Phedre
Mercenary
well, I dodged this one...
Posts: 257
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Post by Phedre on May 10, 2007 18:04:37 GMT -5
I figured it might be helpful to many people if a general thread on costumes was started. You know: help, advice, tips, showing off work, get togethers, anything.
I'm not on cast so i don't have an assigned costume, but i am making a completely new noble's gown for this year, which i'm probably going to be showing off periodically. I've got plenty of spare time, so even with that dress i can help plenty of people with garments or complete costumes, depending on whats needed.
But here it is-anything costume-wise can be put here, as far as I know.
Admin, what do you think?
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Post by Lady Catharine on May 14, 2007 11:27:58 GMT -5
Prithee, for we call it not costumes! tis called garb M'Lady!
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Phedre
Mercenary
well, I dodged this one...
Posts: 257
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Post by Phedre on May 14, 2007 13:05:07 GMT -5
oh whatever. I'm not on cast this year so its costumes for now. lol but in any case, if anyone does need a hand, let me know.
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Post by Lady Catharine on May 14, 2007 13:39:32 GMT -5
DO you do (girdle) belts?
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wanderingwench
Squire
"I like work. It fascinates me. I sit and look at it for hours."
Posts: 74
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Post by wanderingwench on May 14, 2007 19:59:44 GMT -5
I must say, there is great need of this thread....I am having a devil of a time trying to get a costume together for this summer! Last year my costume consisted of a floor length peasant skirt (wal-mart) A frilly off white tank top (kohl's?) and a corset from Fredrick's of Hollywood that I bought from a wholesale warehouse for 6 bucks. Pretty simple. But I was only a patron last year...this year I wil be there working with Vinny and Richard...so I need to really vamp it up a bit (I said VAMP not TRAMP) Lol! Any suggestions? I now have acquired several more corsets from the same place I got my first one so I have a variety of colors to play with! I'm so excited!!! Any suggestions would be helpful. I am altering almost all of the corsets...by hand! With little or no sewing skills on my part. Ouch!
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Phedre
Mercenary
well, I dodged this one...
Posts: 257
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Post by Phedre on May 18, 2007 22:51:52 GMT -5
Lady Catherine, I do anything that comes with a pattern. Girdles for me are easier than corsets, but other than that, i can do pretty much anything that comes with a pattern of some sort.
wanderingwench, what class are you geared toward, and what era? and do you want a dress, or a bodice/skirt combo (depending on the dress i think both should be worn with a chemise of some sort) are you aiming toward king arthur, robin hood, victorian, elizabethan, or some other time? once i know class and era, i can give you more specific advice. also, are you ok with tighter clothing or do you like looser-fitting things? that'll impact my suggestions as well. let me know!
sorry ive been absent all! i'm going to make it a point to try and be on every day from now on.
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wanderingwench
Squire
"I like work. It fascinates me. I sit and look at it for hours."
Posts: 74
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Post by wanderingwench on May 19, 2007 12:24:09 GMT -5
Oh, sorry! My message was so long to begin with...I didn't want it longer! Lol! I am more interested in the lower class definitely. As I will be working with Porter and Stout....perhaps piratey as well? I've never had a dress (one piece) so I usually go with a skirt and bodice combo. I like to wear something a little different each time and the two piece outfits make for easy mixing and matching. I definitely like the tight fit (tighter the better) hence my love for corsetry. Unfortunately I haven't the revenue to afford the 200 dollar and up versions that are considered "true" corsets. So I make do with what I can. The good thing about dressing as a lower class peasant is the ability to kind of throw a bunch of things together and make it look good!
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Phedre
Mercenary
well, I dodged this one...
