Costuming Events – Page 3 – Fashion Through Herstory

Regency dancing recidal

Published on June 19, 2014 by fashionthrougherstory2 Comments

This past weekend, I joined up with the local historic dance group for a regency dance recidal. The city celebrated “The day of Dance” and we were invited to perform some of our dances.

I wore my new yellow regency gown – which I just finished the same morning.And combined it with a new straw bonnet, fishu and white evening glowes.

The weater was sunny and everybody had dressed to the teeth in their finery.I love Annas parasol – one day I will own my own.

Clara and Anna posing prettily with shawls and staw baskets.

We spent some time walking around the city, awaiting our turn to enter the stage.

Jan and Soleveig.

Me and Calle awaitning our turn in the heat. I was glad I didn’t needed to wear one of those thick wollen frockoats.

Then it was our turn to enter the stage.And since I’m pretty new to regency dancing I can’t tell you the name of the dances (and seartanly not tell them apart in photos), so we will just have to pretend to know whats going on.

Gentlemen in the middle.

Premiere doing a center cross.

“Sellingers round”

Since we were uneven, at least one lady had to rest, and sometimes more depending on the dance.

“Jenny pluck pears”love the elegance in my pose in this picture…

When the dancing was over we meet up for a quick summer goodbye, before we hurried of in different directions.

Some of the dancers from our group posing for the turists (and my camera).

My dress hold up suprisingly well, and I feelt rater good in it. I think it will have more outings in the future.

It was such a lovely event and perfect day, I didnt even thought about the sun baking my nose and upper arms all day – well, I did descovered it later that night though…
(I will never attend a costuming event without proper sunscreen again).

Multi era National days Picknick

Published on June 9, 2014 by fashionthrougherstory4 Comments

June 6 are Swedens national day and I usaly celebrate it either with friends barbequing, or with my dance group doing dance performances in lots of different retirement homes.

But this year I did something a bit different (even though it did contain both hanging out with friends, and making some old people happy).

I went to the “Historic ultra picknic” in the royal park of Haga. It was the first (but hopefully not the last) event of its kind in our area, where all time periods and styles were welcome.
The idea of the picknick was to meet new interesting people, and to give the first timers a comfortable way of geting in to the comunity. There were room for everyone no mather how “good” or “bad” your costume was, and even if you didn’t knew anything about historical clothing at all.

Photo: Anna Sundsröm

We were about 2oo people gattered andiIt was so nice to see all the different styles and fashions come togeter.

Me and my sister went as late 18th century ladies.She wore her Robe A La Francaise, and I took my new Robe anglaise out for its first try.

The park was beautiful, and the big old temple was just the perfect place for us all to join up.

Inside there was lots happy historicaly dressed people.

Me, finaly sitting down after a long walk, and even longer buss-ride to get to the temple.

Huge 1860s purple velvet crinoline dress. It must have been so warm and heavy, but it did look great.

Some 18th century people having their own litle picknick.

We even had some (almost) nude vikings, pirates and medieval guys.

And of course there was dancing – regency style.

18th century meet 19th century swedish national costume.

Is it just me, or does he look like he’s after something…

Lovely yellow regency.

Faboulus light coloured Edwardian and late regency styles. Fashions about 100 years apart.

Two Napolietic gentlemen.

A hundred years of fashion changes.Johanna in 1880s and my sister in 1780s.

And I even found a dress twin.Even though they’re no exact match, they’re both green and white striped zone front 1780s gowns, worn with ruffeled petticoats and bergere hats. Pretty cool I think.

1900s and 1850s grey and white dresses.

What secrets do you ladies hide underneath those big skirts…… it’s a woman!

Devine suroundings

We also did a quick litle photoshot of our own dresses. I showed you mine yesterday, so now lets focus a bit on my sisters dress.

Big hair with flowers, butterflies and feathers – must be rococo.

Doing the regency but scratch (on comand I might ad).

And finaly, this is how I felt after this awesome event.So happy and exited, but also exhausted by all the comotions and planing to make everything about the day just right.
Hope to see some of you next year…

Medieval Fair

Published on May 24, 2014 by fashionthrougherstory4 Comments

Two weeks ago I attended my first medieval fair.

I wore my green Cotehardie paried with the separate beige sleeves, faux braids and headcloth.

The weater was terrible, the rain had been goning on for days, turning the gras and gravel at the fair to a muddy brown mess. Everywere you looked people wore capes or umbrellas.Some stylish gentlemen.

As it was my firs time, I tried to take it all in and got very exited walking around amongst the stals, taking picures.

