I volunteer at the county penitentiary once a week to co-run creative writing workshops with the 18-24 year old men in the "boot camp" program. Tonight our workshop focused on the importance of building a sense of place through details using A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf. I was so impressed by the discussion and writing that occurred, and I left feeling so much better than I have been lately with all the stress of having to graduate.
Anyways, I thought in honor of that I would share a very silly moment from a couple of nights ago. I often study in a tiara when I need extra motivation, and for some reason the combination of pearls, pajamas, and sparkle is pretty hilarious. Although Antonia has already beat me to the blog (so to speak) on this one, here I am making the most of my college education.
This summer I spent a lot of time watching period dramas based on Russian novels with a friend, and as a result developed an unhealthy affinity for fur (of the synthetic variety). There's something about white fur that really appeals to me, and I found several examples of white capes that I really love...so I decided to make my own!
It's a full circle cape with white fur on one side and white wool on the other, pearl buttons, and it's entirely reversible. I am so in love with it, and it's super cuddly--no matter which side is out.
Unfortunately, August is a really terrible time to try and wear fur. In fact, given the strange weather this winter has brought and the lack of formal events in season (well, besides the holidays, but it never worked with any of my outfits), I hadn't worn it out once until last week. Finally though, last Monday my Mom came to visit and took me to see Verdi's Aida at Lincoln Center.
What better time to wear fur than to the opera?
I am so pleased to have finally worn this to something, and to be able to share it! Hopefully I'll have another fur opportunity event soon!
And just for fun, here's a clip from the Metropolitan Opera's production in 2009:
So, I went to a ball this weekend, and it was lovely! The fabulous Antonia precepted, and I not only learned some really cute dances, did a dance or two I had done before, but also learned regency 'rights and lefts,' which is a figure I am familiar with in later 19th century dancing as well as in SCD, but never in its earlier regency form. I also wore the white dress I worked on over winter holidays, and it was nice to have something pretty and period to wear...however it still needs a bit of adjusting, as well as closures (I had to be sewn in again...oops!), but I think I may just make a new dress this summer rather than adjust this one. The main reason for that, because I really do like this dress (and it's practical, as it's cotton-yay breathable fabric for sweaty dancing!), but as you'll see below the delicate embroidery doesn't really show up super well. I'm reading through Gail Marsh's 19th Century Embroidery Techniques to learn some new stitches and then I will make a NEW SUPER IMPROVED ballgown with an embroidered hem.
Anyways, I had so much fun dancing at the ball that I didn't take any pictures! Luckily, I went on a 1812 road trip with some friends from college to drive from New York to Salem for the day, and the lovely Hailey documented the endeavor with a much better camera than mine.
Thanks, Hailey!
So as I've already written more than I planned on, I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking for me.
the obligatory blog 'front and back of dress' pictures
getting sewn in (again) before the ball
the first waltz
giggling instead of posing--oops!
gossiping with a friend--check out the pearls in my hair! I was pleased with those
our merry party from NY! (with A) not a great picture of me, but oh well
Unfortunately, I can't locate the picture of my shoes with the rosettes and ribbons added, but they were lovely...until the ribbons fell off. The rosettes worked well though! It was quite a lovely evening and I'm so glad I was able to go. Counting down until Returning Heroes in March...
In addition to a couple of real posts, a ton of homework, and a bundle of sewing and cooking to do before tomorrow, I'm still making time for some silly videos in honor of the upcoming adventure to the 1812 Ball tomorrow in Salem!
I can barely contain my excitement.
I was looking for something totally unrelated this morning, and I found this well-cut and funny video about some lovely regency boys...and as a friend told me recently while doing costume research that "google says the only man to exist during the Regency was Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy," I thought it was worth taking a look at some...other examples of masculinity.
The 1812 Ball is in two days, and I can barely contain my excitement! Honestly, it really couldn't come at a better time as I've been having a hellish week.
