All posts filed under: Events

My historical costuming people thedreamstress.com

So you’ve made a historical costume: where do you wear it?

In my last post, I discussed some ways to get started in historical costuming: different strategies for tackling your first makes, and where to get help with making. But once you make a thing, you need a place to wear it! And that can be hard – especially if you don’t live somewhere with a lot of historical costume themed events. (I know all about this – NZ is fancy dress party central, but historical costume events are thin on the ground…) A lot of people get started making historical costumes because they have a specific event to go to, and want to be dressed up. If that’s you: you’re sorted! Just talk to other people at the event, and you’ll probably learn about more events to wear your historic costume to. A costume event is how I really got started in historical costuming: I made outfits for myself and a friend to wear to the SF Bay Area Renaissance Faire. However, I went for 5 years between my 16th c Flemish outfit for a …

Costume College 2019: Gala Gloriousness

Published by The Dreamstress

Saturday at Costume College 2019 did not go to plan for me. Either because some attendees at the Friday Night Gala had been smoking pot and then hung out near me (migraine trigger), or because of the mysterious Marriott malady which has been plaguing Costume College for the last two years (significant numbers of attendees at CoCo reported unusual vertigo, headaches, breathing problems and nausea), or a combination of both, I spent the Saturday making friends with porcelain instead of people. Not only was I in bed feeling miserable, I missed a bunch of classes I was really excited about. Boo. I was determined not to miss Gala, and despite feeling quite green, and looking quite wan, and needing to be slightly safety-pinned in because my attempts to sew on the last few hooks needed to finish my outfit convinced me that trying to focus my eyes enough to sew was a BAD idea, I made it! Sort of. 3 hours of an event that goes on for 7+ hours counts, right? I missed the …

Costume College 2019: Friday

Published by The Dreamstress

I know that the Rate the Dress post is very overdue, but I also think that three Rate the Dress posts in a row is rather repetitive! So RTD is on hold for the week so you can enjoy some other content, like Costume College 2019! I had a lovely time at Costume College, but I’m also totally at peace with my decision not to go again. It’s no longer an event that’s focused on my interests, and I’d rather save my energy for local events, and conserving the environment. The best part, as always, was definitely seeing old friends, and making new ones. Here are some photos from the Friday Night Event. So many amazing outfits! I apologise that I haven’t tagged everyone: if you know someone’s blog or handle that I’ve missed, please let me know in the comments. And if I got a photo of you you’d like, if you leave a comment asking for it I’ll be able to see your email (no one else will) and can send it to …