Towers in the Mist: Week 3
Goudge Readalong, Feb 2024
"Diccon looked fascinating when he was dressed. He wore doublet and trunk and hose of russet, with a little pleated ruff at the neck... It has been the prickling of this ruff around his neck that had led to the regrettable incident of that hot August."
Elizabeth Goudge, Towers in the Mist
Elizabethan Costumes
The third section of Towers in the Mist leads us from the heights of the holy well into the sad business of death and plague, and then to the gifts of Christmas.
But for today we are going to zoom out a bit to catch some of the historical details that have been passing us by so far this month: the many interesting Elizabethan garments!
Here are photos and info for a few that we will look at today:
Ruffs
Men’s trunk hose
“The late daffodils were bowing and curtseying to the west wind and Joan thought they looked like beautiful ladies dancing the pavane. Their farthingales, she pointed out to Meg, were a lovely pale yellow, pale as the first clouds of the morning, but the kirtles underneath them were much richer in color, like the kingcups beside the river or the buttercups in the quadrangle. The twins had once been taken to see some beautiful ladies and gentlemen dancing the pavane in Christ Church hall and they had never forgotten it…”
Towers in the Mist, ch 3
Women’s Farthingales
“One day, they told each other, they too would be grown up and dance in Christ Church hall, and the candle flames that would be burning in their hundreds to light the dance would not be so yellow as the dresses they would wear... It must be a wonderful thing to be grown up... Like being born again.”
Elizabeth Goudge, Towers in the Mist, ch 3
Have any of the costumes or garments stood out to you in your reading? Love to hear!
Also an announcement for the end of Towers in the Mist:
*Join us for a Zoom Book discussion on Wednesday February 28th at 3pm EST! Link below:
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