Category: GBACG

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Report: I Am Not Dead!

I have been, however, sick as the proverbial dog since Wednesday. I know you all know, but there’s nothing worse to a costumer than taking TWO sick days and not be physically able to sew. Okay, I did a tiny bit on my Wings of the Dove dress (post forthcoming), but really nothing in the scope of having TWO DAYS OFF. So in non-fever, nose blowing news…

I’ve added a review of A Very Long Engagement to my 20th c. costume movies page.

I’ve caved and decided I am going to Costume College, where I shall be teaching a class on bodice draping and another on hairstyles of the bustle era.

And Sunday I dragged myself off of the couch (outside? there’s an outside?) to go Costume Academy, which is the GBACG one-day multi-class costume workshop. Attended Margo Anderson’s class on courtly women’s costume in the Elizabethan Era, then had lunch and looked at pretties (we had a dealer’s room this year!) and bought some vintage buttons — bought four (I know, they were expensive!) white satin with a little embroidered black flower 3/4″ vintage 1870s buttons, and five 1″ sorta brass colored will-work-for-Renaissance vintage buttons (I’m thinking I’ll incorporate these into my jeweled-belt-for-which-I-don’t-know-the-name for my Venetian gown) — and THEN taught my class on bustle gowns/overskirt (apron/poufs) draping. The class seemed to go well, in that some people said so afterwards, but I was so sick and out of it that I feel like I was very scattered and uninformative. It’s also SO annoying to try to teach an overview class without being able to have a bazillion images. I brought 11×17 color photocopies, but because of cost could only have about 20 images, when I would have loved to have shown much more (esp. undies, more construction details, etc.). I skipped the last class to return to my proper place on the couch.

And now I have to go back to work today! Whine!

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Gaskell Ball

On Saturday night the GBACG went to the Gaskell Ball. It was much more successful than I thought it would be — there were at least 35, maybe 40, of us, and I think I got to say hi to most of them.

PHOTOS

Possibly because the guild was promoting that specific ball, and probably through some freak of the space/time continuum, the costuming was MUCH better than it usually is (meaning, there was more of it and less corset/prom skirt!). I had an excellent time dancing, chatting with friends and fellow costumers, and stalking all of the lovely costumes. Some of the best gowns were on Barbara, who wore her grey striped (!!) wedding dress (more info on her website), and by Heidi’s recreation of the Madame X dress from the Sargent painting.

I wore my stripedy 1780s robe a l’anglaise, and had fun ratting my hair out. As I was leaving the house I mentioned to my husband, “You know, about half of the people there are going to say, ‘What the $!)# did she do to her hair?'” — and I was right. One person said, “It looks like you’re going for a servant look or something…” Le sigh!

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I Am Incredibly Boring

I’ve been slammed at work, so have very little energy to sew or be costumey or come up with interesting content for this here site! In a desperate attempt to post something, I offer:

Charles A. Whitaker Auctions is having another one of their pesky costume sales — only one gallery is up, so check back later for more images.

I bought some beautiful silk brocade (well, we hope — it hasn’t arrived yet) on ebay, which will be perfect to make Henriette de Nevers’s dress from Queen Margot.

Two weeks ago the GBACG had our open house, which was ever so much fun. I wore my stripey Regency dress and spencer in the fashion show. Sarah at Mode Historique got some good pictures.

Saturday night I’m going to the PEERS Mardi Gras ball; planning to wear my green robe a la francaise plus an appropriately Carnivale-colored mask. Wondering if I can do something with a veil to make my costume more interesting.

I did cut out and sew together a mockup of my 1910 wings of the dove dress, but haven’t done enough to warrant posting.

La la! I am boring!

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GBACG Buccanneers Tea

The Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild’s Buccaneers Tea was simply lovely. We had 26 attendees in just gorgeous bustle-era gowns at the San Francisco Ritz Carlton (standing in for the London Ritz). The tea was yummy, the conversation was fun, and we had all of the Buccaneers from the book/miniseries, plus Mrs. St. George and Miss Testvalley, in attendance. Lovely lovely lovely! Let’s do it every month!