Take Back Halloween / Se réapproprier l'Halloween

(La version Française se trouve plus bas.)

This week, in reading EPBOT, I discovered a new source of inspiration for costumes: Take Back Halloween. This resource was created as an answer to the costume store trend of only having "sexy" labelled costume versions of anything you can imagine. For women who love to dress up for once a year for Halloween, they suggest amazing looking costumes made up of ready made items and maybe a few no sew projects.

They want women to feel empowered by their costumes; te ideas they suggest fall under four categories, which are Glamour Girls, Goddesses and Legends, Notable Women and Queens. The research they put into these costumes is pretty impressive too; it is worth the read just to learn something new.

Here are a few of the costumes made by Take Back Halloween:

Cette semaine, en lisant EPBOT, j'ai découvert une nouvelle source d'inspiration pour les costumes: Take Back Halloween (en Anglais seulement). Cette ressource à été créé en réponse à la mode des costumes commerciaux féminin qui sont de plus en plus des versions "sexy" de tout ce que vous puissiez imaginer. Pour les femmes qui aiment se déguiser une fois par an pour Halloween, ils suggèrent des costumes impressionnant fait d'items trouvés ou acheté tel quel, et parfois modifié sans la moindre couture.

Ils veulent redonner le pouvoir aux femmes au travers de leurs costumes: les idées suggérées sont classifiées sous les thèmes de Femmes Hollywoodiennes, Déesses et Légendes, Femmes Célèbres et Reines.La recherche effectuée pour monter ces costumes est aussi impressionnante; ça vaut la peine d'aller la lire juste pour apprendre quelque chose de nouveau.

Voici quelques exemples de costumes assemblées par Take Back Halloween:

Ada Lovelace

Christina of Sweden

Freyja

Ixchel

Minoan Queen

Isis

Morrigan

I think the Morrigan is my favourite. It is really simple, yet dramatic. I just love the make-up, the feather collar and plaid in general. I think it begs to be Steampunked.

If anyone of you is still wondering what to wear for Halloween, head over to their website; you will have no more excuses not to dress-up.

Je crois bien que la Morrigane est ma préféré. C'est si simple, et pourtant dramatique. J'aime le maquillage, le col de plumes et le plaid en général. Je crois que ça demande à devenir Steampunk.

Si quelqu'un se demande encore quoi porter pour Halloween, allez faire un tour sur leur site; vous n'aurez ensuite plus d'excuses pour ne pas vous costumer.

Wednesday Weekly Wishlist: Morgan Le Fey's Teal and Red Chiton

As you might imagine from all I tell you about myself, I love the Arthurian Legends. I also love TV series and movies on the subject. One of these was the 1998 Mini-series Merlin staring Sam Neill. Although the costumes were not even close to accurate, the craziest ones went to super natural creatures so it made it somewhat okay. The one I truly loved was Morgana’s Chiton. Frik creates the illusion of her beauty and he dresses her up in the fashion of his youth.

Helena Bonham Carter as Morgan Le Fey, Merlin (1998)

Of course, as with most historical dresses in Hollywood (or should I say unfitted historical dresses), it is not actually cut as a chiton would, but it is still a lovely dress.

Sam Neill as Merlin and Helena Bonham Carter as Morgan Le Fey, Merlin (1998)

I would make my version as two rectangles of blue taffeta bag lined in red taffeta, sew it up the sides and add gold buttons and loop at the shoulder. Sure, taffeta is hot, but I feel it would achieve the right look. Also, by bag lining both rectangles, I get a two colour, reversible chiton. Imagine that, a two for one! (Hmmm, maybe I should market that for the SCA...),

Add jewellery, a gold belt, some gladiator sandals and a curled updo and your ready to party with Queen Mab and the rest of Avalon!

Movie Monday: The Tooth Fairy

Well it is still kind of slow Costume wise for new movies. All I have to offer you this week is this comedy coming out on Friday: The Tooth Fairy (2010).

Who ever thought we would one day see Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in a satin shirt, tights and wings!

Stephen Merchant as Tracy, Dwayne Johnson as Derek and Julie Andrews as Lily, The Tooth Fairy (2010)

Making a pair of wings is a skill all costumers should learn to do (I have never personally made some, but my parents made me a pair for a bee costume when I was 5 and they have been used sporadically for angel costumes by other members of the family since); after all, Something with wings is on the Compulsory Costume List! Most wing making techniques require the use of metal wire for the frame (a metal hanger will do perfectly), nylons or tights for the wings, which are easy to slip over your frame, but you could also use fabric that you would sew to the wire, and shoulder straps for you to wear your wings.

