18th Century Court Ensembles Project

By neimhaille. 12/08/13, 12:19 pm

This is for the historically minded:

http://demodecouture.com/18th-century-court/
Costume College is a weekend long costume convention/school that happens every year. The last one was last weekend and this is open for those attending as well as those at home. I hope to host a party, somewhere, to swish about in hoops of prodigious proportions.

So far there are court outfits from Europe and Japan and all cultures are welcome :) I'm doing a silly Swedish silver Robe de Cour, and will be posting step by step progress to hopefully get a Robe Along happening :) I'd love it if any kiwi cosplayers could participate. Don't worry, it's not scary, some people will be going for totally historic, some for a blend and some for modern interpretations (movie etc.)

I haven't yet tagged my posts in my blog, I've nicknamed mine the Big Ass Silver Frock because I am making it from 6m of silver twill that is very very very shiny. Not at all real. But I'll tag with something a little more appropriate soon...

If you were looking at the Robe de Cour style I have pattern and experience. If you are looking at male dress, I have some experience (justacorps- swishy pirate style coat but nothing else) and patterns. Outside that, there are heaps of sources even if some are buried in languages other than English on museums with difficult search functions...

Anyway, it's easy, just have a blog/tumblr/lj/facebook/sketchbook to link to and claim a costume by sending Kendra a piccie :)

Not sure how far the modern theme can be stretched but I have been kind of totally obsessed with Takarazua and Norma Shearer and DuBarry was a Lady and a few glam 1930s movies set in this time. Other modern interpretations might well be allowed :)

Anyway, I'm hoping people would like to join in and post photos to be part of this virtual and real event :)

By Leaven. 12/08/13, 03:02 pm

I'm totally in Very Happy

By Highlander. 13/08/13, 09:40 am

Wonder what scottish court dress was like? And what facial hair styles where in?

Also I wonder how many photos I have of suitable dress in my LACMA collection. Which I will link once I get to post it.

By Rolly. 13/08/13, 11:32 am

This sounds really cool and interesting and fun! Very Happy

However it's not quite my cup of tea as I'm not really into historical costumes at this stage. It does sound like a really good social thing for people who are, though!

By neimhaille. 13/08/13, 12:49 pm

LACMA has some niiiiiiiiice duds. Their c1700 mantua is one I really want to see in person! I'm not sure about Scottish dress, it's also very very murky in regards to politics during that whole period (Choice TV had a really nice series about Scottish history, much of which I'd read but presented differently :) ). You may need to look at French or Italian given the connections and royalty in exile thing :) I did spot this:
http://enfilade18thc.com/2013/06/15/exibition-allan-ramsay/ however he was painting English court as well... but he would be an artist to look at :)

It's an excuse to the make the biggest costume ever (or tightest pants if you are looking at men's gear);) While there are a lot of fake crinoline photos going around (well... from the time but they were exaggerated to mock the fashion) these actually are epic in proportion! Lets just say the gowns in Takarazuka's Rose of Versailles are not too much of an exaggeration though decoration and style are not perfectly historic ;)

http://www.arrayedindreams.com/tag/silver-court-gown/
So, yeah, madness!

Also a nice way to get introduced to the old guard so to speak :) Kendra is the originator of the extant garments project- photos of the real suff in museums, and many of the participants have been around since I started in the community :)

By Highlander. 13/08/13, 01:14 pm

Apparently LACMA have 20,000 images online, and have 3500 images on wikicommons. Much more than is currently on display. Much more than I have. But then I didn't get to the asian exhibits, and modern art ones.

http://collections.lacma.org/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Lacma

Next time I want to get to the Ghetty(s).

I think we know what well dress highland chiefs supposedly wore. But not sure about to court though? Maybe? Well there is time for research.

Is this costume college in America?

By Leaven. 16/08/13, 10:26 am

I emailed Kendra with my new choice...this baby right here Very Happy

My Court Gown claim

I am a sucker for the colour Blue...and look at the fur! Very Happy

By Highlander. 12/10/13, 01:49 pm

I may have a line on Irish Court Garb.

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