'Tis better to give...

I love receiving costume-themed gift, you must know that by now; but I also love giving them! This year both my Sweetheart and Nancy-Raven got costumes from some of their favourite TV shows as Yule gifts.

Let’s Begin with Nancy-Raven’s present. Nancy-Raven loves vampire stories. We used to watch Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) while drinking red wine coolers – the ones with 0.5% alcohol, nothing to get drunk on, it's practically a soda – even though our favourite one was lime-kiwi (green).

True Blood "Inspired by Sookie" Set

It will not surprise you then that she loves True Blood (2008 - ), both the Sookie Stackhouse books and the HBO hit TV series. So I (we) got her the Merlotte’s Waitress kit, which includes a T-shirt and pocketed apron with the fictitious bar’s logo. Everybody owns black shorts, or can find a pair at any store, so these are not included in the kit. She was really happy with it. Now I just have to get a picture of her wearing it. Oh, and I have to get myself one too!

On to my Sweetheart’s present(s). We are NCIS (2003) fans; my Sweetheart even has McGee’s shoes! (Okay, the truth is we one day noticed that he did, but he did not buy the shoes on purpose because of their resemblance). For years, he’s been asking for some Caf-Pow every time we watched the show, so as I was shopping for him, I discovered that the CBS store now sold a Caf-Pow cup for geeks like us!

NCIS Caf-Pow Big Gulp Cup

Since I was going to pay for shipping anyways, I figured I should get him more NCIS items.

NCIS Special Agent Jacket

I got him the windbreaker and cap (with perfectly curved tab).

NCIS Special Agents Hat

I also have to get a picture of him wearing this Very Special Agent look, holding his Caf-Pow cup. Bonus: he now has a costume to wear to go trooping with l’Alliance Impériale!

And now you know what Santa Costumeholic has been distributing to all the good little costumers.

New-Orleans Carnival Mask

I was somewhat disappointed this year to no costume related gifts for Christmas, other than the Shoe-a-day calendar from my mom. I don’t want to sound ungrateful; I always appreciate that someone took the time to think of me and choose something they though would make me happy. Still, I’ve been spoiled* in years past with books on my favourite subject, and they were missing from under the tree.

So imagine how happy I was when Nancy-Raven gave me my Yule present tonight (mark your calendars: in 15 years of friendship, it is the first time we have exchanged our gifts during the holiday season – we usually manage to find time by Easter). It is a beautiful carnival mask she brought back from her trip to New-Orleans back in September. And lo! It is Silver and blue. It was meant for me!

New-Orleans Carnival Mask

I can’t stop staring at it. I feel inspired by it. It sort of reminds me of Sam's mask in A Cinderella Story (2004).

Hilary Duff as Sam Montgomery, A Cinderella Story (2004)

So now, I have to design a ball gown to go with it.

Hilary Duff as Sam Montgomery, A Cinderella Story (2004)

Don’t you just love creating a whole outfit to match one accessory? Occasions to wear such a costume can always be found later.

* I really do sound like a spoiled brat, don't I... Dear family, I truly did appreciated like everything I was given. Really! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do for me. I mean it!

Black & White Evening Dress

This year, I made myself no new dress for Christmas. Instead, I wore an old dress which I had not fitted in for years (so I put on a couple dozen pounds…), but now do because I lost 25 pounds! (*Applause*).

This dress I had originally made in May 2002 for a Film Study Gala at the end of my first year of University, but everyone in my family happened to forget their cameras that night, so I have no picture of me wearing it at the time. The evening was to showcase the short films done by us students, and out of the two categories my team’s film was entered in, we won both! I still have one of the Trophies:

"Remstar" Jury's Choice Award, University of Montreal Film Study Gala, May 2002

Although most students attending were wearing jeans and t-shirts, the ticket called for “Evening Wear” and I followed the dress code. I used pattern Butterick 5367, which I had bought in 1999 with a couple others while looking for a pattern for my dream Prom dress.

Butterick 5367

The bodice is made of imitation white silk shantung and the skirt is black satin. I would love to tell you that I choose the colours in homage to Black & White movies, but really, it is simply that I love that colour combination.

Gwenyver wearing her Black & White Evening Dress, Christmas 2010

My dress is sleeveless like the pattern, but the back opening, which you can’t see in this picture, has been raised a little to hide my bra. In this picture, I am wearing a bolero, bought at L’Aubainerie, because this dress was made to be worn in May and I wore it here in December. This picture was taken at my parent’s house, on December 25 (and I should mention that my parents strongly believe that heating a house is for wusses – 16°C in winter is a fine temperature inside the home).

Of course, I was once again over dressed (my uncle was wearing jeans and asked when he saw me why no one had told him it was a black tie evening), but I don’t care. I can currently fit in it, so I am going to wear it!