Category: events

Whew! I’m back and totally exhausted! It was in general a good time. On the one hand, there was some amazing costuming in evidence, and I had a good time hanging out with friends and meeting new people. There were a lot of GBACG people there, and I was excited to meet an ex-GBACG person whose work I’ve admired. On the other, it was no Costume College — although I only made it to a few panels, I’m not really a fan of the “panel” format and definitely prefer the lecture/workshops at Costume College and the focus on teaching rather than just talking about. I did get excited about making some not-so-strictly historical costumes, like my LOTR dress and maybe an 18th c. pirate-ess costume.

So the big super sekrit thing that wasn’t really a sekrit, but hadn’t been announced and I wasn’t sure of the etiquette, was that I was one of three judges for the historical masquerade. In general, it was fun to see and talk about costumes with some really talented and brave (to get up on stage and be judged!) people. I really liked getting to reward all of the hard work and talent we all put into our costumes. The down side was that it was a HA-UGE amount of work, including getting up at 7am-ish EVERY DAY except Monday and spending a good time of each day on judging (reviewing documentation, meeting with costumers to examine workmanship, etc.).

I wore my green stripey 1780s to the Friday Night Social, my 1910 Wings of the Dove afternoon dress on Saturday afternoon/evening, and my black & white natural form to the historical masquerade on Saturday night — which I heard looked good on stage, although I have no photos of myself in it! What with all the judging, the 1909 afternoon dress never made it out.

So here you go: PHOTOS, most of which are of historical costumes, but you know what I like!

Okay, I’m (mostly) packed — it only took four hours! Unfortunately the red & white stripey early bustle dress is getting ditched. I ran out of room in the suitcase for things like modern clothes, jammies, etc. Taking out the red & white dress meant I could also take out the bustle, huge petticoat, and matching shoes. Also, I realized that all the pleating and ruches were going to get crushed in my suitcase. So that meant I had room for my 1909 afternoon dress. Whew! I THINK I’m ready to go…

Thanks so much to everyone who voted in my Dorky Poll — it looks like either the black & white natural form or the red & white early bustle. I probably won’t know til I’m there which I’m going to wear, but at least you’ve helped me narrow it down!

Now I just have to pack everything – good lord. Luckily I don’t really have any outstanding sewing that needs doing before I go — the only thing I had was to finish trimming my 1780s capote, but I did that in a fit of productivity last week (pictures to be taken this weekend).

Here’s my costume plan, we’ll see how this works out:

Friday day: modern wear (ICG meeting at 9am!)
Friday Night Social: totally non-theme appropriate 1780s robe a l’anglaise with huge hair and huge hat.
Saturday day/GBACG luncheon: Wings of the Dove dress
Saturday eve (scifi masquerade): either black & white natural form or red & white early bustle, depending on which is worn Sun. night
Sunday day: MAYBE 1909 afternoon dress if there’s room in the suitcase; otherwise modern wear
Sunday night: see Sat. night
Monday: modern wear

Now I have to start hauling out suitcases to see what’s going to fit…