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 2

There was a professional photographer at the gala but there was also an empty backdrop with professional lighting for people to take their own photos.

Ginger's fabulous Maid Marion costume from the 1938 Adventures of Robin Hood.

Funny story about this hair do since it's not the same as the one in my Promaballoona Reveal photo shoot. I had originally planned on doing the same hair do. I did 30s pincurl waves for my day outfit.

So when I went to style my hair, I brushed out the waves a bit and poof!

Magic 1950s hair!

Feathers are on my list of must haves for next Costume College!

A Grace Kelly dress!

This lady was so fun! Check out her shoes!

Loved this dress so much!

Poodle skirt girls!

Pretty purple!

Glamor girls!

And what a fabulous pirate costume! Next year's theme includes pirates! Arrr!

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!

Costume College: Friday

Phew! I made it home in one piece with all my luggage (but that's a story for another day). From your comments, it looks like you enjoyed your selection of period costume drama goodness. Hopefully, you still have enough in you for more costumes!

Alas, I didn't get any pictures on Thursday so we're starting on Friday. I'll scour the interweb for Thursday pics or take some outfit shots later, but for now on to Friday!

Friday was my Edwardian/Downton Abbey day! I wore my Edith's black floral blouse with a new skirt.

The skirt is Butterick 9682 from 1915 which is available from Past Patterns. It came with a hand drawn copy of the pattern and a photo copy of the original directions (which were pretty sketchy). I had some issues with the waist band-first off, my grading was off and it came out too big, and second, the closures were really complicated-6 hooks and eyes and two snaps in 3 separate closures.

But Edwardian closures are supposed to be complicated and it works so I'm cool with that. It's super fun to wear and has POCKETS!!

Plus the whole thing has almost 70 buttons on it but, thankfully, they are all decorative. I purchased them from Yummy Treasures on etsy.

And I wore my Astorias from American Duchess. I wore them all day and they were super comfy. I also got to meet Lauren R., American Duchess while I was wearing these!

Friday evening was the ice cream social so we all headed back to our rooms for a quick costume change.

I wore my Lady Mary's Garden Party dress with faux pearls, vintage crochet gloves and my Astorias again.

The lovely Ginger of Scene in the Past in a fabulous regency dress.

Beth of V is for Vintage in a darling Edwardian nautical ensemble.

The Edwardian gals together.

Lauren M. of Wearing History in an amazing plaid bustle dress. Check out her plaid matching skills!

Isn't she a vision?

And it wouldn't be Costume College without some silliness.

If you've ever wondered how to get your train to look great for a picture, this is how you do it.

I was bad and didn't actually take any pictures at the Ice Cream Social or the market place grand opening which was right afterwords but here's one of me I found on Flickr.