"Astrid" Viking Dress, Diamond Twill Wool Blend

This wool dress is most suitable for Dark Age, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, or early medieval personas.

Drawing from history, this dress is made with a classic rectangle-and-triangle construction. Its shape and style make it a very versatile part of your wardrobe. It can be worn as an outer dress or underneath a Viking smokkr (apron dress). Remember, it’s the accessories that make the outfit! Will you pair this with a simple cap and apron? A sturdy belt and boots? Or beautiful clasps and jewellery? Will you be a merchant, a ranger, a warrior, or a princess? This versatile dress can be the basis of many outfits. It’s suitable for a variety of uses, such as reenactment, LARP, SCA, historical or fantasy costumes.

The body of the dress consists of rectangular panels, with side gores to give fullness to the skirt. It has a keyhole neckline and set-in sleeves. The hem and cuffs are finished with a double-fold hem, and the neckline is finished with a self-fabric facing, which has been top-stitched to stay put. The inside seams are overlocked and top-stitched around the armholes. All stitching has been done by machine; however, due to the colour of the thread and fabric, the machine stitching is not very noticeable.

This dress is made from a premium broken diamond woven twill wool blend—80% wool, 20% nylon. The threads of the fabric are dyed black and blue, which gives the fabric a beautiful diamond-patterned effect. Twill weaves are more flexible than plain woven fabric, which helps make them more comfortable to wear and gives them a lovely drape and movement.

Twill weaves have been found dating back as far as the Iron Age. Wool was widely available and is the most accurate fabric for dresses for a range of personas, including Dark Ages, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, or medieval. Not only was wool readily available, but it also has many properties that make it ideal for clothing even today:

•  The fibres of wool trap air, making it a natural insulator, helping you to stay warm. 
•  It’s breathable, which means it keeps you warm without overheating.
• Wool is warm even when wet and can shed water, making it a good choice to wear during rain.
•  While not waterproof, wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels wet, which keeps you dry for longer in rain.
• It’s a durable fabric.
• Wool is naturally flame-resistant and safer to wear than polyester during living history or historical events featuring campfires for warmth and cooking.

Care Instructions: Wool is naturally breathable and resistant to odours. Hand wash or spot-clean with mild detergent and lay flat to dry to maintain its shape.

Designed in the USA. Crafted in Nepal. A Mythrojan product.