There was food…

…Horses and knights…

…Great music…

…More music…

…Familys living in the camp…

…Friends resting on a bench…

…a girl gambeling using a mouse to earn some coins…

And of course lots of stalls with costuming wares. Like:

Juwelry…

…clothing and headwear….

..leather items like bags, and wrist bands…

…more leather and fur items…

…Childrens items (helmets, swords and shirts)…

I also found this strange set. A boar posed as a sign.

I did stop longer at some boths then other, and one I found especialy interesting was the both from “Svarta kattens handelshus“.

They sold juwelry and knifes…

… lovely woll fabric…

…and nice linnen fabric…

…medieval patterns…

…linnen thread, ribbons and yarn…

…and some realy soft furs.Sadly I’ve forgot to bring my purse. Or perhaps it was a good thing, since I surley would have spent a lot more then I should have, if I had had my purse.

Anyhow, I did’nt go to the fair to shop.

But to dance…Some of the members of the historical dance group.

We did some of our dancing in the mudd.

The weater and location made the few on-lookers even fewer,

So we took our line and danced ourself onto the jousting arena.

Where we got company from the jesters who tried to get the wet public in good mood before the knights arrived.

Then it was time for the high point of the day – the jousting.The knights saluting the audience.

Full speed ahead.

It was realy fun to wach the talented knights and horses performing there tricks.

But the best thing must have been when the “mystery knight” rode out, picked a lady from the audiense and propsed. To think he arranged the performance and dressed as a knight to porpose in a way he knew his medivel loving girlfriend would realy appreciate. She sad yes.

When I got home I was cold, wet, and muddy literary up to my knees.Natural agenig of my costume.

Suffragets in action – Luncheon

Published on May 11, 2014 by fashionthrougherstory6 Comments

Yesterday it was finaly time for the “Suffragett luncheon” I’ve been helping to plan since february – or rather been watching while other planed.

Anyway, I got up realy early yesterday morning to get on the train taking me to the capital, were I arrived in good time before the meet-up.

I walked the 10 min to my inlaws empty apartment, and started to get dressed.Underwear and huge red hair.

Using all my flexibility, I manadged to lace the corset (fairly easy), and to button the shirtwaist all the way in the back (really hard). The “In-door” look: Shirtwaist, walking skirt, swiss-waist and brosch.

And before leaving the apartment (about 40min after I arrived) I doned the huge hat, jacket, chain and brosch.

I took the intercity train to the smal, old house were we was to hold the meeting.

The ones of us who came early, emediatly started to prepar the food and table.Elin and Aggi prepearing the food.

Johanna set the table with yellow napkins, flowers and these lovely place holders, which she made using costuming pictures of all of us.I’m the one at the front.

Then the guest started to arrive.From left: Elin (organizer and cook) trying to sell of some caviar, Johanna (Co. organizer) in blue and Lina in a purple 1910s dress. In the backround we can also glimps Aggi.

Carolina and Hanna.

Hanna is known for only using original garments. And she’s an expert in finding the most faboulus, well perserved, pieces ever.Close up.

When everyone arrived, it was time to take place by the table to start the 4 course “Suffragett luncheon” from a 1914s recepie. (link “Good housekeping 1914” recepie).

And since I’m not a fan of “food photos”, I of course forgot to photograp all the courses.

But here are a few.Chicken soup with croutons.

Celery-canapé with salad and toast.

And some pics of the lovely ladies.Looking modelstly happy…

..and happily confused…

..and then back to modestly interested…

But after a while it got a bit crazy… No I’m kiding but Lina did pose in a rater unexpected fashion.A suffragett on top of a suffraget….

When we finished all the courses, it was time to play the original “Suffragett board game”.

Using famous swedish women-fighters for pieces.

Then some of us took the time to pose for the camera.Emelie in her lovely striped pink, self made gown.

Love this picture – So pretty.

Then it was my turn.I think this pic is hilarious – take a look at the frisky look in the creapy manequins eyes, and you know what I mean.

Carolina gives us a big smile in her cool, self made outfit.

Then we went outside for some quick group pictures.

We manadged to get a young guy to help us photograp – he was very polite and patient, but he must have thougt we were totaly crazy.

“Empire but skratch”

And of course some shoes – oh those naughty suffragetts.

Then it was time to hurry back to the aparment to change (took me half the time taking it of), and catch the train home.

I had such a good time dressing up and spending an afternoon in the company of all these awsome ladies.

