This gown, still partly in the planning stages (I've completed one and a half sleeves), is going to be a masculine-styled brown brocade doublet with slashed and beaded sleeves (the way the slashes are caught back, each with a tiny pearl, is an adaptation of one shown in Patterns of Fashion, Janet Arnold.)

It will either be worn with a wired collar on an under-partlet, or an open ruff, as I look terrible in a closed one.

The underskirt will be of the same brown as the doublet and sleeves, with a centerpart of black lace with pearls. (The lace is hand-crochet; not exactly period, but it looks like a nice approximation of bobbin lace. Again, see Patterns of Fashion for the lace I styled it after.)

The overskirt will be of black satin, to match the padded rolls at the shoulders of the doublet.

As a cross-dressing option, I will likely make myself a pair of "pumpkin pants" with the panes decorated in an identical manner to the sleeves. Yes, I'm stupid.

Update, 7.17.00
Work on this piece has been stalled for a long time. The skirts are done, the lace trim is done. The bodice/doublet is done. All I have to do is finish the remaining sleeve, and concoct some sort of headgear to match. Alas, I can't find my tiny pearls, and I have no inclination to wear this thing in the California heat.

Maybe I'll finish it just so I can sell the damn thing.

Or else, I'll save it for a cold faire, and wear it for part of a day.