We're into the home stretch of getting ready for Costume College. People at work have started noticing that I've got a vacation coming up, so they're asking about where I'm going and those inquiries usually lead to questions of "Are all of your costumes done?" I usually just laugh and try not to cry. Costumers are NEVER done. We just run out of time and sequins. There's no time for a proper write up, of anything, and it feels like most everything is in a state of almost done, so how about a photo-heavy sneak preview of what I've been working instead.
Honey is getting an 18th century court suit to be my escort to the Gala. I had to start the costume from scratch and did so at T minus 28 days before con.
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| Linen shirt, linen stock and fall-front silk tafeta breeches. |
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| The breeches were lined in cotton flour sack material from my grandmother's stash. While the opacity was necessary, it adds a touch of bulky that, when combined with the extra roomy seat of the style and the "plastic-ish" shwerpiness make them kinda diaper-like. Oh, my honey must love me, to wear something so unflattering. |
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| Final fitting of the waistcoat before buttons and top-stitching. I ended up trimming off about two inches of the upper neck area where it's folding back in the photo. Adding a safety pin to close the cuffs really helps the look of the sleeves. |
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| Adding the waistcoat does help tone down the ridiculousness of the bum fluff. Not that the whole thign won't get covered up by a coat, anyway. I saw it written in somebody's blog that the terribly unflattering seat of the pants just helps encourage the modern gentleman not to do anything so terribly inappropriate as take off their coat. :) |
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| And a shot of the knee band and buckle, of which I am terribly proud. I found that lovely bit in the jewelry section intended as a photo fram for a necklace. The plastic backing was held in place by a horizontal metal band, so rip out the plastic and trim off the loop for the necklace and Viola! We have a buckle. |
Since the fitting photos, I've finished up the buttons and button holes on all three pieces, as well as the top stitching on the waistcoat. Now I just need to find some white tights that'll pass as stockings and finish up the coat, and that outfit will be done. And by "finish the coat", what I really mean is "stop procrastinating because you think it's going to be hard and just get on with it already. I have the mock up cut out, so at least it's started. I don't fly out for another eight days yet. I've got plenty of time.
I think.