As a cross between ball excitement and my dance literature project I've been looking at a lot of clips from movies set in the period lately. This morning I was on a quest for anything related to the Duchess of Richmond's ball, which was help in 1815 the night before the Battle of Waterloo, and for this reason (the British troops were in attendance) it is an extremely famous occasion. I spent yesterday afternoon reading a book written about it, and while it was full of guest lists, political intrigue, and war tension, it did not mention a single dance by name except the waltz. How frustrating!
However, was one regiment at the ball that was quite exciting to read about: the Gordon Highlanders. This Scottish regiment were fierce in battle, and just as 'fierce' on the ballroom floor! I know from the literature that they danced 'Scotch Reels', and that bagpipes were involved...but that could mean many different things. However, since I love SCD and highland dancing almost as much as a I love vintage, the chance to combine the two (even academically) is too much to pass up. With that in mind, off I went questing!
Scouring youtube, I found a 1970 movie called Waterloo which is about the battle and features the ball rather heavily. I haven't watched the whole thing yet, although I will, but here is a rather hilarious clip of the Gordon Highlanders dancing a version of the Sword Dance:
Here's what that usually looks like (it's actually a favorite of mine):
Finally, here's the trailer for the movie. It looks so intensely silly I really must watch it!
Isn't that fantastic? To set the scene a bit more...here are two dresses said to have been worn at the ball, now in the Museum of Costume, Bath:
This April marks the 100th anniversary of both the Titanic's maiden voyage and tragic destruction. I think this particular disaster in our social memory is especially interesting because it marked the "beginning of the end", so to speak: after what had been an upward slope of industry, wealth (for some), and engineering during the close of the last century, the sinking of the Titanic was followed by WWI and a complete change in the cultural mindset. No longer did we doubt our immortality after brutal trench warfare, the way we had when building an 'unsinkable' ship.
Anyways, the point of that diversion is that I think the Titanic centennial is worth remembering, and that honoring both what the ship meant in our culture's recent history as well as the lives lost in the crash is a good thing to do this April. To that end, if I can possibly swing it I plan to pop over to Titanic Weekend in Salem, MA with the Commonwealth Vintage Dancers. I've also been re-watching season one of Downton Abbey recently with a friend who missed it the first time 'round, and lusting after Lady Mary's hair. Both of these things inspired me last night to give some early twentieth century hair a go.
Here was the result:
from the back: the overall shape is right but the poof above all the curls needs to be more even
side view: needs poofier sides and I need to be careful to hide the pins!
I don't think it turned out too badly. I have one small rat pinned in (a rat is a pad under/inside the hairstyle to make it more full-looking. They're traditionally made from shed hair caught in your hairbrush, but you can buy plenty of modern, synthetic alternatives) at the middle/back of my head, and the hair above is brought down over it and pinned below. Everything else is just experimenting with different ways to style the bottom/sides. My hair is naturally curly, so at the point where I couldn't do anything else interesting I just reverted to the 'shove curls to head and pin' method I usually take when doing my hair in the morning.
I looked at several video tutorials as well as this instructional article from American Duchess (which is aimed at people with shorter hair and uses a fake hair piece) and attempted several of the techniques with this...although I'm not sure all of them succeeded. One thing I definitely need is more rats! I think a bigger one at the back will help a lot, as well as setting it in a little higher on my head. I would also like to include a rat above each ear, so that it looks a little fuller above my ears...a bit like Mary's.
Dressed for dinner, during the 1912 half of series 1
I probably won't go as extreme as a lot of these ladies, but I've been drawing inspiration from a variety of awesome hair c.1912. Here are some period examples!
"Young Ladies circa 1912" --the giant hair bow on the one to the far right is may favorite
built more to the side than back, but I love the swirls/rolled look
Inscribed "Christmas 1912"--Is there a bit of braid at the back?
WHOOM. That's the sound this hair makes, I think. If my hair gets long again I might give this a try!
I have a LOT of practicing to do before April. Looks like I'll just have to keep taking regular trips to 1912...at least as far as my hair is concerned. I don't think the idea of swimming in icy water actually sounds at all appealing.
