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
At some point during the summer of 2022, I was cleaning out my costume closet and decided I could revamp my old 1570s French Valois Gown into something … my friend Loren of The Costumer’s Closet had made some very pretty gowns inspired by The Borgias (2011-13) TV show, and that gave me an idea.
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
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,
For Costume College 2013, I was invited by Loren to join a group creating Disney villains — but 18th-century versions! This was inspired by a group of costumers who had done 18th-century versions of Disney princesses at the previous year’s Gala & were planning to wear their outfits at the Ice Cream Social. Since I
This is the ladies auxiliary of the Tactical Alcohol Consumption Squad, as formed by Kevin Roche and Andrew Trembley. They created the St. George Special Forces to consume absinthe, so, with Kevin’s blessing, we created the Pink Drink Commandos to consume Cosmopolitans. Any gal who enjoys a Pink Drink can join — just use the
As advertised by Loren, this costume was both fabulous *and* comfortable to wear! My version was much more voluminous than the other ladies, but I planned it that way. I wanted to float around on a big cloud of silk. And I did. Good news is that this will become a Costume College tradition, so
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. ******
Got the answer to some questions I asked of the Masquerade Directors, FYI. First, is about our Winterhalter — yes, his costume needs to go through workmanship judging, even though he’s really a ‘prop’ for the presentation and what we’d planned for him to wear is more theatrical than documentably historical. Kendra, Sarah, and I
I like the reasoning for hoops! Also, this is a painting — walking in and sitting down in the positions required by the painting will be much easier in hoops. If we were wearing tons of petticoats, we’d need helpers to fouf out all those petticoats under the skirts. It’s not serging that makes me
Herein are the chronicles of my little part in the massive, nine-costumer group to recreate the Portrait of the Empress Eugenie Surrounded by her Maids of Honor (1855) by Franz Xaver Winterhalter. We entered the historical masquerade competition at Costume-Con 26 in San Jose, 2008, and won Best in Show. My costume is that of