It is Oscars Sunday! / C'est le dimanche des Oscars!

(La version Française se trouve plus bas.) 

Wait, what? It is Oscars Sunday already? Where have I been? How did I not realise it was already here? (FYI: I was busy taking care of a family matter for the last two weeks, but now it is all fixed). Soooo... who are the nominees for Best Costume design this year?

Attendez, quoi? C'est déjà le dimanche des Oscars? J'étais où? Comment se fait-il que je n'aie pas réalisé qu'on y était déjà? (Pour votre info: j'étais occupée par une affaire de famille depuis deux semaines, mais maintenant c'est réglé, fort heureusement). Aloooors... Qui sont les nominés pour la catégorie des Meilleurs Costumes cette année?

The Grand Budapest Hotel / L'Hôtel Grand Budapest

Costumes by/par Milena Canonero

The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. (From IMDb)

Les aventures de Gustave H, un concierge légendaire d'un hotel reconnu de la République fictive de Zubrowka entre la Première et la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, et de Zéro Moustafa, de garçon de lobby qui devient son plus fidèle ami. (Traduit du texte de IMDb)

Inherent Vice / Vice Inhérent

Costumes by/par Mark Bridges

In 1970, drug-fueled Los Angeles detective Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend. (From IMDb)

En 1970, à Los Angeles, ville carburant à la drogue, le détective Larry "Doc" Sportello mène l'enquête sur la disparition d'une ex petite amie. (Traduit du texte de IMDb)

Into the Woods / Dans les bois

Costumes by/par Colleen Atwood

A witch tasks a childless baker and his wife with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales to reverse the curse put on their family tree. (From IMDb)
Une sorcière demande à un couple sans enfants, un pâtissier et sa femme, de se procurer des items magiques de contes de fée classiques afin de contrer le mauvais sort jeté sur leur arbre généalogique.
(Traduit du texte de IMDb)

Maleficient / Maléficiente

Costumes by/par Anna B. Sheppard

A vengeful fairy is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child may be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land. (From IMDb)

Une fée vengeresse jette un sort sur une princesse poupon, pour découvrir par la suite que cette enfant est peut-être la seule qui pourra ramener la paix à leurs royaumes en guerre. (Traduit du texte de IMDb)

Mr. Turner / M. Turner

Costumes by/par Jacqueline Durran

An exploration of the last quarter century of the great, if eccentric, British painter J.M.W. Turner's life. (From IMDb)

Un film qui explore le dernier quart de siècle de la vie du grand, quoique excentrique, peintre Britannique J.M.W. Turner. (Traduit du texte de IMDb)

(Source: http://oscar.go.com/nominees)

So we have a colourful vision of the 20's and 30's in Eastern Europe, 1970 Los Angeles, two fantasy movies where good fights evil, and Romantic Era England. It should be interesting. Maybe it is because it is the only movie I have seen in the list, but my money is on Maleficient though, because Fantasy movies always seem to win them all, and as much as I appreciate Colleen Atwood, it seems like it should be someone else's turn this time. But I could be wrong. We'll know tonight if I'm right!

Alors, nous avons une vision colorée de l'entre-guerre en Europe de l'Est, 1970 à Los Angeles, deux films fantastiques où le bien combat le mal, et l'Angleterre à l'époque Romantique. Ça devrait être intéressant. Peut-être que c'est parce que c'est le seul film de la liste que j'ai vu, mais je parie que Maléficiente l'emportera, car les films fantastiques remportent le plus souvent cette catégorie il me semble, et avec tout le respect que j'aie pour Colleen Atwood, il me semble que ça devrait être le tour de quelqu'un d'autre cette fois. Je peux me tromper. On verra ce soir si ma prédiction est bonne!

Logan's Run "Green" / "Verte" de L'Âge de cristal

(La version Française se trouve plus bas.)

