All posts filed under: 19th Century

Rate the Dress: late Regency details

There was lots of love for last week’s green & buff linen and lace 1900’s ensemble, with the only caveats coming because of too-unique trim. That tiny imperfection brought the rating down to a respectable but not perfect 7.9 out of 10. This week I’m sticking with the super distinctive trim theme, to find out how far I can push that envelope. The period and colour scheme is totally different though. Late Regency. Yellow and black. Not usually your favourites! Have I pushed too far? The really noteworthy thing about this dress is the trim: the stylized leaves and lacing on the bodice, the cord twisting through the leaves at the hem. It’s quite something. What do you think? Too crazy and distinctive, or a wonderfully unique frock, sure to stand out in a crowd in the right way? Rate the Dress on a scale of 1 to 10

Kalaupapa

Published by The Dreamstress

The following post is probably the longest post I have ever written, and certainly the hardest. I find it very difficult to talk and write about the things that are closest to me. This is a story that needs to be told, but I didn’t know where to start. I guess I’ll start where the story usually starts for me, and hope I can tell it properly from there. When people hear I am from Moloka’i, Hawai’i, they have one of two reactions. Either they say “Moloka’i? Which one is that?” or they say “Moloka’i!?! Really!?! The one with the leper colony?” And it’s true. My island is known first and foremost because of its unusual and tragic history: because Kalaupapa peninsula was used as a place to banish patients suffering from Hansen’s Disease (to use its proper, medical, name), a place to isolate them from society for fear they would spread their affliction to the rest of the population. Moloka’i lies in the middle of the Hawaiian archipelago, middle in age and middle in …

Mark your Calendars! Steampunk and Tea coming up

Published by The Dreamstress

Mark your calendars and plan your trips to Wellington dear readers, because in addition to all the fabulous classes I’m teaching, there are some exciting events coming up for me in the next few months. First, on the weekend of October 13, Wellington is having its very first steampunk convention ever: AetherCon. In addition to workshops and fashion shows and contests and exhibitors and lots of other fun stuff, I’m going to be giving a talk on the intersections of Steampunk and history. I’ll be talking about the fashion tropes, where they come from, some real people behind the personas and lots of other fun stuff. And then, of course, there is a Steampunk ball! Swoon! Moving to the end of October, from the 25-28th of Oct, Full Swing is hosting Wellington’s annual Swing ball (and workshops and competitions and vintage shopping tours and other fun stuff): Windy Lindy. This year’s theme is Blitz Ball, so it’s the perfect opportunity to dig out your best ’40s gear! Don’t have the perfect ’40s dress? Well, you’re …