICE ON THE PAPERBACK EDITION.***
This is an exciting, collaborative work, involving five other top historical fiction talents, and represents a unique, glorious and often gritty look at the French Revolution from an entirely female perspective.
So help us get this party started by pre-ordering your copy today!!! Merci mille fois!
Pre-Order RIBBONS OF SCARLET on
Amazon
B&N
Google
iBooks
IndieBound
Kobo
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Thank you Ukrainian readers for making MEDICIS DAUGHTER a best seller. I love the Ukrainian edition–particularly it’s use of the Clouet portrait of Princess Margot as a child. I am also way into the sewn-in ribbon book mark. Have to admit I would never have recognized my name in the Cyrillic alphabet :)
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What do you give the 16th Century Queen who has everything? Hey we all know the mother-daughter relationship can be perilous. Just be glad YOUR mother isn’t Catherine de Médicis!
MEDICIS DAUGHTER: the coming-of-age tale of the youngest Valois princess, Marguerite who must decide where her duty lies–with her powerful mother’s commands or with her how conscience.
OnAmazonor wherever books are sold.
SPRING, SEASON OF LOVE … AND PERIL!
Every woman knows the Mother-Daughter relationship is perilous. Now imagine your mother is Catherine de Médicis—a powerful Queen who views independence as disloyalty. That is the situation Marguerite de Valois, finds herself in. Margot knows she will be married off to forge an alliance for the French crown. She doesn’t anticipate falling head-over-heels for the charismatic Duc de Guise …
MEDICIS DAUGHTER on AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/M%C3%A9dicis-Daughter-Novel-Marguerite-Valois/dp/1250072093
Or wherever books are sold.
February is sort of a month of love thanks to Valentines Day, but in 1569 King Charles IX was unlucky at love–or at least at marriage–when his bride was stolen by his former brother-in-law. Ouch!
Enjoy the conniving and cunning of the Valois Court under King Charles IX in MEDICIS DAUGHTER. On Amazon or wherever books are sold.
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In January of 1236 a young woman arrived in England from a far warmer climate—Eleanor of Provence had come to be King Henry III’s queen. She is one of two sisters at the heart of my novel THE SISTER QUEENS, the other being Marguerite of Provence who was the queen of King Louis IX of France. In honor of the record cold weather, ENJOY THIS EXCERPT FROM THE SISTER QUEENS. . .
January 1236—Canterbury, England
The winter winds, it seemed, wished me in England as urgently as His Majesty. As a result, my ship touched ground earlier than anyone expected. I was sincerely glad of it. This sea voyage was my first, and I did not enjoy it. From the moment we left Wissant, Agnes and I took turns being sick. I thought my stomach could not feel more agitated. I was wrong. As we pass through the gates of Canterbury, word comes that the King is already in the city.
“He must have left London before we landed, for he travelled more than three times our distance,” Uncle Guilllaume tells me. “He waits for you at the steps of the Cathedral.”
“At the Cathedral?”
“It appears he intends to be married today.”
My ice-cold hands drop my reins in surprise. Thankfully I am not the type to swoon or I might well be lying on the cold January ground beside my palfrey this very minute.
Still, my countenance must be pale for the King’s proctor, Sir Robert de Mucegros, says bracingly, “I am sure His Majesty will be postponed until tomorrow in deference to his Lady’s fatigue. It is only His Majesty’s naturally enthusiastic temperament running ahead of him.”
I sit up straight, gathering both my reins and my wits. I am here to marry Henry of England whether the man or the thought be palatable or no. What must be done is best to be done quickly. “Sir Robert, I am at His Majesty’s disposal. If he likes, he may wed me straight from the saddle, though I would beg an hour to warm myself and change my gown.”
When we reach them, the cathedral’s grounds are enormous. But not large enough for my party, so only a score or so of the most important ride on with me. Even so we spill off the frozen path and overhang the square beside the church where we pull up to dismount.
Another large party is already there. All of them are male. All are noblemen sumptuously dressed and wearing heavy fur-lined cloaks, though I doubt there is enough fur on this island to make the weather bearable. None are young. I do not allow myself to hope for much, and it is just as well. As my uncle helps me from my horse, a man outstrips his companions and clasps Robert Mucegros in an embrace. The gentleman is short and square. Dear Lord, I know that my husband is old but must he be short as well? Sure enough, it is Henry of England. Releasing Sir Robert he turns in my direction. He is not at all handsome. His face is ruddy from the cold and one eyelid droops alarmingly, giving him a sleepy look. But his smile is merry and his curly hair and beard give him a comfortable look. He is also beautifully and meticulously dressed. If he is a man of fashion we shall at least have something in common.
“Lady Eleanor,” the voice is deep and as warm as his smile, “Our Lord and Saint Edward be praised for your safe arrival! We have gathered the first among our magnates to greet you and pay their respects. We have also brought gifts meant to honor you. But we see now that all our efforts pale to insignificance in the shadow of your beauty.”
He executes a bow as easily as a younger man would. And I find myself, all in all, rather more satisfied than not. It could certainly be worse. And as Uncle Guilllaume promised me, he appears to have good teeth. “Your Majesty does me great honor by his compliments and even greater distinction by giving me his hand.” I curtsy and then, knowing already the King’s inclination I add, “When, Sir, shall we wed?”
THE SISTER QUEENS. Copyright © 2012 by Sophie Perinot. All rights reserved.
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What better way to commemorate the record cold weather than with a cold weather quote. Let’s face it they had winter in the 16th century too—and without the benefit of central heating. In my novel MÉDICIS DAUGHTER one of the earliest scenes is set in the winter as the youngest French Princess, Marguerite de Valois, sets out on her journey to adulthood on a very cold day indeed. ENJOY THIS EXCERPT FROM MÉDICIS DAUGHTER…
Winter 1564— Fontainebleau, France
“Dear God, the cold!”
It must be the hundredth time my gouvernantehas uttered these words, or something very like, in the last three days.
“It was also cold in Amboise,” I reply, trying to keep my voice cheerful while repressing an urge to kick Madame in the shins as she sits acrossfrom me in the coach. How can she think of the cold at a time like this?
“There were fi res at Amboise, Your Highness, and chimneys that drew properly.”
When we stopped at Nemours last evening, Madame was nearly smothered, thanks to an ill- maintained flue. Well, she can hardly blame me: I wanted to continue on to Fontainebleau, as it could not be more than another two hours’ ride. Madame, however, insisted we stop. She wanted me freshly dressed and looking my best for our arrival at the château, for my arrival at Court.
Court— since word came a fortnight ago that I was summoned, I have thought of nothing else. I am going to join the Court, and the Court ensemblewill depart upon the largest royal progress ever undertaken.
MÉDICIS DAUGHTER. Copyright © 2015 by Sophie Perinot. All rights reserved.
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The hours are winding down on my EXTRAORDINARY HOLIDAY SPECIAL offering SIGNED COPIES of MÉDICIS DAUGHTER for just $10 each (including shipping). Books have been wending their way across the USA but I still have a few copies left.
Orders MUST be RECEIVED by midnight tomorrow. So the choice is yours—two turtle doves under the tree or a pair of desperate lovers trying to outsmart Queen Catherine de Médicis?
DETAILS:https://www.facebook.com/DaughterofdeMedici/posts/890711184431765
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It’s the TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS Medicis Daughterstyle!!! As of today, there are still 7 days left to order a SIGNED copy of MÉDICIS DAUGHTER—your personal ticket to 16th century France with all the pomp, passion and peril that guarantees—at special holiday pricing!
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