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Category Archives: Costume College

Black & White Caftan Inspired by 1910s Dress Reform

Posted on January 11, 2025 by Trystan L. Bass
Black & White Caftan

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

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Posted in 20th Century, Costume College | Tags: black & white caftan, dress reform, finished costume, historical research, last-minute sewing |

Day-to-Night Barbie

Posted on January 11, 2025 by Trystan L. Bass
Day-to-Night Barbie at GBACG event 2024

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

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Posted in 20th Century, Characters, Costume College | Tags: accessories, Barbie, cosplay, finished costume, movies, pretty in pink, wigs |

Gothic Heroine at Costume College

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Trystan L. Bass
Gothic Heroine at Costume College, photo by Mark Edwards

This was a quickie costume I threw together for Costume College because I’d heard the Friday Night Social had some kind of literature cosplay theme. Also, it was the hottest summer on record, I was only going to be at the event for a short time, thus I needed an easy, comfortable outfit. What’s better

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Posted in 19th Century, Costume College, Gothic | Tags: Bronte, costume college, finished costume, literary references, literature, shopping, undies, Wuthering Heights |

Gothic Mucha Maiden at Costume College

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Trystan L. Bass
Gothic Mucha Maiden at Costume College

I’d already worn my velvet teagown for two different Mucha-themed events when a group of friends suggested a Mucha meetup at Costume College 2023. As much as I love that teagown, I really did not want to wear it again this year and especially not in L.A. in late July! So I went about assembling

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Posted in Costume College, Fantasy, Gothic | Tags: accessories, costume college, crafty, finished costume, group costumes, mucha, shopping |

Costume College 2019 – 15th Anniversary Edition

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Trystan L. Bass
Costume College 2019 - shoes

Meaning, my 15th year of attending CoCo. OMG, yes, it’s true. Back in 2004, I randomly decided to fly solo (literally) to this L.A. area event that I’d heard about from fellow members of the local Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild. I’d been to Costume-Cons and SF/F cons before, but I knew nothing of Costume

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Posted in Costume College, Events | Tags: CorpGoth, costume college, Dolly Parton, Game of Thrones |

Costume College 2018, a Royally Rockin’ Party

Posted on August 10, 2018 by Trystan L. Bass
bird flip dress & necklace

Another CoCo has come and gone, and we survived! Well, except for some epically awful concrud, wherein most everyone I know came down with a nasty headcold immediately after Costume College. While I rarely, if ever, make elaborate new costumes for CoCo, I still have a blast attending for two reasons: I love teaching classes

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Posted in Costume College, Events | Tags: bling, costume college, drag queen, Mary Queen of Scots, MQoS pink gown, pretty in pink, teaching, travel |

Not dead, just uninspired – but maybe change is a-coming…

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Trystan L. Bass
Costume College 2017 skull tiara

Egads, I haven’t posted here since Costume College 2015. I did go to CoCo last year, but it was super-abbreviated — I flew in late Friday, taught one class Saturday morning, wore a modern cocktail dress to the Gala, and drove back with Sarah and Francis on Monday. I didn’t make any costumes last year,

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Posted in Costume College, Events, Plans | Tags: 1960s, bad girls, bling, costume college, group costumes, Handmaid's Tale, media reproduction, stewardess | 9 Comments |

Much Costume College, Wow!

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Trystan L. Bass
Pretty Pretty Princess Party 2015

I’m not ignoring my costume blog, but I really haven’t been “costuming” per se that much. Sure, I dress up for costumed events maybe once every six weeks, but I go huge stretches between making anything new. Until, dun dun dun, Costume College! Well, at least this year. I’ve gone back and forth over the

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Posted in Costume College, Events | Tags: 1870s bustle gown from Kendra, 18th-c riding habit, Bronte, costume college, cross-dressing, Frock Flicks, Game of Thrones, Leonard, Spoonflower | 2 Comments |

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