Linen Gonete

My husband was to be knighted at Pennsic XLVII. He is a member of House Bloodguard, and I knew that he would like me to wear their colors when he was called into court.

House Bloodguard is a 15th century Teutonic household represented by a white maltese cross on a parti-colored field of black and red. I didn’t own an outfit that fit the house colors, and didn’t want to invest in a gown that would be worn only once. To circumvent this issue, I decided to make an Iberian jacket in the house colors to be worn over one of my dresses. This way, I could match my husband’s household during the ceremony and stay true to my persona’s aesthetic.

Gonetes, or Iberian jackets, were a wardrobe staple for Iberian women in the 15th and 16th centuries, regardless of faith. They were worn by nobles and peasants alike, and were made from a variety of fabrics and colors.

This short-sleeved parti-color gonete is made of medium weight linen with all apparent seams finished by hand. The neckline has a narrow facing, and all the raw edges were finished with a simple double-fold hem. Triangular gores were inserted in the center back and the side seams starting at waist level.

The gonete was worn over a sleeveless silver brocade saya and a wide camisa.