And now the post you’ve all been waiting for…: modehistorique

modehistorique

And now the post you’ve all been waiting for…

Jan 11, 2012 08:57

Originally published at Historical Personality Disorder. Please leave any comments there.

*puts on SCA hat*

So, last weekend I was elevated to the Order of the Laurel, which is a Major Award, and a Big Deal in the SCA. It’s a little bit like getting a lifetime achievement award but with the expectation that you’re not going to die or quit any time soon and will continue to foster the medieval arts and sciences by being the same badass you were in the first place, but now with a title and job requirements. It’s sort of the SCA equivalent of a job promotion, now that I think about it. Especially now that I’m required to attend meetings. Wait, why did I agree to this? Oh well, too late now…

Anyway, the ever-s0-brief description of what it means to join the Order of the Laurel is to be found here, on Wikipedia of all places. Scroll up if you want to be apprised of what Peerages mean within the context of the SCA; otherwise, feel free to roll your eyes and think to yourself, “What a bunch of nerds.” Often, and this isn’t always the case, people are recognized for specific arts. If you guessed I was recognized for “Being fabulous,” I’ll give you points for being perceptive, but specifically, it was for costuming. (Shut the door! No way!)

Since this is a costuming website, I’ll now share with y’all the whole costuming shebang involving my elevation, beginning with my so-called “laureling outfit.”

Inspiration:

Attributed to Alessandro Allori, "Bianca Capello", 1560-1580.

Costume:

Chemise - Machine embroidery courtesy of Mistress Aurelia d'Oussant

Petticoat Bodies - Hand sewn stays in silk damask and petticoat of silk taffeta with damask border.

Petticoat - Silk damask with gold lace border, lined in linen.

Veste - Black figured velveteen with applied bands of trim and gold lace, damask sleeves, and silk organza suit of ruffs.

Outcome:

(c) Cilean Sterling
Now, one of the coolest things about getting an award such as this is that people make stuff for you! I’m a big fan of stuff, especially if it’s given to me. So, here’s a few of the things that my awesome friends put together on my behalf -

First my awesome BFFs, Kendra & Trystan, made their own fabulous gowns for my ceremony, in my colors of black and white. Aren’t they beautiful? They both pulled these outfits from their stashes, and on relatively tight schedules (because I couldn’t make up my mind for a month as to what era/locale I wanted to focus on for my own costume, and they wanted to be my “back up singers” and match my choice). You can read their accounts of making their outfits here and here.

(c) Wendi Koble

Laina & Cathyn, respectively, also made gorgeous new outfits for 12th Night. I like to think having them in my ceremony gave them an excuse to showcase their talents properly. ;) Both are immensely talented costumers, and two of my favorite people on the planet. Cathyn spoke for me as a member of the Chivalry, and Laina was one of the attendants who carried an example of my work in the ceremony. Both looked faaaaabulous!

(c) Jocelyn Rowenwood

My (now former) Laurel, Duquessa Juana Isabella de Montoya y Ramirez-you-killed-my-father-prepare-to-die, made her new outfit in something like three days, on a whim. In my colors! For me! Well ok, for herself, obviously… ;)

(c) Angela Zimmer

Backtracking a little bit, the night before the big ceremony I had my vigil. Francis and Trystan worked their butts off (perhaps more literally than figuratively) to turn a hotel meeting room into a suitably historical reception place for friends to gather, drink, eat, socialize, and offer me advice on my next chapter in my SCA journey:

(c) Sarah Lorraine

Trystan made a wonderful silk banner with my device for my procession. It’s now hanging over the couch in our living room (conveniently covering a painting I don’t like):

(c) Sarah Lorraine

Many friends contributed to the food and drink for my vigil. I had charcuterie from Master Wulfric of Creguil and Viscountess Ysabella Dolfin, and tasty pastries from Viscountess Muriel von Schrecken. Juana brought home made cheese and quince paste, which happen to be two of my favorite things to nom on.

(c) Sarah Lorraine

At the vigil, my household members assembled to give me a surprise gift from Jen Thompson… A miniature of me to match the mini she painted of Francis!

(c) Sarah Lorraine

Kimiko presented me with a gorgeous sweetbag that she embroidered in silk. It’s truly breathtaking… And I unfortunately promptly bled on it when I stabbed myself with a pin on Saturday. Guess it really is mine now! ;)

(c) Sarah Lorraine

And rounding out the gifts, my friends all pitched in to commission a beautiful new Laurel medallion for me. It is the handiwork of Fjorlief in haga, OL, Enamalist-Jeweler to the Crown of An Tir. It’s pretty much the most lovely thing I currently possess.

(c) Sarah Lorraine

Juana also made me a laurel surcoat, but I failed to get any pictures of me wearing it on Saturday. I’ll have to take a few pics soon, because it is really wonderful and very “me.”

There are a million other wonderful things about the weekend that I know I’m failing to mention… Like the people who made a specific effort to make it to the elevation, like my friends from out of kingdom and from out of the SCA. Or the people I roped into marching with me at the last minute. And dozens upon dozens of friends that helped out in large and small ways and made the whole event absolutely one of the best I’ve ever had. Thank you, everyone, from the bottom of my heart.

Things I made, other than the laureling outfit above, included these pockets, all made from the left over pieces of many of my costumes over the years. I gave them to the ladies who helped make my ceremony not only happen, but really special. Thank you again, guys. <3

(c) Sarah Lorraine

I had a wonderful time last weekend… Perhaps the best time at an event I’ve had in recent memory. My costume was comfortable and I was able to wear it straight through the day and up until 10pm, which is pretty much unheard of for me. Usually I ditch the costume in mid-afternoon because it’s too uncomfortable, so that was a nice change of pace.

costumes