Maid Marian 1: The Plan

The 2012 Costume College theme was the Golden Age of Hollywood.  Before I knew it, it was May, and I had no idea of what I wanted to do for the Gala.

From what I can tell, most costumers love designing costumes. They're constantly besieged by inspiration and CADD, just overflowing with ideas!  Finishing them, whether it's tedious construction or losing interest, is the harder part.

That is so not me.

I happen to enjoy construction. Sure, I get discouraged, especially with fiddly stuff or something that just doesn't work; but in general, I love putting things together.  As my mother puts it: Sewing starts with one big piece of fabric. You cut it all up into little pieces, and the goal is to get it back together into one piece.  I like that process. I hate testing muslins, but I'm good at layout and cutting.

Inspiration is the hard part. I can't make it happen!  The best way to prime the pump is to look at as many pictures as possible. I'm very visual, so the more pictures, the more likely I'll see something I can go with.  Pinterest has been invaluable for this alone.


Pictures only work when I have some kind of idea, though.  In mid-May I finally realized that this theme was the best opportunity to make an Old Hollywood "historical" costume.  Like Gone with the Wind.  Very 1860s inspired, but also definitely a product of the late 1930s.

Source: historicalsewing.com via Scene in the Past on Pinterest

I wanted the finished costume to be:

1. Pretty!
2. Have a big impact! (This is the Gala, after all - As Big As Possible is an unofficial theme.)
3. Recognizably inspired by Old Hollywood, whether a direct copy of a famous gown, or a semi-historical design clearly worn over vintage foundations with vintage hair.


I set up a Pinterest board, searched my memories for favorite old historical films, and finally went to some LiveJournal friends for advice.  I thought about The Inspector General or The Pirate for crazy 1830s styles, which I've always been tempted toward. There's also The Court Jester with its brightly-colored princess-seamed 1950s interpretation of "medieval" dress.

Source: moviereleses.com via Scene in the Past on Pinterest

And while I was actually typing, I got the best idea. Maid Marian, played by Olivia de Haviland, from the 1938 Robin Hood with Errol Flynn.

Source: drush76.files.wordpress.com via Scene in the Past on Pinterest

Source: vintageclothinglove.blogspot.com via Scene in the Past on Pinterest

Source: edelweisspatterns.com via Scene in the Past on Pinterest

There are many other beautiful gowns in this film. Olivia has quite the wardrobe! The first one, called the "Forest Gown" in some places, is possibly the most recognizable and/or iconic. It's the audience's first view of Maid Marian, as well as what she's wearing when she meets Robin in Sherwood for the first time.

There are also plenty of reference pictures for it! That's pretty important when copying a costume. ;)

This closeup was one of the best references for color, fabric, and design.

Source: edelweisspatterns.com via Scene in the Past on Pinterest

This is unfortunately black and white, but it's the only clear full-length view I could find. I printed it out and referred to it constantly.

Source: oliviadehavilland.net via Scene in the Past on Pinterest

Another close shot, especially good for jewelry detail.

Source: kaprayshapray.blogspot.com via Scene in the Past on Pinterest

Next time: Shopping!

Halloween, and the Dallas Vintage Clothing and Jewelry Show

Tonight is Halloween. (If you didn't know, now you do! You can thank me anytime.)  Last year I was at my parents' house. We didn't expect many visitors, since it's a slightly older neighborhood now. My 20-year-old brother still dressed up to answer the door - as WWII period Captain America. Full G.I. gear, plus the blue-painted helmet with a white A. It was a hit, and he was kept surprisingly busy.

Since I'm in a neighborhood with an even higher child population, I'm expecting to be just as busy tonight. What will make the biggest impact to small children? Hmm...

Maid Marion! (photo courtesy Lauren/Wearing History)

It'll be an interesting evening.


On Saturday, I went to the Dallas Vintage Clothing and Jewelry Show on Saturday, meeting up with Jen.  Because it was free admission for those in "head-to-toe vintage," I pulled out all the stops and made sure I did it right.


Since taking Lauren's class on the Vintage Wardrobe at Costume College, I've made some good purchases to fill some holes. One of them was this early 1940s rust-colored suit. It has a single-button closure, wide peaked lapels, and is pleated to fit the waist. Its skirt is short, with a single inverted box pleat in both front and back.

Navy is the "base color" I've settled on for my primary vintage wardrobe. Brown/rust is not the best color for me, but it goes well with navy. Early 1940s suits are hard to find, so when this one showed up in the perfect size, useable color, and excellent price, I snatched it.

 

My only non-vintage item (besides the Rago girdle!) is the blouse. I made it from a vintage pattern out of lightweight linen for a vintage Lady Adventurer outfit several years ago. My only jewelry is the green pin. It's only cheap plastic, with a fake pearl in it, but I think it's awesome.

I'm surprised I haven't taken a picture of this before.

 With it, I wore a navy hat I bought at the first Antique Elegance show I attended (2009?), heavier rayon/cotton seamed stockings, and vintage 1940s navy blue slingbacks.  I carried a Whiting & Davis cream/white aluminum mesh handbag, one of my earliest vintage purchases.

I went to the show determining to be very good, and I was! I came home with two things, both of which I really needed and wanted:

A navy blue drawstring purse, trimmed with silver and pearl beads. It has a hard, weighted bottom so it sits upright. Myrna Loy has one very like it in The Thin Man Goes Home, 1945.

The top trim is a piece that folds down, like a fringe. One silver aiglet is missing, but that and the wear on the strings are the only flaws.  A navy handbag was a really big hole in my vintage wardrobe, so finding this for $10 made me happy.

