Author: The Dreamstress

A sport ’30s summer suit – from stash

The third Historical Sew Monthly challenge of 2015 is Stashbusting. Now, most of my sewing IS from stash – the problem is that I keep adding to the stash. :-/ Or starting a project from stash and then finding I need 3m of some fabric I don’t already own to finish it! :-p I’m quite pleased about this outfit as a stash-busting exercise, because it’s from one of my oldest pieces of boughten stash. Almost eight years ago, when I was just getting back into historical costuming, I bought ten metres of white cotton almost-piqué at an Arthur Toyes 50% off sale (long shall we mourn their passing). I bought it because it was 100% cotton fabric in white for $4 a metre, so how could I not? I has this idea that I would make a reproduction of the dress on the seated woman in Monet’s Women in the Garden, but I quickly realised the fabric wasn’t right for that. I couldn’t quite give up on the idea, or the fabric, so it lingered …

Art Deco 2015: Swinging* times in Sunny Napier

Published by The Dreamstress

*And by swinging, I mean swing dancing, of course! Another Napier Art Deco Weekend has come and gone, and another fabulous time was had by all – or at least everyone I talked to! I almost didn’t go this year, because, while I had a great time last year, it was so ungodly hot that I felt ill most of the weekend, and my memories of last year are also mixed up with how stressful it was (we took possession of our new house the day I left for Napier, and moved in three days after I got back!). But the lovely ladies at the clothing swap convinced me to go, and I am so grateful for it! I think this was the best Art Deco Weekend yet, and it was the best because I didn’t stress about trying to be anywhere, or do anything – I just let the good times happen when, and where they did, and they DID. In previous years I’ve pushed myself to be at the costume contest to document it, …

Rate the Oscars 2015

Published by The Dreamstress

I skipped my annual Rate the Oscars post last year, because all the outfits were so boring. I’m back in for this year though, because of a conversation I had last night. Someone was discussing a red carpet host who decided to ask the men the same questions they asked the women – specifically “Who are you wearing?” According to this person, the men got a bit weirded out and upset – and wanted to know why they weren’t being asked ‘real’ questions, about the film they were in etc. Now, this doesn’t make sense to me, because I’ve watched the Oscars red carpet, and the men always do get asked about their outfits. And they answer, happily. Now, “Who are you wearing?” is a dumb question (“Who designed your outfit?” is just as short and much more accurate), but I would strongly maintain that questions about clothes are ‘real’ questions. Yes, male and female actors should be asked the same question, but on the red carpet at Oscars night, questions about clothes are probably …