This was long overdue by any standards. Some of you may remember that for Halloween 2011, I had planned to make myself a "Green" costume (from the 1976 movie Logan's Run), but the only pictures I had were taken by my the 2 1/2 daughter (lots of waists and thighs, not many faces), so I needed to take better ones before posting my costume here. One thing leading to another, I could never find the time for a mini photo shoot, then I was pregnant and did not fit in my costume, and all in all, I had never shared it here. Until now.

Ceci était plus que dû par n'importe quel standard. Certains d'entre vous se souviendront peut-être que pour Halloween 2011, je planifiais de me faire un costume de "Verte" (du film L'Âge de cristal de 1976), mais les seules photos qui existaient avaient été prises par ma fille qui avait alors 2 1/2 ans (beaucoup de tailles et de cuisses, très peu de visages), alors j'en avais besoin de meilleures avant de les présenter ici. D'une chose à une autre, j'ai manqué de temps pour une petite séance de photo, puis je suis tombée enceinte et mon costume ne me faisait plus, et enfin, je n'avais jamais partagé d'images de mon costume ici. Jusqu'à maintenant.

This costume was the easiest I have ever made. Using light green polyester faille I had in my stash, I cut two rectangles, sewed shoulder seams at the top  leaving an opening for my head as well as the sleeves opened, and side seams with a small slash at the bottom, and hemmed everything else.

Ce costume est le plus facile que j'ai pu faire. J'ai utilisé de la faille de polyester vert pâle qui se trouvait dans ma réserve, j'y ai coupé deux rectangles, puis j'ai assemblé ma tunique en cousant les épaules, tout en laissant une ouverture pour ma tête et le dessus des manches ouverte, et les cotés mais en gardant une petite fente au bas de chaque coté. Enfin, j'ai fait les bords restés ouverts.

For my accessories, I went for all silver, and already in my possession as much as possible (tight budget): a silver boho belt I had, some silver bangles that were my grandmother's, silver roman inspired sandals bough for a wedding the previous summer, silver hoop earrings I've had since high school, and my only new item, a silver gorget necklace from Aldo (on sale the week before). Ihad also glued a plastic rhinestone inside my palm at the time, in lieu of a lifeclock. I meant to make myself an Ankh in Fimo and paint it silver, but I never got around to it and since I was going for the generic extra look, it's not that big a deal.

Coté accessoires, j'ai choisi du tout argent, et se trouvant dans mes tiroirs autant que possible (budget obligeant): une ceinture bohémienne de disques de cuirs argent que j'avais déjà, des bracelets argents hérités de ma grand-mère, des sandales d'inspiration spartiates argent acheté pour un mariage l'été précédent, des boucles d'oreilles que je porte depuis le secondaire, et mon seul nouvel item, un collier gorget argent de chez Aldo (acheté en vente la semaine avant). Je m'étais aussi collé un strass de plastique dans la paume de ma main à l'époque pour faire figure de cristal lifeclock. J'avais l'intention de me faire un Ânkh en Fimo et le peindre argent, mais j'ai manqué de temps, et comme je visais un look de figurant générique, ce n'est pas si important.

It is the fastest costume I have ever made, and it is also the most comfortable. Even though it is ridiculously simple, I felt glamourous in it. Proof that sometimes, you don't need big bucks and countless hours of work to be happy with a costume. And I know I will wear it again if I can, as a hall costume to a Con.

C'est le costume que j'ai confectionné le plus rapidement, et surtout, c'est le plus confortable. Même s'il est ridiculement simple, je me sentais très glamour en le portant. La preuve que parfois, il n'est pas nécessaire de dépenser une fortune ni de travailler des heures durant sur un costume pour être satisfait du résultat. De plus, je sais que je le reporterai, probablement comme costume de jour lors d'une convention.

Ravenclaw Uniform

I will admit it, sometimes when searching for one of my costumes on my blog, I find out with a certain shock that I have never posted it. Since I sometimes plan posts that I don’t end up writing, I sometimes get a little confused as to whether or not I have published certain things. Take my Ravenclaw uniform for instance: I was absolutely certain I had presented it at some point, but it turns out I have never posted about it. Well, that is going to change now! 

