Démodé

historical costume projects & resources

Lumieres Summer Pique-Nique

On Saturday, Lumieres held it’s seemingly annual summer picnic, again at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland. It was just what I’ve been craving — running around a park in 18th century costume and being generally silly! Of course, it happened smack dab in the middle of packing to move, so I was exhausted, so wasn’t quite up to my usual silliness… There were a lot of very lovely gowns, including Sarah’s new black & white stripey (kill! kill!), Cynthia’s new indienne print en forreau, and Teresa’s new indienne print overgown… and many more! We had a gorgeous picnic followed by lots of socializing and a reading from the Sheridan play The Rivals. What more can you want from a summer afternoon?

I wore my green zone anglaise, seeing as I haven’t worn it in forever and have been over-wearing all my other 18th century dresses. I thought briefly about wearing my new mourning francaise, but realized that I want to tweak a few things before wearing it but didn’t have any time, and didn’t want to set myself up for that frustration when you put on something in a hurry and it isn’t right.

Photos!

10 thoughts on “Lumieres Summer Pique-Nique

  1. I got the fabric on massive discount from fabric.com about a year ago. It was claimed to be a silk suit-weight twill, but in reality turned out to be a silk suit-weight twill with lycra. SIGH. Too good to be true, but at $2/yard, whose going to argue? 😉

  2. Wow you guys really make me wish I lived on the east coast! Looks FABULOUS! you’re all gorgeous

  3. This is what’s missing in Canada, nobody here does this. Canadians are all too reserved to dress up in this manner.

    I want to dress up in 18th century frocks and have tea parties and picnics, but no one else will make stuff and dress up with me. *pout!*

    By the by, does anyone around here know where I might be able to find some tabby weave silk?

  4. Ugh, you guys are all gorgeous! I swear I’ll do something productive 18th century wise one day (if I ever finish my corset- at least it’s cut out and half sewn…).

  5. Wow!! Who’s the lady in the AMAZING hat? (super tall colored ostrich feathers). It certainly has that ‘oomph’ factor of the hats in the later 18th century. She’s wearing what looks like a looks like a cotton indienne print.

  6. :whimpers:

    Again I realise I’m living on the wrong continent, cos you all look so good and that a good time is being had.

    Love the pictures, and one day will have my own to share.

  7. Darn all, why must I torture myself with seeing all this? I so WANT to go to these kinds of events, but I live too far in the country in a state totally lacking in diversions of this kind. 🙁

    brocadegoddess: I haven’t heard of that kind of silk before, have you tried sites like fashionguru.com? I’m thinking a Google search might bring something up.

Leave a Reply to Robin