This black silk robe a la francaise is about 80% hand-sewn, more than I ever intended. I've retrimmed it 4x now!
Recreating the pink portrait of Mary Queen of Scots had long been a dream, & I finally did it for my birthday.
My drag alter-ego is Leonard Autie, hairdresser to Marie Antoinette. He sometimes gets a new suit for Carnevale.
These are the instructions and pattern to make a small, metal-framed purse, for a class I taught at Costume College 2008. Metal-frame purse instructions PDF — Complete details for making a purse with a metal “kiss clasp” frame. This style of purse is accurate from about the 1400s to the present day, and you can
What I wanted to find at this year’s trip to the LA Garment District was something to go with this hot pink and silver (polyester) sari I’ve had in the Stash for years: I made a sketch of my costume concept in Tara Maginnis’ drawing class at Costume College (shown at left). The idea is
So I updated my swatch book last night. Which required measuring of some yardage. And I don’t think I have enough fabric for my intended Carnivale costume. The black shantung embedded with shisha mirrors is only 4 yards of 45″ wide material, and something tells me that just won’t be enough for a robe a
Well, no in-progress updates or anything! Half a year later, I picked up the project again about two weeks before the Lumieres Summer Pique-nique. I wanted something new to wear, as I’d worn the same pink francaise to two other picnics at the same location already. Also, I got the idea of buying a big
This sort of robe a la francaise held up in a polonaise would be both very pretty and quite practical for Carnivale next year. Can’t have a train or anything dragging about in the damp, and despite the potential cuteness, I don’t want to go all lolita-short. That example circa 1760s-1770s is more accurate. I
Photos from Costume-Con 26’s official photographer.
My weekend… It was a lot of things. 98% of them amazingly good. The truly crowning jewel, for those who didn’t hear, was this: Best in Show, Costume-Con 26 Historical Masquerade. Master Costumer for reals. See also: and the original inspiration. SO FUCKING WORTH IT. ******
Yay!!! Well, I’m not happy with mine (it’s a weird dress, but that’s the portrait and era’s fault; I’m so totally ripping the bertha and tucker off after this). But it’s done and mostly fits, especially if I don’t tight-lace (oops, I actually lost a tiny bit of weight after I did the skirt). Added
Dharma Trading Company rules the world!!! Dude, I always knew this was one awesome outfit, but these fine folks have, yet again, exceeded expectations! I’ve been hemming and hawing (mostly hawing) about what fabric to use for this last tiny little stupid annoying bit on my masquerade costume. I don’t really have anything right in
Anyone have a source — either online or that they can scan and post — for what one of those little lace caps looks like *not* on a woman’s head? I’m wondering how I should make mine. It doesn’t have ear flaps afaik. In the portrait, it mostly looks like just a back veil. Easy
Berthas are ugly and hard to make! But I’m getting there — evidence is in my folder on the Y!Group. Photo of my bodice with the bertha pinned on and lace pinned on (but not gathered). OMG I hate berthas! So completely ugly. And it kept angling weird, and the pleats went wonky on me
I feel kinda like a rockstar because last night I finished all those bloody hand-bound eyelets (though they were not actually bloody, thank the gods) *and* I am this close to being finished with the CC26 program book. The later looks a whole lot better than the former, but still. I’m doing it. Go me.
Bleh, hand-sewing. Hand-bound eyelets blow chunks. I’ve done one half of the bodice tho. Think it took about 4 hours (I called in sick to work today — was headachey in the a.m.). My fingers are sore. Not in an RSI way (yet) but in a ‘wish I could work with a thimble’ way. At
Ugh, three hours to make one sleeve. Bloody freakin’ hell. Wasn’t even hand-sewn! Just fiddly as all get out. Only took a few teeny breaks to see some of the fights during the Sharks game and relieve my back. Here comes Calgary, should be interesting. Nose back to the grindstone…
I just got a vintage chemise off eBay to wear with my gown. It’s perfect! Fits great and the neckline is the right shape for the low neck of the bodice (at least in a quick try-on last night). My old Victorian chemise is black and I was worried about it showing and about the
