2019 Costume Year in Review

(I'm behind on updating events for the second half of the year, but you'll get some of that within.)

I… pretty much did nothing this year. Ok, that’s not totally true, but going through year two of motherhood + working full time leaves not enough time for me for sewing. At least, not enough big, contiguous chunks of time. I used to take a whole free weekend (when I had them) and spend all day on a project. I don’t have that anymore. And my evenings are for relaxing and recovering, and they are just enough time to take stuff out before having to go to bed. It’s just not working for me now, but I know that will change. And someday she will want to do her own thing, and I’m going to wonder what to do with my time!

Knowing all this, last year I said, “ Since my sewing time/drive has been so low, I think my main goal for 2019 will be to have as many of my older costumes photographed as possible. At least I’ll have a good record of them that way! So it’s accomplishing something.” and “ So next year, I’d like to finish the mending pile, to include actually assembling that new regency dress. Trimming the francaise would be good. As would doing literally anything else. I clearly need a bustle gown. Other than that, I think I’ll just try to rewear stuff that never was well-photographed, and get as many pics as I can.”

Since I set the bar so very low, I can say that yes! I accomplished this! I rewore stuff, I had photographs taken of old stuff. I did not trim the francaise, though that’s not because I didn’t try. The trim I had envisioned just didn’t look right with the fabric I had, so after trying a couple different ways to pleat the fabric, I put it away for another time. So I did at least try. And I did finish my mending pile!! I did not assemble the regency dress. I took it out a few times and just wasn’t into it. And since the Pumpkin Tea this year was bustle era and not regency, I figured I can do it next time I need a new regency day dress. So I deprioritized it.

I did go to quite a few costume events, which was nice. And I bought two Victorian gowns on FB, so I finally have things to fill in the gaps where I have not had time to sew. One of them still needs hemming, though I hemmed the first one I bought.

So here was my year.

February: Victorian Tea at Dupont Hotel



The lighting was terrible but Mike and Gloria did do some pics. I wore my old 1840s watered silk gown with an antique pelerine over it just to do something new. Here’s their pic of me:



I participated in In the Long Run Designs New Kit-Cat Club photo project. Here was my photo from that project. I wore an older gown, but one of my favs. Red and white striped silk and a take on the famous gown from the KCI collection. I got some nice photos of it from that shoot!



More below the cut!

Salem/Costume Con

Gloria and I spent a day sightseeing in Salem. After our day, we headed back to the hotel to get dressed up to go to the CostumeCon social. I brought myy Anovos Trek dress because it was easy to pack and wear.



Meanwhile back at home, Doug and the munchkin were grocery shopping:



With Gloria and Sarah:

Halloween 2013

A few photos (I only took a few) from my friend's Halloween Party from a few weeks ago. It was low key and we got in some card games, so it was a good time. I rewore my NuTrek dress since I hadn't worn it there yet and it was easy, and Doug wore is Original Series costume which he also hadn't worn to this party. So we were both redshirts. The party broke up relatively early because we're old because we had to get up earlyish the next day for the regency Pumpkin tea, and I had to go home and put curlers in my hair. Commitment, I tell you.

Speaking of Star Trek...

Here are some of the pics David took at DragonCon! Thanks, David!

Again Doug's costume I made (actually he's wearing the Anovos undershirt.) and mine is Anovos.

And Doug's photo from the World Record.

Star Trek purse!

I just bought this on Etsy and my only problem with it is that I didn't buy it before DragonCon! Seriously - it is such a cute little bag and I had no pockets when I wore either Star Trek dress and this will be perfect in the future for carrying my phone.  It's really well-made and was only 10 bucks!  Here's the listing in case anyone else wants to contact the seller for one!

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/148840069?ref=fb2_tnx_title

 

Star Trek 2009 - Uhura

I thought I would do an individual post on my "Uhura" costume - in quotes because I don't remotely resemble Zoe Saldana, but because I like her outfit so much, I thought I would do an individual post on it.

Figuring once again that Anovos could do it way better than me, I bought their red NuTrek dress. https://anovos.com/star-trek-the-movie/womens-uniform-dresses It's really well made with a fitted inner layer that gives the dress structure. It makes it hard to go over the head a bit, but I like it having support, I think it's more flattering that way. These dresses are sized slightly smaller than the TOS Anovos dresses, as a warning, so check the sizing guide.

Apparently what Uhura wore in the film is most similar to the DKNY Dia boots, but with a side zip, not a back zip. The Rebel has the side zip but the wrong velcro flap. I was able to pick up a pair of the DKNY Dia boots on ebay, so put a watch up if you're looking for them.

