2013 Costumer's Picnic in pictures / Pique-Nique des costumiers 2013 en photos

(La version Française se trouve plus bas.)

Last week, on July 27 2013, we the Quebec Society of Amateur Costumers held the 2nd edition of our annual Costumer's Picnic at l'Île-des-Moulins in Old Terrebonne. The event is growing: last year we were 5, this year we were 7! Okay, so technically, my son was there last year also, as I was pregnant with him, but Lady M, one of Nancy-Raven's friends through her Honey who joined us this year, was not.

We were really lucky weather wise: it was a beautiful, sunny day, yet it wasn't nearly as hot an muggy as it had been in previous weeks.

Costume wise, we had a variety of themes represented: an 18th century lady (myself), a Hindi Princess (Nancy-Raven), a Disney Princess (my daughter), a medieval baby (my son), a couple of pirates (Nancy-Raven's Honey and son) and a Fantasy Greek Goddess (Lady M). Proof that anything goes at our picnic; you might even call it "Halloween in July".

La semaine dernière, le 27 juillet 2013, nous, La Société des Costumiers Amateurs du Québec, tenions la seconde édition de notre pique-nique annuel des costumiers à l'Île-des-Moulins, dans le vieux Terrebonne. L'évènement grandit: l'an passé nous étions cinq, tandis que cette année nous étions sept. Bon, techniquement, mon fils y était aussi l'an passé, puisque j'étais enceinte de lui à l'époque, mais Dame M, une amie de Nancy-Raven par son chéri qui s'est jointe à nous cette année, n'y était pas.

Nous avons été très chanceux coté météo: il faisait un soleil radieux, mais sans l'humidité écrasante des semaines précédentes.

Coté costumes, nous avions un éventail de thématiques représentées: une dame du 18e siècle (moi-même), une princesse Hindu (Nancy-Raven), une princesse de Disney (ma fille), un bébé médiéval (mon garçon), deux pirates (le chéri et le fils de Nancy-Raven ) et une Déesse Grecque de fantaisie (Dame M). La preuve que n'importe quel costume est bienvenu à  notre pique-nique; c'est pratiquement "l'Halloween des campeurs".

My kids / Mes enfants

What beautiful brown eyes! / Quels beaux yeux bruns!

I dressed my son in the light blue Medieval outfit that Nancy-Raven had made my daughter for her first birthday.

J'ai habillé mon fils dans l'ensemble médiéval bleu pâle que Nancy-Raven avait fait pour ma fille pour son premier anniversaire.

 Goldie Locks Snow White / Une blanche-Neige aux boucles d'or

My daughter loves Snow White most of all the Disney Pricesses, so she wears that dress at least once a week. Before anyone congratulates me on it, I did not make this dress: my mom did, for Halloween 1986. Yep, this was once my costume, and I also loved it so much, I wore it at my grandmother's house for Christmas that year instead of my fancy holiday dress (one day I'll find the pictures and scan them for you all to see). What I did do in the weeks before the picnic is sew snaps to the collar to make it detachable (it was tacked in place before with loose stitches) and I made a new brooch out of Fimo and gold spray paint to replace the original yellow felt brooch my mom had made me which was lost ages ago.

La princesse de Disney préféré de ma fille est Blanche-Neige, alors elle porte cette robe au moins une fois par semaine. Avant que quiconque ne me félicite pour sa réalisation, sachez que ce n'est pas moi, mais bien ma mère qui l'a confectionné pour l'Halloween 1986. Eh oui, c'était mon costume avant, et je l'aimais tant que je l'ai même porté pour aller chez ma grand-mère à Noël cette année-là au lieu de ma robe chic du temps des fêtes (un jour je retrouverai les photos que je digitaliserai pour vous les partager). Pour le pique-nique, j'ai posé des boutons-pression pour que le col soit détachable (avant il tenait par de grand points de couture) et j'ai fabriqué une nouvelle broche avec du Fimo et de la peinture dorée pour remplacer celle de feutre jaune que ma mère avait fait à l'époque et qui a été perdue il y a longtemps.

 

My attempt at a Pouf / Ma tentative de coiffure en pouf

My new hat / Mon nouveau chapeau

My daughter and I / Ma fille et moi

Why yes, those are American Duchess Kensingtons in Red with Dauphine buckles on my feet; I swear, they were as comfortable as slippers.

Mais oui, ce son bien des Kensingtons Rouges avec boucles Dauphines de American Duchess à mes pieds; je vous jure que ces chaussures étaient aussi confortable que des pantoufles.

 

My son and I / Mon fils et moi

 

Nancy-Raven and her son / Nancy-Raven et son fils

 

My daughter snapping a picture of Lady M / Ma fille photographiant Dame M 

Nancy-Raven and Lady M/ Nancy-Raven et Dame M

Until next year! (I'll post pictures of my updated dress soon).

À l'année prochaine! (Je présenterai des photos des améliorations apportés à ma robe bientôt).

Quebec Society of Amateur Costumers / Société des Costumiers Amateurs du Québec

(La version Française se trouve plus bas.) 

