Costume College: Saturday

The Gala at Costume College is the time to show off your prettiest, most special or favorite costume! And this year did not disappoint! I had a hard time picking photos to share because everyone looked so fabulous! Be warned- many photos ahead!

Ginger of Scene in the Past-Isn't she so fabulous! The color of this gown is so gorgeous in person.

Dress fluffing!

Love the hair!

If you'd like some more background on her costume, you can go here or here.

Lauren of Wearing History.

She looked so fabulous! Aside from just having a stunning dress, she accessorized it perfectly.

I just adore the back of this dress!



Beth of V is for Vintage in a stunning vintage dress.



These three ladies wore gorgeous natural form dresses!

I'm so sad that none of my full length shots of these ladies came out but I love this shot of their gloves and fans. So elegant!



Me! I already posted heaps of photos of this dress so you can check them out here if you missed that post.

What is Costume College anyways?

If you weren't following me this time last year, you are probably wondering what the Costume College thing is that I keep talking about. Since I'm flying out today for this event, let's demystify it for you.

1. Is Costume College a fashion university?

It's actually not a school of any kind. (Though it'd be so fun to get to go to a design school!) Costume College is a costuming convention that is held every year in LA.

 Costume on display at Costume College '12.

2. So what do you do at Costume College?

There are classes and work shops taught by fellow members of the costuming community during the day. At night, there are fun social events-pool party, ice cream social, gala, and tea. And there is loads of running around in pretty dresses and oohing and ahhing over how fabulous everyone looks. And on Monday there is a trip to the Garment District for fabric shopping!

The "red carpet" for the Gala

3. What types of costuming do people do?

Every year, there is a theme and many people choose to dress in the theme and take classes from the bonus theme track but people do all kinds of costuming! A lot of it is historical costuming but there is definitely a scifi/fantasy costuming presence there too! Last year the theme was 30s, 40s, 50s Hollywood Glamor so I wore loads of vintage things but this year is Cavalier with a dash of Pirate and I won't be wearing anything theme related.

Rosie the Riveter gals ready for classes!

4. Now I want to go to Costume College!

Keep an eye out on the Costume College website for info on next year's event! If you are going this year, please to do stop me and say hi! For more Costume College fabulousness, see here.

If I were going to Costume College

It's Costume College week! Costume College is a 3 day costuming convention held annually in California. I've been twice and it is amazing! I'm really bummed not to be going this year but maybe next year. Since I won't be joining my friends in the costuming festivities, I thought I'd day dream about what I would bring instead.

Thursday evening pool party

I'd go pool side in my 19-teens nautical ensemble. It's quite comfortable to wear which is a must after a day of travel.

Friday Classes

I love wearing vintage during the day at Costume College since it looks great but is comfortable. Plenty of people wear regular clothes during the day but I like to dress up the whole time! A 1940s linen suit is chic and easy to wear.

Friday Ice Cream Social

What's more perfect for an ice cream social than a mint sundae dress? It's another effortless outfit that won't take up much space in my suitcase. When you're flying to Costume College, every extra inch counts!

Saturday Classes

I couldn't go to Costume College without one of my favorite costumes ever! My English fitted gown is made of wool and also has an under dress so it's quite warm. Yay for air conditioning!

Saturday Gala

I promised myself that my next Gala dress would be my Borgia dress, but since it is just a bodice and a whole pile of silk right now, I'd take my striped Italian gown for the Gala. It makes me feel so elegant. And it's also a great dress for air conditioning.

Sunday Classes

By the time Sunday rolls around, I'm always exhausted! And tired of wearing corsets. So my 1930s beach pjs would be perfect for the last day of classes.

If you'd like to see what I've actually worn to past Costume Colleges, check out all of the posts here.

Costume College

I really want to go to Costume College this year. Not only have I started becoming more interested in Renaissance and Edwardian fashions, but also the bonus track of extra classes this year is The Golden Age of Hollywood: 1930-1955. How perfect is that for all of us vintage lovers! Now, I'm usually a learn it on my own kind of a gal but that's mostly because most of the sewing that goes on in my corner of the country is quilting and the occasional Halloween costume. It would be so awesome to be able to learn some new things  and learn them the right way, not to mention getting to meet loads of people including the lovely Lauren.

Now, the downside of Costume College is that it's in California. So I'd have to fly cross country by myself which is a bit terrifying. I've only flown by myself once and it was from the tiny airport in my home town to the tiny airport by my grandparents. Yay for LAX (not). And, well, it's going to be expensive. Not unreasonably so but definitely a dent. Plus I'd want to make some lovelies to wear so I don't feel too shabby next to all of the people who have been going for years. (On the upside, it shouldn't be hard to get off work.)

While I'm still deciding to go or not to go, I'll share the fun part of trip planning with you-wardrobe.