Posts: 257
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Post by Phedre on May 19, 2007 19:13:39 GMT -5
ok lets see...something peasanty slash piratey, bodice/skirt, tighter the better. well, here's my suggestions. theres a few combinations of what i think might work. They're pictures from websites i've found, but i'm willing to bet that there's patterns out there somewhere that are nearly the same. oh btw, you can get patterns cheap on ebay. i got an $18 pattern on there for about $9, not including shipping. I have no idea how much you know about sewing, so i'm going to assume not much so that i don't leave out anything that might be useful, just in case i'm underestimating your skills. here's my suggestions (they're urls, you'll have to follow them): for chemises: www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/Chemises.html the lacey or short lacey views i'd suggest something a bit saucy, with the short sleeves and maybe the ruffles. I'd wear it off the shoulder (at least until it got to the point where it refused to stay). it would work for a melding of peasant and pirate. whether you choose long or short is up to you, but if you choose long you have the option of hitching up one side of your skirt without having to buy another underskirt. I'd use muslin (if you want it natural colored) or broadcloth, if you want black or colored. both are cheap and both are pretty durable. oh! but if you choose muslin, make sure you get the right width: i've seen it in 28" widths. for bodices:www.medievalcollectibles.com/lock-lace-bodice-8674.htmlwww.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/Bodices_and_Matching_Skirts.html princess/peasant bodice, tapestry bodice, suede leather bodice, or the bodice on the woman on the right in the very bottom picture www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/Corsets.html the shape of the ruffled leather corset I'm going again with the saucy-ness. I think that a bodice that has a low neckline at minimum, or an under-bust bodice would work best. And i'd also use the stiffest COVERED plastic boning you can find. DO NOT use featherweight boning-that stuff is horrible. it bends and stays in the shape it bent into, and then you have to go in and replace it. I'd really suggest 3/8" spring steel bones, but unless you can find them cheap (which is possible, with some online research) and get them in time, i'd stick with the plastic. you can get it at joann's, its relatively cheap. the covered is important, by the way, it makes it much easier to keep the boning from poking through, not to mention it's a pre-made casing. I don't think you should choose to use a cincher with this costume, as it doesn't really fit with the mix of styles you want. niether does a 'real' corset, either, actually-peasants really couldn't afford them. I'd use a stiffer fabric: tapestry, cotton twill, something along those lines. It'll be easier for the bodice to keep its shape and suck you in smoothly, and more importantly, easier to keep the boning from buckling (bendings not really the problem.). When boning buckles, its difficult to get it to go straight again, and usually to make it straight you need a new piece. I've learned that many times over. it's why i prefer spring steel bones to plastic, but time and money dictate plastic with caution. for skirts:www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/Skirts_and_Shirts.html the queen sized fair skirt view, and the sateen skirt view. the latter for the hitching-up option. www.medievalcollectibles.com/medieval-skirtsgathered-skirts-petticoat-873.html the medieval skirt view would work if you wanted to really go along with the robin-hood era, but i don't know if thats what you want or not. skirts are the easy part-all you have to decide is if you want to go with the look of the previous or latter link, colors, and hitching. I'd suggest the previous, myself, as it goes better with your preference of bodice/skirt. otherwise its a little like melding eras, not just styles, and that gets interesting. The colors i'm leaving to you, since you know better than me what colors you're keen on. Though i'm good with combining colors too (yay art class color lessons), so if you want help with that i can help you. the hitching is also up to you, but since you're peasant/pirate, and not just one or the other, i'd hitch it on both sides and have another skirt or your chemise underneath. if you were just peasant i'd say one unhitched skirt would do fine, and if you were pirate i'd say a hitched skirt (on one side) with bloomers underneath. but you're melding, so i'm going with two skirts. However, its up to you whether or not the under"skirt" is actually a separate skirt or your chemise. The deciding factor is how much color you want, as i'm assuming the chemise will be natural colored or black. of course, you can make the chemise out of colored fabric, but it reduces the versatility of it with other outfits-not all colors go together. with your combo of classes, i'd use broadcloth, or something just one step up fancy-wise. Nothing more than that-pirates tend to be flashy, but peasants couldn't afford more than the basics. Well hon, there are my ideas for what you have in mind! if you need help determining patterns, deciding colors and fabrics, or figuring trims if any, just let me know! i can help you make it if you like too-just get the materials and the pattern(s) to me, or meet me closeby so that i can get them, and give me your measurements. Sorry it was so long! i daresay i blabbed more than you expected, huh? lol. but let me know if i can be of further help! ~Rachel PS: Lady Catharine, did you need my help with your girdle?