Or you can be lazy and buy a pretty nice pre-made pair for about 10$ - 15$. Your choice!

Virgin Mary's Blue Robe

I'm off to Church (Gag me!) with my in-laws (I'll spare you the details). So today's post will be short and sweet!

Quick question: Why is the Virgin Mary's robe blue?

Madonna in Glory, by Carlo Dolci (Italy, 1616-1686), c. 1670, Oil on canvas

If you have answered "Because blue is the colour of the sky", you are wrong. That is a modern association.

The truth is (according to one of my Art History teachers), during the Renaissance, the most expensive pigment an artist could use was blue. Blue was made of crushed Lapis-Lazuli. Out of respect for "God's Mother", the people who commissioned representations of Mary wanted to give her the best and most expensive robe; the richer the commissioner, the purer the colour!

Gotta go, wouldn't want to be late for the service, now would we!

Edit: We were late and we skipped Church entirely. Darn weather! Oh well... (Thank you Mother Nature!)

Christmas day is here!

Christmas is here, and I'm adding the finishing touches to my Victorian-esque bodice (it's not going to be Victorian per se, just a bodice with off the shoulder sleeves).

In the mean time, Merry Christmas! I hope you had a lovely Christmas Eve.

Because I am getting my daughter into costuming at a young age, I get to post pictures of what she wore last night. Why wear a plain old pretty outfit when you can dress up as Frosty the Snowbaby!

My Baby being held up by her Aunt D.

Wasn't she cute? I know it's a little hard to see, but there is even a little Top Hat sewn to the hood. Now I have to say, I did not make that. It was given to me by Sciath who had it for her daughter last year. Judging from the tag, I think it's from Zellers. But she was very comfortable (and warm, an important factor when going to my Aunt S.' house).

Opening presents is exhausting

To go with the "Frosty" suit, my Baby wore her "Santa's Elf" onesie and Christmas socks with gingerbread men on them.

I know, some will say she will one day hate me for this, but I think she will just grow up having lots of fun with her slightly crazy mom! After all, every kid loves to play dress up!

Santa Claus is coming to town

It's Christmas, it's Christmas! OK, it's not quite yet, but it's Christmas eve, and every kid know that today is the day that Santa comes! And since I'm a big kid at heart...

Two years ago, I was asked to make a Santa Claus and Mother Claus costume for Troupe Fantasia's Christmas play. While I went with a traditional cookie baking look for Mother Claus (a red dress with a frill on the hem of the skirt and lace at the neckline and cuffs, paired with a frilly apron), The art director and I agreed on a more Victorian looking Santa, inspired by Nicolas Noël, The real Santa Claus' look. I therefore made a waistcoat, which Santa wears over a red shirt and pants he got elsewhere, a fur trimmed, deep red velvet robe, belted with a gold cord, and of course, a hat.

Note: The following pictures are a courtesy of Troupe Fantasia. I only made the Santa Claus and Mother Claus costumes. The others were made by other seamstresses over the years.

Santa Claus on his throne

Mother Claus and Santa Claus with a couple of children

Santa's home!

Mother Claus and Santa Claus with Rudolph

The Claus go South!

For those interested, here are the patterns I used. for the Mother Claus costume, I used Butterick 6816; for Santa's waistcoat, I used Simplicity 8910; Santa's robe and hat were made using Butterick 3648. As for materials, the Mother Claus costume as well as Santa's waistcoat were made out of Christmas quilter's cotton, and as previously mentioned, Santa Claus' robe is made of expensive velvet and good quality faux-fur (the Troupe will be using this costume for the next 20 years, so it is well worth the price).

Merry Christmas everyone! Watch out for Santa tonight (I like to keep track of him with the Official NORAD Santa Tracker).

Wednesday Weekly Wishlist: Necile

From the time they start airing all of the Christmas specials and cartoons on TV, I watch as many as I can. One I discovered a few years back is The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus (2000), based on a 1902 children's book by L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

I loved the presence of all of the mythological looking characters. Of course, right away I had my favorite: Necile. In the cartoon (I haven't read the book, but I think it's the same in there too), she is the Nymph who raises Nicholas.

Her outfit is simple, but I would like to make it one day. I consists of a blue dress with light blue yoke and sleeves, two-toned golden green wings and a flower headdress made of five teal and lilac petals. And as she is a nymph, I would have to get myself a pair of pointy ears.

That's it for today. I have a bodice to finish!

