Clothing for the Warrior and the Courtier: Patterns of Sixteenth Century European Court Dress

Tiramani examined items of 16th century European dress in the ROM’s collection with a special focus on a rare brigandine dating to 1500-1530, an item associated with royalty and courtiers. Functionally, a comparable modern-day garment would be a bullet-proof vest, although the ROM’s brigandine is much more sumptuous and decorative, being made of deep red velvet, and the interior protective metal plates are held in place with decorative brass rivets. Her experience as a costume designer greatly influenced her research and interpretation of the garments. She approached the garments with a deep practical and technical knowledge. Her lecture discussed the cut and construction of many 16th century items held by the ROM, highlighting the decorative techniques used and the interaction between armour and clothing, and how this knowledge can provide deeper context into interpreting Shakespeare’s texts for stage productions.