The second item was this navy straw tilt hat, trimmed with red and gray ribbon. It's adorable! Aside from some slight fading to the edge of the brim, it's in great shape. The navy hat I wore that day was really my only navy one, and it isn't very practical for summer or strong wind around here. So this hat is perfect. I never dreamed of finding anything like it.

There's even a back ribbon band, so you can be sure this is meant to be tilted. I love red, and I have fabric for integrating more red into my vintage wardrobe. Just one more reason why this hat is so good. Oh, and although it was tagged $45 - above my budget for the show - the lady said she could do $25 plus tax. And when all I had in cash was $24, she took it! Yay!

So it was a good show. I'm glad I went, and I'm looking forward to next year in March.

Costume College - Saturday - Gala

Gala time!

Getting dressed was a breeze compared to last year. We missed the red carpet arrival entirely!  This year, I had a few tricky moments with safety pins, but on the whole my outfit went together easily.

Lauren and her husband ready to ago, with Perry the Platypus, who alas! did not make a red carpet appearance.

In tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood, I went as Maid Marian, as played by Olivia de Haviland in the 1938 Robin Hood.  (With Errol Flynn, in Technicolor!)

Original film still

On the red carpet (photo courtesy Arandale)

I love this costume. Love it!  It took so much work to make, but the pieces really came together. It's amazing to wear.

I think we turned out pretty good! (One of the husbands was being silly behind the camera, and  can't control my face. :D) (Photo courtesy Beth)

Stephanie in blinged-out 1950s.

R. in silk charmeuse, copied from the 1930s Hitchcock Secret Agent.

Beth in Regency and husband in vintage formal wear. (Photo courtesy Arandale.)

Lauren's gold 1930s, complete with squined and (fake) furred cape. (Photo courtesy Beth.)

I had a lot of assistance replicating... (Photo courtesy Jitteringbug)

... this original continuity still.

Did it turn out all right?

We stayed for the entire Red Carpet arrival, then walked across the street to dinner at P. F. Chang's, which was new to me and YUM. Incidentally we (I?) made the night of two wee little girls who never said a word, but just hovered and grinned, and shyly showed me their sparkly shoes!

Beth took no risks with her gorgeous dress.

Afterward we watched the Gala dancing.

Lauren and Beth and their husbands danced to several songs. Ever seen the Balboa danced in a Regency gown before?

Two fabulous golden ladies (Lauren and Katherine) and their cameras.

The awesome and delightful Megan in her fully accessorized cross-barred silk francaise.

 Shortly after I took the above picture, Megan announced that the evening was to the point where she usually took her dress off.  "!!!" was my initial reaction. Aubry did not hear, so I sneakily got my camera ready.

Megan starts taking out pins and Aubry figures it out.

Dress coming off!

Back to the dance! (That wasn't so bad!)

I didn't stay for the end of the dance; we went back to our rooms, but not to bed right away.  We stayed up way too late talking and unwinding. It was a great night!

Costume College - Wednesday and Thursday

 Backing up a little bit...

Wednesday was spent entirely on last minute sewing and trimming. Unlike last year, Lauren M. and I had determined NOT to do last-minute stressful sewing. So much for good intentions!  But we actually held to the spirit of our commitment, since neither one of us were stressed (unlike last year) and neither one of us had to sew at Costume College itself (again unlike last year).

So we talked and watched movies and compared opinions and dodged cats and watched our last-to-be-completed outfits take shape.

Mr. Charles approves of the Maid Marian dress.

The best movie for marathon sewing days.

Cat trap!

So Thursday morning we picked up Stephanie, The Girl with the Star-Spangled Heart, at the airport and headed straight to the garment district.  After several crazy hours, we left in good time to make it out of downtown Los Angeles and get to the hotel for registration. Apparently we arrived in the "sweet spot" between the beginning rush and the remaining bulk of attendees, since we had no wait in line and one of our rooms had a refrigerator. GREAT!  After taking all our stuff up, and Lauren M. checking her laptop with the A/V gear for compatibility, we found a grocery store and loaded up on breakfast and lunch items. Best way to save on time and money during Costume College. ;) Then we go dinner and headed back to the hotel for the Carmen Miranda pool party.

By the time we arrived apparently some people had left, and it was rather dark and not really at the pool - but it was still fun to see people.  Lauren (of Wearing History)  and Beth of V for Vintage took the theme and ran with it. Beth was amazing in full be-ruffled and be-fruited Carmen Miranda splendor - complete with banana'd turban! - and Lauren was amazing in white, fringe, and gold butterflies.  By contrast, Stephanie and I were country cousins in sports 40s halter bathing and play suits, respectively.

Beth. Photo by Lady Carolyn.

Lauren. Photo by Claudia La Rue.

Stephanie (right) and me (left). Photo by Val of Time Traveling in Costume.

I wish I had a better picture of my outfit, but I wasn't fully with it yet. :) The outfit started with the original 1940s chenille bathing cape. Lauren sent me an Etsy link probably 9 months ago and I couldn't resist. She's such an enabler!  It's hard to see, but there are red sailboats with blue sails all around the hem of the cape. It's darling.

For the rest of the outfit, I bought a white canvas/duck halter off Ebay, then found royal blue denim at Joann. I used an out of print Wearing History underthings pattern as a base for a bathing suit skirt, and added bands of blue denim to the halter.  I accessorized with a plastic bead necklace and earrings, a red (and totally invisible) crocheted snood, 1940s telephone cord purse, and Diet Pepsi. ;)

When we got tired we went back to our rooms, where we slowly got ready for bed and chatted way too late into the evening.

Well, I'm back.

I didn't really have time to recover from Costumers' Lost Weekend before leaving for Costume College in Los Angeles. I had such an amazing time!  Now I'm finally home now and trying to process my pictures. I've got loads to post, and a lot of costumes to show. For now...