It feels like 2020 isn't quite done with us yet: things have been rough personally, professionally, and throughout the nation--and this last week has been a doozy.
However, instead of stewing in anger and frustration I've decided to participate in a Historical Costuming Monthly Challenge. I will practice my skills and try to activate some healing creativity. I will be attempting to create an ensemble (or element thereof) each month. The general theme is "fiction", but there are monthly themes as well. The cut off for what is considered "historical" for this challenge is 1938.
The first challenge:
This should theoretically be easy. The problem is, I've really been struggling to find my joy for the past couple of years--an abusive workplace, crappy job market, & global pandemic among other things really have not helped. I can't help feeling that, since I am more or less tied to the house with no current teaching position eating up my time and energy, I should be exercising and meditating, resting and re-finding my bliss--but it just isn't that easy, is it?
So, what does bring me joy? I have been mining my Pintrest pages for insight and inspiration. Nature, swing-dancing, lovely clothing, lovely places, lovely cocktails & food. Art Neuvoe. Glamour, romance, events with friends--which become a reason & a vehicle for all the rest of it. I like 'beautiful people
doing beautiful things in beautiful places'. . . and my dogs. Corgis also bring me great joy, though they are really not helpful at this moment.
Alternatively,
I really like harlequin costumes. Again, this is
probably not helpful unless I want to create a patchwork fabric &
then a corseted, pleated, puffed, & petti-coated dress. . .
which I do not.
In the context of this challenge, what brings me joy? Well, as far as fiction goes, Lady Detectives bring me great joy. I find myself turning to characters like Mary Russell, Amelia Peabody, Maisie Dobbs, Phryne Fisher &, of course, Nancy Drew. I like their style & sass, quick wit & high heels, cocktails, glamorous cars, exotic settings, & ability to get themselves out of impossible situations.
The cut off date for the challenge is something of an added challenge for me, because I don't sew
corsets, I don't own a proper teen's era (or earlier) corset, and I'm too heavy
(currently) to be fashionable for the 1920's & 30's. Nevertheless,
she persisted.
I
have searched my patterns and come up with a couple options that don't
require much (if any) resizing--I have
been acquiring patterns for years, so about 1/2 of them are far too small
for me to use without serious redrafting. It's definitely something to consider if I want to make an outfit w/in a month. So, given the my limitations and channelling Lady Detectives, here's what the pattern stash turned up. For late Amelia Peabody, early Mary Russell, I could do a teens era ensemble, like this:
Which is taken from (I believe) the April 1912 Deliniator:
I'm sure I have a suitable (ha.) plaid in my stash.
Or, I could modify this 1930s dress & peplum into a Maisie Dobbs-ish suit:
Or, I could use my Haslam booklet (for the first time) & draft a 1920s dress.
This one feels very Mary Russell (though I think Nancy & Phryne would like it as well, depending on fabric & color):
It looks like I will be focusing my sewing from about 1912-1938. Now to dig through the fabric stash & decide whether to alter the Vogue, draft from Haslam, or take my chances with the Butterick.
I think I've found some of that joy--it's in the planning and daydreaming.
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