"La Fée des Étoiles", a French Christmas Character

For most of you, Santa Claus' feminine partner has probably always been Mother Claus. It is not so for everyone. You see, In France and French tradition in general, Le Père Noël is accompanied by La Fée des Étoiles (The Star Fairy). In the past, in families where some male relative played the role of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, there was often an aunt dressed in a white or blue dress decorated with stars. It is our tradition.

My favorite depiction of the Star Fairy comes from a 1984 French movie, J'ai rencontré le Père Noël. I was at the local premiere with my parents, I was given the soundtrack and I still have it (it is a vinyl 45 rpm). It is not a great movie by far, but to me, it is associated with Christmas and I love to watch it and listen to the music.

In the movie, the Fairy is played by French Singer Karen Chéryl. Her dress looks nothing like the usual descrition: she wears a cream coloured Elizabethan inspired dress, complete with puffed and slashed upper sleeves and sheer fan collar.

In the following video (a clip from the TV show Champs-Elisées (1982) that originally aired on November 24, 1984), starting at around 2:20 minutes, you can see Karen Chéryl in her Fairy dress, full length and in detail.

Nowadays, the character of Mother Claus has been adapted in French too as La Mère Noël; but it is nice to remember our traditions and not forget the Star Fairy. After all, "every time someone says 'I do not believe in fairies', somewhere there's a fairy that falls down dead"*.

*Line from Tinkerbell in Hook (1991).

Elf Yourself

By now, I'm sure everyone has seen an "Elf Yourself" video. They have been around for a couple of years and are now a part of the Holiday Tradition. (Ah! Technology!) In that spirit, staring my Sweetheart, my Daughter, my cat G'Kwan and Myself, here are my own humoristic Holiday wishes to my many readers.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Aren't those Elf costumes cute? And I bet they are comfy too. I want one. Really. All I need is green velvet, white faux-fur, some red and white striped thigh high socks (OK, and a wide leather belt, a red feather and some red trim for the hat).

I have a friend who says that if I ever make him an Elf costume, he will wear it to every Holiday Party of the season, including the Office Christmas Party. I should really get around to making him one. I can just see him in it, dancing next to the secretarial pool.

King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs

Oh, this is exciting! The Art Gallery of Ontario is having an exhibition on King Tutankhamun from November 24, 2009, to April 18, 2010: King Tut - The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs.

Anyone who might be interested in Ancient Egyptian Costume (and can get to Toronto before April 18, 2010) should take the time to go. After all, after actual clothing pieces, the next best thing to study a costume is art, and Egyptian art is so beautiful and colourful.

Ondine / Elf Dress

Can you believe no one took pictures of me in my new dress last night I was so hoping to show you what I looked like in the dress. Ah well, I'll have to have a photo shoot in my living room soon.

In the mean time, how about showing you what costume the purple Turkish Satin was a leftover of?

For Halloween 2005, my first at my then new job, I wanted to make myself a fabulous costume (since they have a contest, I mean, costumes are my thing so I had to look good). After looking at the winning entries from the previous years, I noticed a trend: crazy full face/body make-up usually won. Alright then, I can do that. My other criteria were comfort (I had to sit at an office all day, so anything with big wings or a crinoline would be difficult) and I had a headset phone, so my ears could not be covered (therefore I could not reuse my Twi'lek costume). I started very early on to plan it, deciding to go as an Ondine (which was inspired by Titania in The Voyage of the Unicorn - 2001). Off course, I assembled it on the 30th, but what did you REALLY expect!

Dress

Simplicity 9891

As any good LOTR costumer, I own Simplicity 9891, but I had never used it before and I was dying to make a dress using view A of said pattern. So I indulged myself. The material I found (in the decoration section of my favourite Fabricville) is a purple and aqua Turkish Satin. As for the sleeves and neckline drape, I used white Crystal Organza. I changed the original pattern ever so slightly at the neckline drape by making it one big piece that goes all around the neckline and is tied at the shoulders with silver ribbon. I’ve also serged the sleeves' seam on the outside to give them a wave look.

With it I wore a silver disc belt I found at The Bay one day for about 3$. I figured I would eventually be able to use it for a costume (I thought Medieval) and look, I did!

One tiny note: due to my usual last minute rush, I used a zipper in the back, but one day I would like to replace it with lacing.

Shoes

My Silver Beaded Shoes

I found the most gorgeous silver beaded shoes on a shopping trip and I decided I needed them for that costume. OK, the costume was an excuse, I just really wanted them. After all, “Life is short; buy the shoes”. Besides, I still have them now, I wear them for parties (like last night) and I always get complimented on them.

Hair & Makeup

Ondine Hair and Makeup

I wanted aqua hair, and there was no way I was going to dye my own hair, so I bought myself a wig. I got a Kelly by Sepia Wigs in Light Blue (which is a very greenish blue, but heck).

