Costume Con 32 and the Seaside Bustle
So, the entire last month was spent pretty much preparing for Costume Con in Toronto on April 25th. I had many a grand plan, though like a dummy did not factor in things like crazy overtime at work, Jerry Springer in-laws, and sleep. Darn sleep. It ruins all my plans.
And while I did not even come close to finishing everything I hoped for, I did manage to make a couple of new things. The first was for the Friday night Monster Mash Bash. The theme this year was Myths, Monsters, and Legends. So, our group took that theme and rolled it all into one - Legendary Monsters of Greek Myths. Since Greek gods could change sex pretty much at will, I decided it wasn't too far fetched to be a genderbend Hades.
(Many thanks to Jose Munoz for the picture (2014).)
Fearing that I was going to be the weak link in the group, I spent way more time researching legit Ancient Greek clothing than I should have. Le sigh. The chiton is one called the Doric chiton and is a style actually worn by women during the "time of the gods". It is made of 100% midweight grey linen that I overdyed black. The hems (though difficult to see in the pic) are embroidered with gold metallic thread in a traditional key pattern in two rows with three gold lines separating the keys. At the shoulders are two large gold buttons that I sewed into the fabric to look like clasps. They do a fine job and I got them on clearance so I really can't complain. On my feet are a pair of gladiator sandals I picked up at the local shoe store. For my makeup, I did to try to look like I never see the light and kind of toe the line between the living and the dead. With my erratic spiral curls it looked really awesome. Sadly, with the helmet you can barely see any of it. Last, but certainly not least, are the helmet and spear. There was a lot of work that went into both and let me just say, yes, the helmet is metal and, yes, I know the spear is actually a design from Thor 2 and not Greek. My hubby wanted to make something imposing, so Thor it was. If you would like more information on how we made them, feel free to email me. Otherwise this post would be six times longer.
Here's our Greeky trio - Medusa, Charybdis, and Hades. I absolutely loved it. Plus it had the added benefit of being the most comfortable costume I have ever made.
On Saturday, I recycled two of my older outfits that I had never worn to Con, so I didn't feel too ashamed.
Sunday, I busted out my new 1885 Seaside bustle. That of course I didn't really get any good pics of. :( But here it is anyway. I think I will have my hubby take some better shots later this month when the weather breaks.
The theme is intended very nautical/naval. The whole thing is made of cream and navy tropical weight wool, with dark gold shot silk taffeta for the faux blouse-y thing that I can't remember the name of. I used the Truly Victorian Asymmetrical Overskirt and French Bodice patterns (no use reinventing the wheel), though modified the bodice a bit in the front and sleeves. The cream overskirt is designed to look like sails with rigging and there are large brass grommets on the sides with rope running through them. The bodice has a faux vest and blouse with repro brass "anchor" buttons that were left over from my husbands 1796 Master and Commander naval uniform. I ran out of time to finish the trim on the sleeve ends and shoulders which will be a continuation of the roping and epaulettes. Everything is work over my custom drafted corset, petticoats, and my TV 108 bustle which gives, as one guy put it, " a seriously awesome amount ass". I also have a matching hat and gloves that are not in this picture, due to being unwieldy in a large crowed. As I said before, I hope to head out to the local pier and lighthouse to get better pictures once the weather breaks.
And on non-Con related notes, I just couldn't help but post pics of my sort of new Cartier repro tiara ( I actually got it around Christmas) and then a shocking pic of me with Village of the Damned style blonde hair. O_o!
And while I did not even come close to finishing everything I hoped for, I did manage to make a couple of new things. The first was for the Friday night Monster Mash Bash. The theme this year was Myths, Monsters, and Legends. So, our group took that theme and rolled it all into one - Legendary Monsters of Greek Myths. Since Greek gods could change sex pretty much at will, I decided it wasn't too far fetched to be a genderbend Hades.
(Many thanks to Jose Munoz for the picture (2014).)
Fearing that I was going to be the weak link in the group, I spent way more time researching legit Ancient Greek clothing than I should have. Le sigh. The chiton is one called the Doric chiton and is a style actually worn by women during the "time of the gods". It is made of 100% midweight grey linen that I overdyed black. The hems (though difficult to see in the pic) are embroidered with gold metallic thread in a traditional key pattern in two rows with three gold lines separating the keys. At the shoulders are two large gold buttons that I sewed into the fabric to look like clasps. They do a fine job and I got them on clearance so I really can't complain. On my feet are a pair of gladiator sandals I picked up at the local shoe store. For my makeup, I did to try to look like I never see the light and kind of toe the line between the living and the dead. With my erratic spiral curls it looked really awesome. Sadly, with the helmet you can barely see any of it. Last, but certainly not least, are the helmet and spear. There was a lot of work that went into both and let me just say, yes, the helmet is metal and, yes, I know the spear is actually a design from Thor 2 and not Greek. My hubby wanted to make something imposing, so Thor it was. If you would like more information on how we made them, feel free to email me. Otherwise this post would be six times longer.
Here's our Greeky trio - Medusa, Charybdis, and Hades. I absolutely loved it. Plus it had the added benefit of being the most comfortable costume I have ever made.
On Saturday, I recycled two of my older outfits that I had never worn to Con, so I didn't feel too ashamed.
Sunday, I busted out my new 1885 Seaside bustle. That of course I didn't really get any good pics of. :( But here it is anyway. I think I will have my hubby take some better shots later this month when the weather breaks.
The theme is intended very nautical/naval. The whole thing is made of cream and navy tropical weight wool, with dark gold shot silk taffeta for the faux blouse-y thing that I can't remember the name of. I used the Truly Victorian Asymmetrical Overskirt and French Bodice patterns (no use reinventing the wheel), though modified the bodice a bit in the front and sleeves. The cream overskirt is designed to look like sails with rigging and there are large brass grommets on the sides with rope running through them. The bodice has a faux vest and blouse with repro brass "anchor" buttons that were left over from my husbands 1796 Master and Commander naval uniform. I ran out of time to finish the trim on the sleeve ends and shoulders which will be a continuation of the roping and epaulettes. Everything is work over my custom drafted corset, petticoats, and my TV 108 bustle which gives, as one guy put it, " a seriously awesome amount ass". I also have a matching hat and gloves that are not in this picture, due to being unwieldy in a large crowed. As I said before, I hope to head out to the local pier and lighthouse to get better pictures once the weather breaks.
And on non-Con related notes, I just couldn't help but post pics of my sort of new Cartier repro tiara ( I actually got it around Christmas) and then a shocking pic of me with Village of the Damned style blonde hair. O_o!