I first made my uniform in 2005, to celebrate the release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. When the Harry Potter Movie website first opened, I was sorted in Ravenclaw by the Sorting Hat. With Cho Chang being figured in the 4th movie, I finally got to get a closer look at what a Ravenclaw uniform looks like

An exhausted student, Fête des Enfants de Montréal, 2007

Robe

I adapted Simplicity5840 view B to fit my needs. I made my robe shorter and narrower than the original pattern, the separate shoulder piece was eliminated and the back was made as one big piece. I also made the sleeves larger and the point of the hood a tad longer.

The fabric is 100% cotton for both black and blue. The entire robe is bag lined.

The closure in the front consist of a loop of medium satin cord and two self-covered buttons in the black material (one of them is only decorative).

Skirt

For the skirt, I made my own pattern following some of the cast’s pictures as inspiration. It is an A line, wrap around with box pleats on the front, placed a bit outside the princess line. The material is dark grey wool, found in in sale of course.

Reading in the garden, Fête des Enfants de Montréal, 2007

Shirt and Tie

Why make what you can buy! I bought a white men’s shirt from Zeller’s for 19.99$ (CAD). The tie is from Alivan’s. It is a PoA style Adult tie.

Sweater and Scarf

Both the sweater and scarf are from Hobbie’s House of Wizard Wear. The sweater is the POA School Sweater with blue and silver accents and the scarf is the OOTP Trapped Bar Scarf 9.5ft long in blue and silver. I highly recommend them for your custom made Hogwarts knitted wear.

At the movie theatre, opening night of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Shoes and Socks

I usually wear my Hogwarts’ uniform with dark grey cable knit knee-high socks, but if it was too cold, I could also go with black tights. As for shoes, I used to wear my black high heeled Mary Janes, but they broke a few years ago. If I was to wear my uniform now, I would need new black shoes to go with it.

Wand and School Bag

A Harry Potter costume would not be complete without the perfect wand. I got mine at CharmeHYPERLINK "http://www.charme-et-sortilege.com/" HYPERLINK "http://www.charme-et-sortilege.com/"&HYPERLINK "http://www.charme-et-sortilege.com/" HYPERLINK "http://www.charme-et-sortilege.com/"Sortilège, a Montréal magick boutique (from their Pheonix Wands collection).

As for my school bag, it is an old brown leather satchel I’ve had since first grade. I usually keep a leather bound journal in it, along with Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them by Newt Scamander, Quidditch ThroughThe Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp, some pencils and a feathered quill. It also doubles as my purse!

Just waiting for a friend, Fête des Enfants de Montréal, 2007

Unfortunately, I have not worn my uniform since 2007: I was a new mom when Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) came out, so I stayed home with my baby daughter; in fact, the last time I went out to see a movie at a movie theatre, I saw Mama Mia (2008) with my mom! I need an excuse to wear my uniform again (and to go out!).

Best Costume Design Nominations - 84th Academy Awards

Tomorrow night is the 84th Academy Awards. The Oscars is the one awards ceremony I watch religiously every year. Of course, being a costumeholic, my favourite category is Best Costume Design! Here are this year’s nominees to look out for.

Anonymous (2011)

Anonymous is set in the Elizabethan court and tells the story of Lord Oxford, the true author of the Shakespearean plays. Costumes by Lisy Christl.

The Artist (2011)

Also receiving 9 other nominations, The Artist is a silent, black and white movie set between 1927 and 1932. A popular silent movie actor, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) feels left behind by the new talking films, personified by a new upcoming actress, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo). Costumes by Mark Bridges.

P.S. I love Jean Dujardin. He has also played Brice DeNice, Lucky Luke and Hubert Bonnisseur de la Bath, agent OSS 117. I wish him the best of luck!

Hugo (2011)

Set in a somewhat steampunk 1930’s, Hugo is about an orphan living in the walls of a train station, an automaton his father left him, a girl named Isabelle, and her cranky old godfather, Ben Kingsley as Georges Méliès (who, if you don’t already know, really lived and was one of the first to use cinema to tell fantastical stories with special effects and all). Costumes by Sandy Powell.