See the discussion on boots here: http://starfleet1701st.yuku.com/topic/1212/ST-Women-s-Boots#.UXYPjIJAvx8 

And their graphic comparing the boots below:

I also acquired a pair of Uhura's earrings.  From the first movie, she wore Alexis Bittar's lucite "Pod" earrings in red and silver. I have the silver ones.

And a few pics from DragonCon 2013:


 





 

DragonCon 2013

So as you may or may not know, I wasn't particularly looking forward to DragonCon this year, just because it felt like work. I did end up having a good time, of course, but I think it was partly because I revised my expectations. And it wasn't all great. But it was wonderful seeing so many friends and there were a lot of good things that happened.

We (Michelle, Doug, and I) were staying at the Sheraton, right across the hall from Jen & Raj, which is always awesome, because I adore them both and they're really fun people! Also, it was great seeing Michelle again since I didn't go 2 years ago and she didn't go last year, so we hadn't had a DragonCon together in 2 years.

Registration was at our hotel and it took a bit to finally find the on-site registration line and it was a much much much shorter if a little slow line. If you were paying with cash, there was no line.
Someone ducked under the empty queues and they all went over, like dominoes. It was pretty amusing:
 

Then Bank of America, in its infinite wisdom, triggered fraud protection for our DragonCon membership purpose. Because that is what people who steal credit cards do - go to DragonCon. Apparently lots of people were having this problem, so it took a while for Doug on the phone to sort it out and then we finally had our badges.

By the time we were badged, we didn't have much time to change for the Gatsby party, which was over in the Marriott and hosted by Janine and Betsy Loki. Everyone looked awesome and it was so nice to see everyone - I caught up with lots of different people. And the view was pretty great!

 
 


Note that Betsy's 20s costume is Loki themed - I loved it!

Halloween!

We got another wearing out of our Trek costumes at a recent Halloween party we went to!  I really like my Anovos dress. (Doug's costume I made.)

A few more Star Trek

Love these two pics Janine got!

A few Star Trek buys

David Skirmont got these great pics of the Star Trek group from DragonCon. I thought they were really fun!

No, the other left!

 

Not the redshirt!

I also wanted to note that I bought these insignia for Doug's NuTrek costume - I like them better than the ones I bought on ebay a few years ago. Science: Star Trek Starfleet Science Division Badge Replica
And to go with my Original Series costume a Tricorder: Star Trek Star Trek - Electronic Tricorder

DragonCon Thurs/Friday

DragonCon!

We started out the trip with the 10th Doctor on our flight. I literally almost bumped into him and recognized the fabric first. I looked up and he looked at my t-shirt (Doctors crossing Abbey Road) and I said "Nice suit" at the same time as he said "Nice shirt". It was very funny. And then I worried that the Doctor was on our flight since nothing good happens when he shows up, right? :-)
 
We stayed in the Sheraton this year, which ended up being quite nice. Hardly any waits for elevators, just a block or so from the Marriott (and frankly it was often a relief to walk outside instead of through the crowded tunnels), and relatively quiet. Plus the Marriott changed their policies this year and rooms are non-refundable (1 night) and non-transferrable. Lame. Especially when you have to reserve a full year out. The Sheraton is still refundable. And this was the view from our room - which was adjoining with Raj and Jen's room, which was awesome!

Star Trek uniform

I have friends who want to do a costume group, so I splurged on one of the Anovos Star Trek uniforms. It's really cool and the body of it was true to size, but the sleeves were SO small. I'm not skinny, but I don't think my forearms are abnormally large and I could barely fit them in the sleeve! Fortunately there are huge seam allowances in both seams of the sleeve, so I let them all out and it fits better. It's also a stretchy material, which helps.

Here are some pics on the dress form, and a few of Uhuru in the original.  (I bought the blue uniform - science, you know!)

Star Trek (2009)

For Halloween 2009, I made my husband a costume from the 2009 Star Trek. I'm indebted to Laughing Magpie and her study site: http://magpies-trek.livejournal.com/

Here is the web page for my costume with my research and more photos:
http://costumersguide.com/maggie_costumes/trek.html

For DragonCon 2010, I managed to get a pair of the screen accurate boots, but in brown. I used leather paint to make them black! I'm pretty happy with how they turned out.








Yes, my fabric had the little insignias!

9/9/12: I also wanted to note that I bought these insignia for Doug's NuTrek costume - I like them better than the ones I bought on ebay a few years ago (seen above, which attaches with a magnet). Science: Star Trek Starfleet Science Division Badge Replica