Custom Couture Jacket, Coordinating Skirts & Matching Hat

A distinguished made-to-measure historical ensemble, handcrafted in the atelier of Marga van der Vet and created entirely in consultation with the client.

This couture-level creation combines historical elegance with theatrical refinement, inspired by the rich visual world of Charles Dickens, Baroque court fashion, Victorian tailoring, and Gothic romanticism.

Each ensemble is individually designed and tailored to your measurements, ensuring both a flattering silhouette and exceptional comfort.

The Ensemble Includes

• Long historical jacket
• Two coordinating skirts
• Matching hat or headpiece

Every element is handmade with precision and finished using traditional couture techniques.

The Jacket

The long jacket is designed with a sculptural, historically inspired silhouette and may include:

• High standing collar
• Turned-back side panels
• Lace-trimmed sleeves
• Decorative cuffs and trims
• Structured tailoring
• Fully lined interior

The jacket creates an elegant elongated line while maintaining movement and dramatic presence.

The Skirts

1. Mermaid Skirt

A fitted silhouette through the hips, narrowing toward the knee before flowing outward into a graceful bell shape.

Ideal for:

• Victorian styling
• Gothic elegance
• Dramatic theatrical silhouettes

2. Wide Historical Skirt

A voluminous skirt with rich drape and strong Baroque presence.

Perfect for:

• Historical balls
• Stage productions
• Portrait photography
• Court-inspired styling

Both skirts are individually tailored to your measurements.

Materials & Colours

Fabrics and colours are selected in consultation.

Possible materials include:

• Jacquard brocade
• Silk blends
• Taffeta
• Gobelin fabrics
• Velvet
• Historical trims and lace

Colour palettes may range from restrained antique neutrals to rich theatrical jewel tones.

Ideal For

• Historical events and balls
• Dickens festivals
• Theatre productions
• Gothic and Baroque styling
• Historical reenactment
• Couture cosplay
• Fine art photography

Craftsmanship

Each ensemble is:

• Entirely handmade
• Individually tailored
• Couture finished
• Structurally designed for elegance and movement
• Unique and never mass produced

This is slow fashion created with discipline, patience, and respect for historical silhouette.

Pricing

Each ensemble is individually priced according to fabric selection, detailing, and complexity of construction.

Using high-quality brocades, silk blends, couture linings, and traditional atelier techniques, prices generally begin at approximately €1,495 for a complete made-to-measure ensemble.

More elaborate couture commissions with extensive embellishment, luxury silks, or advanced historical detailing may exceed this range.

A personal quotation is provided after consultation.

A Signed, One-of-a-Kind Atelier Creation

There are garments that complete an outfit — and there are pieces that define presence.

This couture ruff collar belongs unmistakably to the latter.

Created entirely by hand in the atelier of Marga van der Vet, each molensteenkraag is conceived as a singular work of wearable art. No templates, no repetition — only a disciplined dialogue between historical form and individual vision.

The Essence of Couture

Every collar begins with a personal consultation, where silhouette, proportion, and expression are carefully determined. From restrained classical elegance to bold sculptural volume, each decision shapes a piece that is entirely your own.

The result is not an accessory, but a signature object — designed to command attention in performance, portraiture, or curated collections.

Materials of Distinction

Only the finest materials are selected:

• Pure silk (taffeta, dupioni, organza or rare specialty silks)
• Carefully sourced lace (antique-inspired, brocante, or contemporary couture lace)
• Hand-applied pearls and beadwork
• Optional layered construction for architectural volume

Every pleat is individually formed and set by hand, ensuring both structural integrity and fluid movement.

Craftsmanship

This is slow couture in its most disciplined form.

Each ruff is:

• Fully handmade from start to finish
• Structurally engineered for balance and wearability
• Signed as an original atelier piece
• Never reproduced

Production requires extensive hours of precise handwork, particularly in the shaping of pleats and the application of embellishments.

Designed For

• Performance artists and stage professionals
• Fine art and editorial photographers
• Couture collectors
• Historical and fantasy stylists
• Exhibition and gallery use

This piece exists at the intersection of costume, fashion, and art.

Commission Process

Each couture collar is created through a structured atelier process:

• Personal design consultation
• Selection of silk, lace, and color palette
• Determination of pleat length, volume, and silhouette
• Production time: approximately 4–8 weeks
• 50% deposit required to secure the commission
• Final balance prior to shipping

Only a limited number of couture commissions are accepted per year.

Exclusivity

This is a strictly limited atelier category.

Each piece is:

• Individually designed
• Signed
• Entirely unique

No second version will ever be made.

Investment

• Base couture silk (minimal embellishment): €650 – €800
• Silk with lace and moderate pearl work: €850 – €1,050
• Fully elaborate, sculptural couture: €1,100 – €1,250+

For highly complex or exhibition-level pieces, pricing may exceed €1,500 depending on materials and atelier hours.

A Final Consideration

A couture ruff is not defined by fashion cycles.

It belongs to a lineage of craftsmanship where time, material, and discipline converge into form. What you acquire is not merely an object, but a piece of authored work — intended to endure, to be seen, and to be remembered.