Period: around 1600, Germany

This ladies' suit of Spanish fashion was based on the paintings from Lucas van Valkenborch and Moroni Ventaglio. We relied on the original cut of the countess' dress, which can be seen in the Bavarian National Museum in Munich.

The suit was crafted from red velvet with antique metal-braids. The sleeves are made of heavy, gold-inter-woven silk brocade. These slashed sleeves with wrist ruffs were still common during the Renaissance, whereas the lavish braid decorations already hint at the upcoming Baroque fashion.
This also applies to the bodice, which is already cut slightly round in the bust area. The top is completely stiffened and tabbed at the waist.
The opened overskirt uncovers the precious brocade underskirt. Long trailing sleeves are worn over the tighter sleeves of the actual dress. Besides its resplendence the geometric arrangement of the braids and the standing collar give this suit a rather serious character. Since it was designed for historical dancing we refrained from adding a train.
The suit can be worn with or without ruff.