Costume Description |  Exhibit Pictures |  Images
Historical Reference |  Linkage

Dark green-gold velvet and brocade gown. Floor length, trained. Probably one piece with movie ‘cheats.’ Stylized empire waist. Deep ‘V’ neckline with velvet shawl collar trimmed in gold piping. Neckline insert of pleated green-gold metallic fabric. Tight sleeves of patterned brocade gathered into sleeve cap. Interesting lower sleeve detail (see pictures #6-9) - slashed with inserts of metallic fabric seen at neckline. Also features hanging over sleeves of dark green velvet lined in gold lame. Split overskirt of velvet also trimmed with gold piping (picture #10). Underskirt of patterned brocade that matches bodice and upper sleeves. Worn with long rope necklace and shorter jeweled cross. Headdress features two wire 'horns' covered with gauzy beaded veil.

This costume was part of the "Cinematic Couture" exhibit featuring costumes from Cosprop.co.uk. Here's the description from the placard:

Ever After (1998)
Anjelica Huston as Baroness Rodmilla De Ghent
Period ca. 1510
Costume Design by Jenny Beavan

This court gown is of figured velvet with Indian Embroidery on Brocade. The front panel is also Indian embroidery but a different pattern. The embroidery on the slashed sleeves include cornely work (a chain stitch) and gold wire which is twisted in to tiny springs (sometimes called "worms"). The hanging over sleeve is lined with gold lame. The pleating to the neckline is antique pleating, typically illustrated by the irregularity of the pleats. The same fabric is used in the slashes on the sleeves.

This dress is also worn during the Finale sequence - you can find more pictures of this gown on my Finale Gown research page.

This costume was on display as part of an exhibit entitled "Cinematic Couture." The pictures were taken by H of Candid Cool (link) and are reposted only for research purposes. Thanks to Maggie for finding the pictures! You can find her page on the exhibit [here].

   

               

           

Thanks to the cosprop.co.uk concept sketches, we know for certain that the vast majority of the costumes in Ever After were inspired by historical paintings, e.g., Danielle's Princess Gown, Danielle's Blue Library Gown, Jacqueline's Green Brocade Gown. We've been able to identify many of the paintings seen in these concept sketches, but since we don't have sketches for each costume, we have to speculate for some. A few historical references with similar elements to Rodmilla's Masquerade "Devil" Gown are shown below.

Picture #1, left has a similar sleeve treatment. The "horns" that Rodmilla wears are actually called cornettes. Women usually wore white linen over them, but Rodmilla chose a sheer gold veil to be fancy. See Picture #2, middle and Picture #3, right.

Left to Right:
Young Mother with Child by Lucas Cranach the Elder, Germany, 1530s
Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry – Aout by the Limbourg Brothers, Flanders, 1410s (and detail)

       

Sapphire and Sage - purchase a replica of Rodmilla's jeweled cross necklace