Tarte Makeup Review

Today we're talking makeup!



Have you ever tried any Tarte cosmetics?

Preparing for a Florida Winter

With the big move fast approaching, I can't help but thinking about adapting my current wardrobe to a drastically different climate. So instead of giving into my desire to sew all the wool things, I'm trying to prepare myself for a Florida winter which I'm hoping is sort of like an Ohio fall. (Or rather what an Ohio fall would be like without the roller coaster temperatures but with a beach.) So here's a look at some of my favorite fall outfits that I'm hoping to rock this winter.

My late 40s corduroy and wool dress.

My favorite sweater and atomic circle skirt.

This great 1940s chartreuse dress.

My sassy 50s velvet suit.

My "On the Town" dress.

Do you have some favorite fall pieces that you're planning on transitioning into your winter wardrobe as well?

The Borgia Dress Project

A while back, I posted about my dream to sew a dress based off of the costumes in the show The Borgias and it's going to happen! I spent a lot of time researching and looking for fabrics and such and I found some stuff out.

The first thing I needed to know was how period accurate were the costumes. They were gorgeous but costumes on film (especially on tv shows) have a tendency to be rather unperiod. And these are no exception.

Actually 1490s garments- note the curved bust, center front lacing and over gowns they are all wearing.

 The Borgias dress- straight front, side or back lacing, and no over gown. But they do get points for period appropriate prints, chemises and period appropriate hair.

So even though they are not 100% period, they are gorgeous and they aren't that far off from what would have actually been worn (especially when compared to some other "period" tv shows that have come out lately). And I love them so I'm going to make one. Plus I'm feeling in the mood for a pretty pretty dress.

Despite being set in France, the costumes in the movie Ever After are also based off of this period also and it's one of my favorite movies. So double score.

Originally, I was really inspired by this dress that Vanozza, the mom, wore. I really loved her outfits because they were higher cut and lower waisted than most of Lucrezia's more fashionable dresses. Being a chesty gal, I needed some space so I wouldn't be popping out everywhere.

But I ended up deciding on this dress, but in purple since I'd already fallen in love with some pretty purple fabric researching the other dress. And it will be silk because I want to sew the pretty things!

On the left, purple silk doupioni and on the right, black and gold silk damask. Most of the gown will be the doupioni and the contrast trim will be the damask. I also snagged a gorgeous dark purple silk blend velvet for the bodice.

Of course, the first step in a new period is period appropriate under garments so it'll be a while before I can start working with the silk. (So I'll just pet it for now....) The corset is mostly done and the chemise is up next on my list. Thankfully, I can do a pretty period accurate shift for this dress so I can use it for other more historically accurate dresses.

How to dress warmly for the Renaissance Festival

Much of Renaissance Festival is spent tying to stay cool and hydrated in clothing that was never meant to be worn in 90F weather. But thanks to the wonders of Midwestern weather, here in Ohio we also have to battle chilly weather as well. I hate being cold, so I've come up with several ways to battle the chills at the end of faire season.

1. Embrace a historically accurate number of layers

Usually, we plan on skimping on layers to beat the heat. But now it's time to enjoy all of those layers. Add extra petticoats and lace on your detachable sleeves. Don't forget all of the little pieces like a head covering, wool socks and gloves. These things add to the warmth factor. Also, opted for lined garments rather than unlined. All of those extra layers add up!

2. Wool is your friend

Wool is a nice cozy fabric. It might be tempting to reach for those thick home dec fabrics when it gets chilly but polyester (or cotton if you are lucky) won't keep you warm even if it is thick. A nice wool kirtle or petticoat will go a long way towards keeping you warm.

Remember this photo shoot from January? My wool flannel kirtle was keeping me nice and toasty. To be fair, I wasn't outside for hours on end but the only part of me that was chilly was my chest where it was open to the air.

3. Don't forget outerwear

Outerwear is definitely under represented in the costuming world thanks to modern heating but it's a must for outdoor events. Again, try to stick to wool for some extra cozy. Cloaks are an obvious, easy to find option but not the only one.

Try a great doublet style jacket like this lovely one by Asa of Fashion Through History.

Or a you may enjoy an English fitted gown like this one I made.

Lastly, there is a loose gown which is perfect for an upper class look by Laurie of Daze of Laur.

Some weekend sewing

One of the benefits of being home sick all weekend alone is getting in some hand sewing. Also watching a lot of costume dramas for "research".

First on the list was finishing up the striped Italian dress. Mostly, I just had trim to do. I had hoped to wear it this weekend but that was not to be. Ah, well. There are two more weekends left of the Ohio Renaissance Festival. It could still use some more accessories but it's enough done to wear.

I also finished up two small hand sewing projects. The yellow one I started at the SCA event the other weekend as part of a class. I had so much fun making it that I made the blue one too. Can you guess what they are?

They are needle books! They were an easy project plus they are useful. I hate leaving needles in my pin cushions and my husband hates the other place I leave needles- stuck in the arm of the couch.

I overcame my fear of hand sewn button holes. After eyelets, you'd think button holes wouldn't be intimidating but sometimes we get weird about things. Turns out the silk button hole twist makes sewing fun!

I've also started planning my next costume! I have a serious costuming bug right now. I'm planning a 1490s dress in the style of The Borgias. The costumes aren't 100% accurate but they are very pretty. I've decided to splurge a bit and make the dress out of silk. I ordered some swatches and they should arrive soon. Can't wait!

And a new period requires new underpinnings! While corsets aren't period for this period, I'm planning on making a lightly boned one just to give me the right shape. So far, the muslining is going well and it's quite comfortable.

What projects did you work on this weekend?

Life Lately

Sorry for all of the radio silence. Work has still been really crazy and to top it all off, I caught some sort of bug on Friday and I'm still not feeling 100%. So here are some things from my life lately.

Oh the joys of bird parenting. Sometimes when the kids break something, it becomes their toy.

And an actual joy of bird parenting, Leah finally figured out how to bath herself. It was so cute!

I did manage to be well on date night for some yummy lobster bisque.

Finally finished the embroidery on this velvet. Now to figure out what to do with it.

Once Upon a Time

Sometimes an event comes along that just screams for a particular outfit. This weekend we had the pleasure of shooting a lovely wedding where the couple incorporated their love of cartoons into their big day!

So I just had to dress to match their theme! My Sleeping Beauty inspired skirt from Pin Up Girl Clothing. I've been dreaming of wearing this skirt to Disney but that will have to wait!

 I just adore this skirt so much! It is so much fun to wear! But I do have a difficult time trying to decide what to wear with it. It has both blue and black but I don't really have a nice blue or black blouse to wear with it.

So I dug around in my closet and found this navy sweater. I quite love this sweater but I haven't worn it in a while. There's not really any navy in my skirt but it still works.

One of my favorite parts of this skirt is the twinkling stars in the sky and the wispy clouds. It's so dreamy!

I paired a this skirt with a medium sized crinoline. It would look fabulous with a fuller one but sometimes I need to fit into small spaces while shooting. 

 And of course, pearls go with everything! I'm still adoring this dainty pearl necklace that I got from the Renaissance Festival. It's so feminine!

 What would you wear to a cartoon themed wedding?