A Night at the Opera 1880s style

Published on February 7, 2014 by fashionthrougherstory6 Comments

I’ve purposely been waiting a bit to tell you about the grand bal at the opera out of two reasons: one – I first wanted to tell you properly about my dress, and secondly I wanted to gather as many pictures as possible from other guests.

But now it is time.

As you might know by now, I attended the yearly 1880s bal at the opera in late january.

And it was wonderful.A group picture by the photograp couple caled Haapala. (I’m in the far back).

After arriving in the capital, I emedetly started to get ready. Laying all costume pieces out on the hostel bed, and then starting on the hair. Then I began dressing. This step turned out to be pretty interesting, using the hostels smal bathroom, trying to lace myself in looking over my shoulder in the smal bathroom mirror. A bit tricky…

Then I finished the hair with a tiara, put on some lipstick and donned the velvet cape – ready to go.

When arriving at the opera, I emedetly feelt welcomed by both the atmosphere and the faubolusly dresses guests.

I was strucken by the amount of effort most participants (men and women) had putt into dressing according to the code, and the fashion of the 1880s. There were so many beautiful dresses and hairdos, I’m just sorry not to be able to photograph everything.

But I did get some pics – enjoy.The dancing was so much fun, but it was also werry beautiful to watch. ** *

About the only mingel picture I’m in (at the far right with my back to the camera). *

Some lovely ladies.*The theme of the bal was “Russian”. * And one couple dressed to the teeth as the russian tsar Nikolaj II and wife (the costumes are made by the very talented Caroline (in the picture)).

I love that striped fabric.

Some lovely bustles.

And more…

…and more. (a lovely original 19th century dress).

Merja from “Before the Automobil” in lovely pink, and two finish ladies.

We also had some 18th century guests, part of the dancing paus entertainment.

And some mandetory selfies… digging the bustle.**

And that lovely lace.**

And of course some pics of me.

I loved wearing my gown, and felt both pretty and comfortable (except when sitting down). Just before it was time to leave I manadged to get a lovely lady to take some photos of me. (Thanks again).

* = Photos by: Caroline Eklund, ** = Photos by: Johanna and Aggi, Un-maked photos by me.

And to conclude the post, I must say it was faboulus.

I loved it all, the atmosphere, the costumes, the dancing, the people, and I particularly enjoied the gathering of the guest at a pub after the opera closed. Staying out for severa hours. Everything was so nice.

I’m will defenetly try to attend next year, and maybe I even will get one of my sisters to go with me.

“Oskarsbal”

Published on January 11, 2014 by fashionthrougherstoryLeave a comment

As I metioned in my prevous post I just recently decided to go to the grand bal at the Opera in the end of january.

But what is it?

It will be a night at the Opera in 1880s style, with white tie, evening gowns and loots of fans and juwelry. Lots of the people I know from erlier costuming events will be there and they tell me it’s the event of the year.

There will be food, music, dancing and loot and lots of people in glorius evening wear.

The offical website of the bal (In Swedish).

Honestly I have no idea what to expect, but I will tell you all about it afterwards.

This will be my first grand costuming event and I so looking forward to it. (Now back to the sewing room).

19th Century Christmas Party

Published on December 23, 2013 by fashionthrougherstoryLeave a comment

On the 14th of december I went to a chrismas party in Stockholm.

The dresscode was – whatever you like from the 19th century.

And as you might know Iv’e been working on my 1840s dress to wear to the event. And it was acctualy done in time, even though I needed to both let it out some and shorten it a bit after wearing it outside for a photoshoot, (good thing I did the shoot before the party). I also had the underwear, bonnet and outerwear finished and waiting.

I’ve been so looking forward to this.

But before the party me and Johanna took a tour to the christmas market.

But there was not much to se and it was raining a bit to much so we decided to go early to the party instead.

A sneak a peak.

The party started of with some smal talk while drinking “glögg” (hot wine(?)), and admiring all the lovely clothes.

Empire style meets late 19th century.

Some gentlemen in there finery.

Elin in 1930s dress.

Johanna in a lovely empire gown and hairdo.

Chrismas candy and cockies.

The line to the coffee table ran long (especialy since many of us women where a bit wide on the backside).

We also got to listen to some lovely singing from Hilewi as “Lucia”.

The evening was very nice and the house really helped setting the “old times” mood.

And then the old fashioned “Julbock” came to give us gifts. Sadly I had to leave before, and didn’t get the chanse to meet him.

A glimps of me in my 1940s dress, which I really enjoyed wearing.

(Most of the pictures in this post are my own, but some are borrowed from other members of the 19th century group.)

