Author: kendra

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The White Queen – can we talk?

Have you seen the new BBC/Starz TV miniseries “The White Queen“?  If so, can we talk — about how bad the costumes and hair are?

This is an adaptation of some of Philippa Gregory’s books, and I’m sure they are just the most historically accurate things out there (I got halfway through the first book and then, as usual, got irritated with Gregory’s writing and lack of historical knowledge).  And yes, it’s yet another “We’re not trying to be slavishly historically accurate!” in terms of design/costumes/whatnot.  Fine.  Yawn.

First, let’s look at a few images of some of our key female characters:

Elizabeth Woodville via Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth Woodville via Wikimedia Commons
Anne Neville via Wikimedia Commons
Margaret of Anjou via Wikimedia Commons

Now, let’s talk about the series costumes & hair:

Many of the female characters (here, Anne Neville -- also Elizabeth Woodville does this too) wear elaborate braids that look like they've been slept in for three weeks. Sadly I can't find a good picture -- this is the closest -- but they're frizzy with hair sticking out everywhere. Huh?
Jacquetta (Elizabeth Woodville's mom) has some pretty cool hair though!
Some of the dresses are reasonably pretty and elegant, like this one on Elizabeth Woodville (who is a dead ringer for a young Trinny of Trinny & Susannah).
But then Elizabeth Woodville will spend multiple episodes in something really boring like this. Okay yes, you're showing her in her relaxed clothes, but still -- YAWN.
Isabelle Neville's (left) wardrobe was clearly raided from some high school theater department.
Margaret Beaufort wears a lot of simple, high necked clothes -- okay, makes sense for someone who is really pious. But they're all suspiciously Star Trek in their cut. And one of the few times she wore something with a lower neck, I swear I saw a bra strap.
I don't know what Margaret of Anjou is wearing here, but I know I hate it.
And on a side note, I know next to nothing about medieval armor, but all of the leads wander around with this one shoulder in armor, one not thing going on. It doesn't seem very functional to me.

 

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1760s Brunswick (and brief court gown update)

Whew!  I am just coming to the end of my super crunch time at work, and I’ve barely had time to open emails, let alone keep up with anything else.  If I owe you an email/update about the court projects, don’t worry, I’ll be getting to that asap… plus posting a round-up of what’s going on out there in blog-land re: court gowns.  To tide you over, check out these great posts on French court dress from the Dreamstress, and Swedish court dress from Isis’ Wardrobe.

As another tide-you-over, I thought I should get around to finally posting pics of my REALLY finished 1760s Brunswick.  I’d needed to trim the skirt, and wear it to document said trimming!  Well, I got to the trimming a year or two back, and then finally had a chance to wear it when my 18th century group Lumieres went to a museum in San Francisco called the Legion of Honor, which is a copy of the French version in Paris.  They were having an exhibition on “Royal Treasures from the Louvre:  Louis XIV to Marie-Antoinette,” which was very appropriate!  The best part of the day was when we were having drinks and food in the museum cafe, the curator came out to see our costumes.  We all introduced ourselves as our characters, many of which are based on real French 18th century people, and the curator knew who all of us were!  (To me, the Duchesse de Polignac, he said “You naughty girl” – ha!).

So here are some pictures of the finished Brunswick in the courtyard of our local 18th century reproduction building:

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Court Ensembles – Wow!

I can’t get over how many people have thrown their hats into the ring for the court ensembles project!  This is crazy fabulous!  I figured a few people would jump in, but whoa!  We now have 46 people participating.

I’ve just updated the overall project page with images of claimed dresses and links to blogs.  If you’d like to be listed and I missed you, please comment or drop me an email!

PS We have no boy outfits, this makes me sad.  Somebody, recruit a boy to make a pink spangly outfit!

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Buy My Crap! And other fabulous costume-y things!

This Saturday I’ll be selling off fabric, patterns, trim, jewelry, and some vintage clothes and completed costumes at the GBACG Costumers Bazaar.  I’m one of many sellers, so this will be a great place to come get some excellent deals on both finished costumes and costume-y supplies.

The sale is 1-5pm in Albany (east bay, north of Berkeley).  Free entrance for GBACG members, $5 for non-members.  Join us!

GBACG Costumers Bazaar