American Duchess is getting ready to start presale of these lovelies this month. I really want a pair and Costume College would actually give myself somewhere to wear them. She's hoping to get enough presales to be able to offer both black and ivory and I'd love to snag a black pair.

Photo of prototype from American Duchess' Facebook page.

So, with these lovelies in mind as well as wanting a not too expensive yet versatile wardrobe to take with me here are some pieces I'd like to make.

Mary's garden party and flower show dress. I already have material for it so it will be getting sewn California or no California.

I love this purple dress Cora wears in season 1. I'd like this to be my kind of fancy outfit. Doesn't look too difficult minus all of the lovely beading.

I'm totally in love with these pjs Cora wore in last night's episode. Wouldn't be at the top of my to sew list but would definitely be fun to have.

 I've also got fabric for this blouse from season 1 that also made an appearance last night. I did pick a purple print to stick with the same color scheme.

Edith's black floral blouse (duh) plus a black skirt.

This lovely mauve blouse Mary wears plus a grey skirt for mixing and matching. I already have a lace cami to go with it.

I don't plan on going to the gala, because I really don't have anything to wear nor do I think I can really afford anything fabulous enough to stand up with some of the photos I've seen online, but if I do get a chance to make something, I'd love to have this pink dress from season 1.

Or this red and black layered one from season 2.

And here are vintage outfits I already have that I'd like to take.

1930s style scalloped collar blouse

1940s sailor playsuit + matching skirt

Embroidered circle skirt and teal sweater.

1930s beach pjs

I don't think I'd take my Renaissance dress as it's huge (how does one transport hoops on a plane!), I can't get into it by myself, and, well, it's my first effort and I'm not really that confident in how it looks. It still needs a lot of trim etc to make it look really good.

So that's my kind of vintage and Edwardian Costume College dream wardrobe.

Costume College: Haul

I do have some pictures of Sunday (not of me, of course) but this is my blog so I'm skipping right to the fun shopping post and we'll come back to Sunday. I went to the LA garment district Thursday for a few hours and again on Monday for more than a few hours. Here's what I got:

Yummies! I had two partners in crime *coughenablerscough* to help me navigate the garment district, determine fabric content, and to tell me that yes, I did really need to buy that other fabric I just saw. The total damage: 32 yds.

50s style print mystery fabric $2/yd destined for a 50s dress

Another mystery fabric also destined for a 50s dress $1/yd. I now have a handy burn test chart so I can light stuff on fire and tell what it is. :)

Green and Pink Plaid Silk/Silk blend for a secret project for next year's Costume College $8/yd

White and blue rayon for 40s things $4/yd

Fabulous 40s style tropical print rayon $4/yd also for 40s things.

Buttons! I don't know about where you are, but where I live buttons are pricey! I can easily spend $4 for 3 tacky plastic ones and I got all of these for under $25. They're all metal except for the pink ones which are glass. I got all of these from a seller at the Costume College Marketplace.

Close ups! Top: rose and strawberries. Bottom: western, basket weave, pink flower glass.

My other big item is this 1950s petticoat (or crinoline) which I made in a class at Costume College. I only got the first two layers of tulle on during the class and I've been sewing like crazy the last two days and fighting with yards and yards of tulle to get this thing finished. This was so not a UFO that I wanted hanging around until next year!

Really, it's crazy huge! I've set my old one on the left for size comparison. Wow it was a lot of work but I love wearing it. I just don't think I'll be making one for a loooooong while.

If you get a chance to go to the LA garment district, take it! Good deals are to be found but a guide is very helpful. Nothing is marked as to fabric content and, unfortunately, some of the vendors are dishonest or just don't know what they're talking about.

Costume College: Saturday Part 1

Saturday evening is the annual Costume College Gala. Everyone puts on their best costume, often a secret or themed project and saunters down the "red carpet" before the big event.

These ladies are from northern Nevada and dressed in blue and silver for the occasion.

Lauren R. of American Duchess is there in the middle with the feathers. (She posted a nice black and white picture of me on her blog.)

And here she is posing with her mom. I love that they costume together!

Lauren M. of Wearing History in gold posing with another lovely gal in 30s fabulousness.

Costume College is not just about historical costuming. This gal literally shone in her scifi/fantasy costume. The blue flames on her spine and arms glowed!

This fabulous gold dress is made from swimsuit material!

Silent film stars! (The gal on the left is wearing a long sleeved grey shirt, not just body paint!)

Feathers! Plus you can see everybody lined up to get good shots.

Now this is glamor!

Fur was a popular accessory especially for ladies dressing in vintage.

I just adored the red accents on this dress.

More red accents but Regency this time.

This lady had a gorgeous hat! And her shoes were stunning.

These four ladies went as historical Disney princesses. From left to right-Belle, Ariel, Nala, Cinderella.

There was also a photo booth area with professional lighting for photos but I haven't edited all of those yet!