Godey’s Lady’s Book, September 1890
Are we really almost there? Yep, the last few challenges are in sight. I started this after Costume College last year & intend to wrap it up with CoCo this year, because the theme will be accessories. I’m also teaching three accessories classes at Costume College: History of Purses (from about the 10th c. to 1950s), Essential Elizabethan Accessories (dos and dont’s aimed at the renfaire crowd), & Five Faux-Historical Accessories (repros used across eras that aren’t very accurate & what to use instead). Let me know if you’re going to CoCo, & maybe we can meet up at the pool bar to show off our favorite accessories from the past year’s challenges!
In the mean time, as you work on gloves & mitts for March, here are the last few challenges:
April 2014:
Parasols – With luck, patience, & sometimes money, you can buy or restore antique parasols. But covering modern frames works well too.
May 2014:
Necks & Waists – Those little pieces that finish off an outfit: Belts, sashes, fichus, ties, collars.
June 2014:
Makeup – Whether it’s apparent or not, makeup is a good idea for most costume outfits. Research your era’s beauty ideal & figure out how to recreate it.
July 2014:
Shoes & Stockings – Learn to make custom shoes or hosiery, or buy them to modify for a historical look.
All are listed on the Head to Toe page. Post whatever your working on to your blogs or the Flickr group — it’s been inspiring to see how everyone is creating these beautiful finishing touches.