One last project for 2024 — a new caftan to wear in Cancun! I found this pink bat-print cotton and just had to make it up into a retro ’60s caftan. Easy-peasy project and I definitely want to use the pattern again, especially since I already have several caftans in this exact style, both vintage
One last-minute outfit for Costume College 2024 was very loosely inspired (pun intended) by the 1910s Austrian dress reform designs of Emilie Flöge. These styles were corset-free and intended to give women more liberty and freedom of movement. Flöge had a successful boutique with her unconventional fashion designs, but she’s also known as the muse of
I joined the Barbie train a little late but also because the GBACG announced a Barbie themed event for 2024. And then I decided to get double use out of the costume by finishing it for Costume College for the movie/TV themed Friday night party. Took a while to decide which Barbie to make but
I was hosting a small daytime party at Carnevale 2024 — it was a gaming salon with a “fancy loungewear” costume theme. Since I’d be running around as hostess, I needed a simple, practical outfit (but still fabulous ;). Luckily, I already had a custom-made “Carlotta” Spiderweb Robe from Nicoletta Carlone in purple that I’d ordered
For Costume College 2023, I could only make a short trip and thus didn’t make or even bring a bunch of costumes. But for some reason, I had the idea to make this one, a faux Fortuny dress. I’d been looking around for that pre-pleated “plisse” fabric that mimics the style of Fortuny’s elusive silk
Somewhat at the last minute, I decided to attend the annual Art Deco Preservation Ball, mostly because in 2023 it was held at the Paramount Theater in Oakland. I’d long wanted to go to something in this gorgeous local landmark, and since I seem to know a bunch of folks in the Art Deco Society,
This was not the Edwardian black-and-white stripe suit I planned for Carnevale 2022, but this was the one that turned out pretty damn good in the end. A year before, our group decided to take a walk in Edwardian costumes, preferably in black and white, during Carnevale. So I thought this would finally be the
I missed a few Carnevale parties in 2022 because my luggage was delayed by four days. But I wore most everything around at some time, like this mishmasy-y fantastical outfit that’s kind of 1920s with an exotic flair. I just wanted an excuse to wear this gorgeous purple velvet cocoon coat with a fur collar
The global pandemic, quarantine, lockdown, and all that really put a damper on my creativity and any interest or motivation I had to sew. I had one spurt of sewing-related energy back in April 2020, and I made this 1940s retro pattern, Butterick 6266, in bat-print fabric. All stash materials except for the belt buckle,
I bought this 1920s dress from LaVieDelight on Etsy several years ago, and I’m so pleased because it’s an actually flattering and also appropriate period shape. Many ’20s styles don’t work well on curvy bodies, but somehow this does. Plus, being a ‘little black dress,’ it’s perfect for accessorizing for different events. Which I’ve done!
A vintage 1910s black silk gown I found online. This November 2016 photoshoot by Sandra Brenchley (who also did the photo effects) was around the theme of a historical suffragette mourning the presidential election. We took these photos in the San Jose Rose Garden.
This year’s Halloween costume was inspired by Sarah telling me I had to do this, and the ladies in Bella Donna doing a black-and-white movie theme for the 2014 PEERS Bal des Vampyres. Since my friends there would be in somewhat related costumes, I acquiesced to Sarah’s demand (which was based on my super-short, post-chemo
Off & on for the past 20 years around Halloween, we held a party called the Famous Dead Person’s Ball. There are only two rules in this afterlife: You must come as somebody at least marginally famous & at least temporarily dead. We’ve had friends come as everyone from Che Guevara to Mae West to
I had an amazing time at the Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild’s Last Dinner on the Titanic, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking on April 14, 2012. This costumed dinner & dance took place at the Bellevue Club in Oakland, CA. Everyone was seated at tables of 10, & our group decided
Sometimes, you just want to go to an event, even if the historical era is not your bag, baby. Maybe you’re trying something new, maybe the event sounds like fun because it’s at a fabulous venue or it has a great combo of activities, or maybe all your friends are going, or it could be