Medieval Feast

Published on November 10, 2013 by fashionthrougherstory2 Comments

Yesterday (nov 9th) It was finaly time for the medieval feast, arranged by my dancing company. And as this was to be my first medievel event I’ve planed and prepered my dress for weeks.

I wore my new Green Cotehardie with the Outerwear Sleeves and a new pair of white tippets.

On my head I wore my new whimple and faux braids. (read more here) And I actually managed to ge them to look like I wanted.

The feast started with some mingel, walking around and talking to the other guests (and I’ve forgot to grab my camera, bummer).

Then we all sat down to dine.

Me and my sister.

The food was really cool, and well planed – and must have taken forever to prepare…

We got: Boiled eggs in a bowl made of bread, with a bird made of butter sitting on topp.

Salmon served with hearbs on enormous plates.

Soup made of peas, serwed in desposabe “wooden” plates, and fruit stuffed with meat.

Chees, fruit-cream and peaches with nuts.

Cookies.

And wine pored from a guilded tower into animal-shaped wine-jugs.

But wait a minute, Im sure I’ve forgot something…

Oh yes! A grilled pig served whole, with a chicken “knight”on top.

Omg, look at that little chicken rinding the pig!

He actually wears a helmet, shield and sword.

My amusment faded fast when they started to cut it up…Yuk…

After dinner it was time for some dancing.

In a dancing break I grabbed my sister and some friends and we snaped some quick photos in the basment.

My sister in a dress I finished just hours befor the feast.

And a friend from my dancgroup, who also made her outfit herself.

The mandetory “Ugly-shoot”

Then I got he whole “sewing group” togheter for some photos. During the autumn we have all taken a medieval sewing class, held by the “medieval all-knowing” Karin (front left). It’s been so much fun learning authenticity, and to watch everybodys cloths coming togheter. (Even though I’ve heard we have a few cheeters in the group, bying theire clothes…)

Doing the “14th century everyday pose”.

And the mandetory “Jump shoot”.

I’ve had so much fun at the feast – eating, dancing and meeting new interesting people.

But most of all I liked wearing and feeling pretty in my dress and braids. Looks like there will be some medieval fairs to get o this summer…

Mickelsmäss

Published on October 3, 2013November 16, 2013 by fashionthrougherstoryLeave a comment

A month ago I got asked to be part of the dancing entertainment on a event the local historic museum were arranging.

So this weekend (29 sep) I got my regency clothing together and hurried to get to the “on spot” rehersal.

I curled my hair and tied a shawl as a turban, then I attached a brosch and some feathers to get the right regency look.

I hurried to lace my brand new corset, put on the petticoat, stockings and mylovely “Kensingtons” shoes from American Duchess.

Unfortanley I didn’t have the time to find some ribbons to replace the shoe buckles with. Although 20 years wrong in the time period they do look beautiful.

The dress I wore was the HSF Striped regency gown, matched with mittens, fichu and an shawl.

The dinner went well, and the dancing even better, with lots of on-lookers and applaudes.

And now for some pictures:

Ladies inside warming themselfe before the dancing.

Our gentlemen

Outside, listening to speeches after the dancing. (sorry for the poor quality photos – It was quite dark by this time.)

Talking after the dance.

Anna, looking lovely in the dress she made herself for a prevous event.

The whole group

Solveig, Anna and Sievert.

Me and Solveig. I made both our dresses this past year, from the same pattern (Reconstructing History nr 838).

I found it exiting to notice the differences between the dresses and the way they look being worn in two different ways.

18th century picnick

Published on September 4, 2013November 16, 2013 by fashionthrougherstoryLeave a comment

Right in the middle of my stressfull work with the Huldra movie I got invited to join my costume group for a 18th century picnick.

At first I tought that I was not going to be able to come. But as the day drew neerer i decided that i was most defenetly going – I was desperatly in need for someting to take my mind of the endless work hours and this picknic seemed like the perfect thing.

So I dove in to my box of costumes (having a bit of a crizis over wich dress to wear), and left work early to get myself dressed.

The picnic it self was located in the beautiful park of Drottningholm (the royal castle). And even tough I had to stress like hell, changing into the historical stockings and petticoats and wigs, and then ride the metro and the buss alone in my costume it was totaly worth it.

The weather was perfect and when I opened my picnic basket i found the most wounderful pacage of fruit, sandwishes, chocolate and juice – that my friend so thoughtfully packed when I was rushing around trying to find my bumroll and shoebuckles.

The birds take flight to warmer countryes.