This is grand news; I've been working for this to become true for three years. At last, the costumers' group Nancy-Raven and I have been dreaming of starting has become a reality. Introducing the Quebec Society of Amateur Costumers (website in French only for now, but all are welcome).

Ceci est une grande nouvelle; je travaille à ce projet depuis trois ans. Enfin, le groupe de costumiers rêvé par Nancy-Raven et moi est enfin devenu une réalité. Je vous présente La Société des Costumiers Amateurs du Québec.

Quebec Society of Amateur Costumers / Société des Costumiers Amateurs du Québec

This group is for all Quebec costumers. Whatever genre you prefer, be it Cosplay, movie costumes reproductions, historical costumes, etc., you will find like minded people here who love to share their passion and ideas. Need an excuse to make a new Regency Frock? Why not help organize a tea party around that theme. Going to a convention and looking for friends to join you? Ask us, maybe some of our members are going too.

Curious? Interested? Visit our website and then come and join us for a picnic, a tea or any other event that strikes your fancy.

Ce groupe s'adresse à tous les  costumiers québécois. Quelque soit le genre de costume que vous préfériez, que ce soit le Cosplay, la reproduction de costumes de film, les costumes historiques, etc., vous trouverez des gens partageant votre passion qui aiment partager leurs connaissances et leurs idées. Vous cherchez une excuse pour vous faire un nouvel ensemble d'époque Napoléonienne? Pourquoi ne pas aider à organiser un thé autour de cette thématique. Vous allez à une convention et cherchez des amis pour vous accompagner? Demandez-nous, peut-être que certains de nos membres y vont aussi.

Curieux?  Intéressés? Visitez notre site web, puis joignez-vous à  nous pour un pique-nique, un thé ou n'importe quel autre évènement vous attire.

Rococo High School

I don’t know about you, but I love Neo-Historical / Fantasy worlds set up somewhat like ours, with work, school, shopping malls, transport, buildings, etc. adapted to that specific world. Examples of these would be the Flinstones, the Jetsons, Trollz, Winx Club, Shrek the Third (with Worcestershire Academy – see my post on their uniforms here), Ella Enchanted, Harry Potter, and many more.

I recently wondered what an 18th Century Neo-Historical Fantasy High School would be like. And of course, what people would wear! Introducing Rococo High: a regular High School set in a Neo-Historical version of the second half of the 18th century.

Rococo High School Crest

As with every high school, you can often recognize what group kids belong to by looking at their clothes. And because I was at the bottom of the “Cool” pyramid in high school AND I finished in ’99, I may not be up to date on the proper lingo. My apologies.

Keep in mind that these are the general cut of garments for the period. Hairstyles should also reflect the fashionable styles from 1750 to 1790.

1779 Men's Fashion Plate

1770-80 Polonaise, Levite & Round Gowns, Rocking Horse Farm Patterns

The popular girls – dressed in frilly pastel dresses of the latest fashion, sporting cute little purses and fans. They look straight out of Marie-Antoinette (2006).

The cutest guys in school – also dressed in the best brands, clean cut, ready to attend court.

The jocks – they wear letter jackets of course! In my high school, the letter jackets were green wool, white leather sleeves and gold lettering. How about you?

The Cheerleaders – they wear incredibly short skirts – mid calf! – with peasant shirts and laced corselet in the school’s colours. And of course, they have pompoms!

The tough guys – Wearing leather jackets and vests and black denim pants.

The Goth Girl inspiration: Pet en L'air Back view, by Stahlrose

The Goth girl – wears extravagantly cut black dresses and dramatic make-up.

The Yoz (at least that is how we used to call them) - his clothes are baggy, he does not bother buttoning up his vest and he usually wears his Tricorn backwards.

The inspiration for the Teacher's Pet: Red Plaid Polonaise by Crookedpin

The teacher’s pet – wears a red tartan dress over a white or cream skirt, a lace partlet ruffled at the neck and tied with a black satin bow.

The Country Kids – their clothes are made of blue denim and their Tricorn could be white felt or brown leather, in lieu of a cowboy hat.

Rococo High Student Concept by Gwenyver

Regular student – just like today I see teens wear jeans and hoodies, I see Rococo High teen girls wearing hooded Caraco and denim skirt. This one is actually my Rococo High costume project (as mentioned in my 2012 Resolutions). It is what started this whole thought process.

As you can see some ideas are more developed than others. The point is, the possibilities are almost endless; the only limit is your imagination. For instance, when I was in high school, there was a craze for everything army; boys and girls wore camouflage print on t-shirts, sweaters, miniskirts, you name it. A camouflage Caraco and khaki skirt could be another interesting idea. Something inspired by sportswear could also be great. Imagine a red Adidas jacket and pants with double white lines down the sides for the track star. If Sue Sylvester can have wedding dress in that style, why could it not fit in Rococo High?

Are you feeling inspired yet? Any ideas tickling your brain? If so, come and enrol into Rococo High (on Facebook)!