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costume college report

Thursday: went to the Garment District with Heather and nearly wet ourselves over the fabulous silks at Home Fabrics; went to California Millinery and bought a bunch of cool vintage feathers and other doohickeys for future hat projects.

Friday: spent the day in classes; some were only so-so, but I enjoyed the Italian Ren class (esp. since I know little to nothing about the period!). The GBACG meetup in the evening was much fun, with lots of people from Nor. Calif. and elsewhere.

Saturday: classes — went to Makeup Style of the 1920s-40s which was SO cool and informative (especially since I got to be the model for the 1920s makeup!), and a class on what was worn underneath gowns of the 1790s-1810s (which I really enjoyed, as it’s something I’ve been interested in for a while). The Gala was in the evening, which was wonderful — some really amazing costumes, plus a group of my friends managed to grab our own table. I think the highlight was when the cricket team staying in the hotel crashed the dancing…

Sunday: co-taught (with Heather) our class on 1830s women’s costumes, which went really well. I ended up stripping down to my undies in class to show everyone what I did for my 1830s day dress, plus Katherine lent us her antique 1830s corset to show in class, plus she showed up at the end to chat about the construction techniques she used in her repro. Also went to Sally Queen’s class on 18th century gown trimmings. Bought some cool vintage buttons in the Marketplace and got my scissors and pinking shears sharpened (yay!).

Of course, most importantly: PHOTOS!

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costume college – gbacg/nor. cal. meetup

Will you be attending Costume College this year? Are you a Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild member, prospective member, Northern California costumer, or just someone who likes to hang out with these types of people? If so, please join us!

GBACG COSTUME COLLEGE MEETUP

Friday, July 30

8:30pm

Airtel Plaza Hotel Bar (Clipper Club Lounge)

Any Northern California costumers (or anyone interested in hanging out with us!) are invited to join us for a chance to mingle! After you’ve had a browse in the marketplace (which opens Fri. night at 7:30, after Orientation), come by the Clipper Club Lounge (on the first floor of the hotel) for a cocktail or soda (you buy).

No costumes necessary, although if you do dress up, we’ll be sure to point and say, “ooooo, PRETTY!”

At the meetup Fri. night, we’ll also have GBACG nametag stickers (to put on your Costume College nametag) so we can identify each other throughout the weekend. If you can’t come to the meetup, we’ll leave some stickers Saturday morning on the table at registration, or look for me (Kendra Van Cleave, GBACG president) or Lynne Taylor-Seavers (GBACG workshop coordinator) throughout the event — we’ll try to carry some with us.

Hope to see you there!

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costume college

(Kate in England, don’t look!) Whew! I just sewed hooks and eyes on a bazillion things, fixed buttons that were coming loose, made cuffs for my 1830s day dress, and packed the following: 3 chemises, 3 corsets, 1 crinoline, 1 petticoat, 1 bumpad, 3 pairs of shoes, 3 dresses, 1 pelerine, 1 sash, 1 bonnet, 1 kimono, 3 sets of jewelry, 2 fake hairpieces, 1 set of hot rollers, and about a bazillion safety and bobby pins. And that doesn’t include the normal clothes!

I’m off early tomorrow to LA for a weeklong training workshop, then to Costume College.

I’ll be wearing: Friday – Edwardian day dress; Saturday – vintage kimono (day), 1780s robe a l’anglaise (evening); Sunday – 1830s day dress.

AND, here’s the classes I’ll be taking:

1890s textiles OR What is a Costume Con
Costume Con 23 (maybe)
Overview of the 1890s OR Extending a parasol handle
Italian Renaissance 1450-1600
Makeup styles of the 1920s-40s
Overview of Edwardian-WWI fashion (maybe)
Pret a Porter: American Sportswear, 1890-1940 (maybe)
Is that Rib or Baleen? Deciphering What is Worn Beneath Ladies’ Gowns
Overview of 1830s (teaching)
18th C. Trimmings for Gowns (with Sally Queen!)

Okay, back to packing land.