Jane Eyre (2011)

Yet another on screen version of this Charlotte Brontë story. If by any chance you still do not know what it is about, the eponymous character is an orphan who is abused by her aunt and cousins in her childhood, is then sent to a girls school where more abuse follows, becomes a governess but falls in love with her employer and runs away when on their wedding day, she discovers he is already wed, lives with a nice but strict family and is in the end reunited with her love. Costumes by Michael O'Connor.

W.E. (2011)

W.E. is about a 1998 New Yorker obsessed with what she believes is the ultimate love story, the one that captivated the world in 1936, King Edward VIII and American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Through research, she discovers it was not as perfect as she imagined. Costumes by Arianne Phillips.

So which movie are you rooting for? To be honest, I am not that excited about the nominees this year. Too much despair, not enough fantasy. I did see Jane Eyre and liked some of those Romantic era dresses, but I guess my vote goes to The Artist: the concept is original in our time, and like I said, I love Jean Dujardin.

[Not so] Weekly Wednesday Wishlist: Worcestershire Academy Uniform

Raise your hands if you enjoy watching historical / fantasy / sci fi based comedies! Me too. One thing I thoroughly enjoy in these films (or TV shows) is to see how aspects of our modern world are interpreted to fit the story’s reality. I especially enjoy seeing how uniforms, such as school uniforms, are designed.

Take Shrek the Third (2007) for instance: Worcestershire Academy has everything from horse drawn buses to hennin wearing cheerleaders.

But I have to say, I prefer the girl’s regular uniform: a red and blue dress with Florentine inspired bodice with white undershirt decorated with blue embroidery showing at neckline; gold and red celtic knot trim at shoulders and down the center front of the bodice; red and blue diamond patterned sleeves with blue cuffs; long skirt with white hem and red insert decorated by the red and gold celtic knot trim.

The school emblem is embroidered to the wearer's left side bodice. Other head girl and geek club badges optional.

Of course, there is also a male version of the uniform: an off-white shirt, brown hosen, a red Italian doublet inspired vest with red and blue diamond patterned sleeves with red cuffs. The school emblem is once again embroidered to the wearer's left side.

One of these days, I will have to make myself a Worcestershire Academy Uniform, just for the kick of it. Who is with me?

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!

A commercial interpretation of the Na'vi

Does anyone remember my prediction that people were going to want Na'vi costumes? If you don't, may I refer you to Movie Monday: Avatar (posted on December 14, 2009). I expected the geeks to want them, but apparently, it has reached more people than I had imagined.

First, let us all know what a Na'vi looks like:

James Cameron's Avatar (2009)

And now on to the costumes. First, there was Ben Stiller at the 2010 Oscars:

Ben Stiller, 82nd Academy Awards

But today, I was hit by how much people want Na'vi costumes. I was at the Shopping Mall and I saw an add for the temporary Party Expert that opens there for Halloween. On the add, amongst many other costumes, I noticed these:

Na'vi Jake Adult Costume

Na'vi Jake Child Costume

Na'vi Neytiri Adult Costume

(Everyone knows a Female Na'vi wears pumps to run around the woods!)

Na'vi Neytiri Child Costume

Of course, if you don't already have long, black, braided hair, you can get a Na'vi wig!

Na'vi Neytiry wig

Na'vi Jake wig

And since most of us have round ears, the prepackaged costume industry has thought of us by offering latex ears:

Na'vi Latex Ears

Actually, those might make nice Blue Fairy ears. I might get a pair (they are less than 10$).

Ocean Hellman as Queen Titania, Voyage of the Unicorn (2001)

There is also a "Jake" version of the latex ears and a Na'vi make-up kit, if you are interested in making (or purchasing) that costume.

Apparently, if you are REALLY into the Na'vi, you can even learn their language!

But back to the commercial costume: personally, my first reaction was "You have got to be bloody joking!". But I guess the leotard could be used as a base for a much better costume. I'm not sure it's worth the price, but that really depends on your budget.

Just promise me something: if you make a female Na'vi costume, don't wear it with heels!