After the Fetes Galantes ball at Versailles was cancelled two years in a row due to the pandemic, I wanted to put my red robe à la française to good use for DragonCon in Atlanta. And my friends Jessi and Paige from Cosplay and Cocktails inspired me to make my own Rococo costume(s) with a geeky […]
claire
Sewing My First Robe à la Française
In preparation for Fetes Galantes 2020 (yes, the one the pandemic canceled), I made a robe à la française, or sack-back gown, mock-up to wrap my brain around the confusing construction of this garment that had intimidated me at first sight. I hand stitched, machine stitched, and learned a lot along the way. I ended up finishing […]
An 18th Century Bergère Hat Upgrade
Several years ago I trimmed an 18th century bergère (a flat-brimmed straw hat with a shallow crown) rather modestly for a Claire inspired Outlander costume. I’ve since never worn it. So last year while working on my gown and accessories for Fetes Galantes (yes, the one the pandemic canceled), I upgraded my hat using The American Duchess […]
Sewing 18th Century Chemise & Stays
Hard to believe a year ago this month I was busy making my 18th century chemise and stays in preparation for Fetes Galantes at Versailles. And then the pandemic happened and I got as far as the mock-up for my robe a la francaise. With no idea when things will normalize, globally, as least I’m […]
Quarantine Costuming: Working From Home Outfits of the Day
This year has been full of cancellations, social distancing, and quarantines, no thanks to COVID-19. I’ve been fortunate to be able to work from home since mid-March, and though I refuse to put on make-up, or even shower on some days, I’ve worn a costume every work day to keep my spirits up. Surprisingly, it […]
Costuming Claire from Outlander: Season 2 (& the Red Shoes)
As a huge fan of Outlander (books and show), I coveted Claire’s red dress from season 2. Having many other unfinished projects in bags just begging for attention, I purchased the red dress from Jessica’s Dress and spent almost a year making the undergarments (stays, pocket hoops, petticoat, etc.) and shoes before I could even wear it […]
Sewing 18th Century Pocket Hoops
As a huge fan of Outlander (books and show), I coveted Claire’s red dress from season 2. Having many other unfinished projects in bags just begging for attention, I purchased the red dress from Jessica’s Dress and spent almost a year making the undergarments (stays, pocket hoops, petticoat, etc.) and shoes before I could even wear it […]
A Livestream with Costume CO on YouTube
Over the weekend I did a YouTube livestream with Costume Cinemato (on Twitter and on YouTube). Heidi prepared a lineup of my costumes from several genres, and we talked about costume/cosplay inspiration, materials, techniques, the awkwardness of duct taping each other for patterns, and killing curtains. And I didn’t even break out in hives or […]
Costuming at Comicpalooza 2018
Comicpalooza, Texas’ largest comic book, pop culture, and entertainment convention, happened this past Memorial Day weekend (May 25-27, 2018) in Downtown Houston. I attended all three days and treated it as a costume deadline and cosplay dress rehearsal for another convention that we attend, DragonCon, during Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a […]
Ghosts of Costumes Past: DragonCon 2016
Every year during Labor Day weekend, I attend DragonCon in Atlanta, one of the largest pop culture conventions in the United States. While it’s not the largest and the most widely known, it is my version of a costuming Super Bowl. So as DragonCon approaches and I take a teeny tiny break from the frantic […]