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Post by holly on May 20, 2007 10:51:22 GMT -5
I have some friends who make some great garb.. and you can find other seamstresses at the wench boards...
the wenches in Erie are planning to get together and do some sewing.....
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Griffin
Mercenary
On to the future
Posts: 244
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Post by Griffin on May 20, 2007 17:48:15 GMT -5
Remember us when you have the timid ones who are not sure about wearing costume. We have tons of different types, styles and sizes to fit most anyone at Griffins Costume Rentals. That way they can get an idea of how much fun it is to be one of us instead of a tourist. Also they can try different looks over a few visits to get an idea what is their style or look they like. We are one of the first hard booths you will see on your way into faire, just at the split. Pass the pond and there we are. Also, you can visit here: home.mchsi.com/~griffins to get a look at our setup. The costumes shown are just a sample of what we have for rentals. Stop by and say "Hi". You can ask Stephanieann and many others on here who got their start in a Griffins costume Rentals. We will help you hook the resistant ones. Looking forward to meeting you. Mitch
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stephanieann
Lord
Because I am the Queen, thats why!
Posts: 406
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Post by stephanieann on May 20, 2007 19:27:18 GMT -5
Oh yes for seven wonderful years Master Griffin has clothed me and Aslinn. He was the first person that we met when we walked through the gate and he is part of the reason that I fell in love with GLMF. His gard is wonderful and comfortable. He is definetly the reason I am the wonderful wench that I am today!! Thank you so much Mitch!! I love you guys!!
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wanderingwench
Squire
"I like work. It fascinates me. I sit and look at it for hours."
Posts: 74
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Post by wanderingwench on May 20, 2007 20:23:47 GMT -5
Thank you SO MUCH, Rachel! It's alot of information at once so it'll take me a bit to read it all, but excellent sites! This is exactly what I was looking for! I have little to NO sewing experience so this will definitely be....interesting. Lol!
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Post by Teatime the green-blue faerie on May 21, 2007 11:52:39 GMT -5
this is Phedre no Delunay on Clover's username (shes my sis) because i'm too lazy right now to switch lol
if you can get the stuff to me hun, i can help you make the bodice. that'll be the most difficult. you shouldn't have any problems with the skirts or the chemise, though i can help you hitch the skirts if you like too.
btw, anyone who needs my help, i'm in chardon now-living arrangements changed-so it may be more interesting with getting stuff to me.
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Phedre
Mercenary
well, I dodged this one...
Posts: 257
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Post by Phedre on May 22, 2007 1:50:29 GMT -5
yeah, that was me that did the last post under clover.
hey tangled web, do you guys rent out corsets? i'm assuming bodices, but corsets are what i'm wondering about. I absolutely love them-so comfy! (at least until you take them off and then have the blood rush to the head) but i definitely don't have the money for a good one. I'm attempting to make a leather one but its turning out a disaster so far. (i've had to rip out seams, but the holes stay in leather whereas in fabric they disappear, so if i sew over or near the same seam too much then i basically end up cutting the piece in two, and the boning's a mess, and blah.) I've never really looked around your booth because i'm such a sewing geek that i make all my own, and i don't really go in to browse around so that i don't get in the way of people who really are going to rent from you.
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Griffin
Mercenary
On to the future
Posts: 244
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Post by Griffin on May 22, 2007 8:19:42 GMT -5
hey tangled web, do you guys rent out corsets? i'm assuming bodices, but corsets are what i'm wondering about. I absolutely love them-so comfy! I've never really looked around your booth because i'm such a sewing geek that i make all my own, and i don't really go in to browse around so that i don't get in the way of people who really are going to rent from you. I have no corsets at all. They could be something that I may consider in the future, but until now I have stayed away from them. The folks who vend them seem to have only corsets to sell. I don't wish to cut into their sales area. I may ask them, because I think that if I have a few it may just help people to try them and fall in love with them. That way they will purchase from them later. I'm not sure. You are always welcome to come into the booth and hang out when we slow down. We usually have snacks, like fruit, veggies and cheese etc. for our friends. We are usually past our rush by 2:00. Stop by anytime to introduce yourself and say Hi. Mitch.
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