Lollipop 18th-Century Outfit

Sometime around Christmas before Carnevale 2024, I heard about a new costumed meetup, a Toybox Afternoon Tea at the Hotel Danieli. The theme was enchanted childhood and toys, which didn’t interest me at first. But then I was looking through my stash and saw this pink patchwork stuff (I think it was a bedspread?) that I’d bought during lockdown with the intention of making something harlequin-like for Carnevale.

I ruminated on it for a while and came up with this 18th-century lollipop costume — it’s childish if not specifically childhood, and I could use tons of stuff from my stash! Mismatched pinks because that’s what I have, throw some black trims on that were sitting around in my boxes, and use a set of ruffled neck and wrist pieces that I’d made but never worn. I did buy some actual lollipop props from AliExpress and a lollipop embroidery pattern, but for $30, this was an inexpensive costume.

I used the J.P. Ryan 18th-century jacket pattern that I’ve used many, many times before, so I knew it’d go fast. I made the majority of this outfit over the MLKJ holiday weekend, which has got to be some kind of record for me because I’m a notoriously slow sewer.

Added a few little details, all bits from my stash.

Waiting for these lollipop charms to arrive really pushed this to be a last-minute costume!

Topped it off with a pink wig I’d previously styled for Leonard and a pink tricorn made by Jenn that I wore at my very first Carnevale 15 years ago.

This was a fun daytime event, hanging out with friends!