As for makeup, I used Mehron Liquid Makeup in Blue on my face, neck, arms and hands (I wore matching blue tights for my legs). On my eyes, forehead and nose, I brushed some Snazaroo Iridescent Powder in Turquoise. I used Cover Girl Eye Slicks in Aqua Flash (#420) as a lipstick and L’Oréal Rouge Pulp in Revealing (#13) to give my lips a glossier look (basically the same lip makeup I used for my Twi’lek costume). For my nails, I used a Sea Foam coloured nail polish that matched my wig perfectly. Last touch, I glued a little tear drop shaped diamante to my forehead with sock glue (body adhesive).

Gwenyver as an Ondine

This is the result of my labour. I spent all day at work in my wig and almost full body makeup (which left traces everywhere - phone, mouse, keyboard), and I kept everything on for the evening too.

With Nancy-Raven and my late dog on Halloween Night, 2005

This last picture is blurry, but at least you can see the full length of the dress. I remember I had a lot of fun that night, playing Nancy-Raven's familiar, asking her if I could eat the teenagers and snapping my teeth at them. Good times!

One of these days, I should also get some pictures of myself wearing it without any makeup. It is after all a perfect dress for a LOTR party or convention.

Wednesday Weekly Wishlist: Erin the Goddess

What I really wish for today is to be done with my Solo dress. I am exhausted. And since my Daughter is sick, she barely naps and she won't fall asleep until very late. Seriously, the earliest I've been able to sit down at the sewing machine was 10:30 pm. And then I sew until 1, 1:30 am.

But let's see what I can pull from my wishlist to present today. Keeping with the Irish Dance theme, here is one costume from Lord of the Dance that I would love to make.

The character is Erin, the Goddess. She is played here by Anne Buckley. I love the beautiful green (I believe it is Velvet) dress and cloak she wears throughout the show. It's simple, yet dramatic, and of course, I love the way the cape drapes down on her body.

Anne Buckley as The Goddess Erin, Lord of the Dance (1997)

Here is another view of the dress, without the cape:

Anne Buckley as The Goddess Erin, Lord of the Dance (1997)

It would be quite easy to make, although it would require a lot of fabric. Maybe one day, for the Holidays or St. Patrick's Day, I'll splurge.

Myth and Legend of the World - Circe Costume

I finally made up my mind as to what to wear to Nancy-Raven's party about a week ago, but I wanted to keep the surprise. I've decided to go as Circe. My ultimate inspiration was this John William Waterhouse painting, which I showed you when I talked about the local Waterhouse Museum Exhibition:

Circe Invidiosa: Circe Poisoning the Sea, John William Waterhouse, 1892, Oil on canvas, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

As I mentioned then, this costume fits in with the idea my Sweetheart had of all of us going as characters from Homer's Odyssey.

Busy as I was preparing for Fall Harvest and making my daughter's Owl costume, this was a marvelous idea because I could re-use a Greek inspired costume I made for Pennsic XXXVI's Grand Ball.

Gwenyver (a.k.a. Mórag), Grand Ball, Pennsic XXXVI

The costume consists of a leaf green, Indian cotton Chiton and a teal cotton Himation decorated with a black and gold Greek Key patterned trim. The top part of the Chiton is sewn at regular intervals and there are decorative gold (plastic) buttons at each of these seams.

As Circé's mother is said to be an Oceanid, the watery palette is perfect!

Gwenyver as Circé holding her cup of honeyed wine

Can you believe no one took any pictures at Nancy-Raven's party? This picture was taken once I got home so I would have something to show you, my faithful readers. I grabbed a wine class to hold as a prop for the picture.

Since my baby likes to grab necklaces and earrings, I wore none for the night. I did however wear the two golden metal bracelets (she loved banging on them). These are Naegle bracelets from Aldo. At the beginning of the summer, they were sold for 23$ CAD each. I bought them on sale for 2 for 7.21$ CAD. Gotta love a good deal!

Circe is said to have golden curls. Great, I already have blond hair. But to get any kind of twist or spring to my hair, the only technique that has been proven to work is rag curls. The result was not all that great, so I started pinning through my hair to get some sort of an up-do, and lo and behold, I got the perfect Antiquity look. I just added a headband of three pleather golf braids (which I found at the Dollar store) and I was good to go.

I have to wrap things up. I have guests coming tonight to celebrate Samhain with us and I'm not done cleaning. I promise to take more pictures tonight.

You can see what I finally decided to wear for Halloween night. (Which one do you think I'll go for?)