Pixie Prototype
October 9th, 2012
Last year, in the midst of a D.H. Lawrence kick, I knitted myself a grey pixie hat. For some inexplicable reason, I attributed a portion of my inspiration to Women in Love. Go figure.
So many people have asked me where I got my hat, that I finally decided I should try to make some and offer them for sale. Knitting is too time-consuming, so I made a felt version. It’s still mostly hand-sewn, but I can make one in a matter of hours instead of weeks.
Since felt is less forgiving of differently shaped heads, I graded my pattern into three sizes: Small (child), Medium (average woman), Large (average man). And of course, I’m decorating them with felt flowers.
Drawings Discovered
September 16th, 2012
I’m rearranging my studio in hopes that I’ll finally be able to get some work done, and, in the process, unearthing things I haven’t seen in a decade (they were lurking in my mother’s attic during our garret-dwelling period).
Among these long-forgotten items were a couple of sketch books, in which I clearly spent much time and many pencil points attempting to master the fine art of fashion illustration — perhaps to little avail.
See, the idea is that you draw an idealized version of the feminine (or masculine) figure, paying attention to basic proportion, but lengthening the limbs, etc.
Then you draw the same figure, only with clothes.
I even found a sketch or two from dresses that I actually made…
This eventually became the sophisticated black and white 1930s evening gown I wore to “It Happened One Night,” a themed benefit party for the Merchant’s House Museum. I don’t know that I ever got a full picture of that dress in action, and now it doesn’t quite fit anymore. Oh well, here’s the top half at least. As you can see, I ditched the neckline ruffle in favor of beading.
And some more figure drawing studies…
Labor Day Dress
September 6th, 2012
I was so busy researching early political and economic controversies surrounding Labor Day that I forgot to tell you what I wore.
First, I should explain that we attended a Labor Day Picnic & Bingo game, with a 1950s theme. Everyone brought mid-20th century Americana food, and many dressed the part as well. I wore my Jiffy Shift dress. Technically it’s a 1960 pattern, but I think the cinched waist (courtesy Gram’s black belt) and awful fabric (courtesy local thrift shop) count as late 50s influence?
And I should also explain that the picture was taken at a rather strange angle — and that I curled the wisps that always escape around my face into bangs, which looked awful and necessitated the cutting off of my head for the protection of posterity. The shoes are definitely not 1950s style, but they ARE Keds, and they did match the dress…
Hallowe’en, Age 13
May 25th, 2012
I was a big fan of the Bard throughout grade school, but it took the influence of my fellow eighth-grade musketeers, Kelli & Alexis, to inspire me to dress as a Shakespearean character for Hallowe’en.
Our California front yard is the perfect setting for Titania, Queen of the Fairies. Or Faeries, if you prefer.
I guess I was busy with school, because my ever-willing mother made the entire costume. The base of the costume is a muslin dress, with a gathered empire bodice and gored ankle-length skirt. That’s topped by a series of home-dyed sheer panels gathered into a ribbon to tie around the waist. A flower crown for my head, and ribbon wrapped flowers pinned to the over skirt completed the ensemble.
That same year, I did find time to build an ass’s head out of papier-mâché. But I don’t think anyone wore it for Hallowe’en.
I felt oddly at home frolicking about in this outfit costume around our new home…
Hallowe’en, Age 12
May 22nd, 2012
I was really into Greek and Roman mythology (thanks to home schooling, the last bastion of the classics) as a child. I think I’d just graduated from the D’Aulaires to Bulfinch when I decided to costume myself as Aphrodite for Hallowe’en.
The dress was a thrift store find. Probably donated by some bemused bridesmaid who didn’t look well in peach, or who anticipated relatively few toga* party invitations. It’s actually a rather lovely dress if you don’t mind polyester chiffon. And it certainly fits better now than it did then. I recall some fast work with safety pins around the shoulders.
(Pardon the idyllic setting, it’s just our front yard — what a difference from Thompson & Bleecker, Greenwich Village!)
The real effect of the costume was made not by the dress however, but by the embellishments we added. They’re long disbanded, alas. So you’ll have to use your imagination.
- Naturally I had a crown of flowers.
- Some say Aphrodite carried the seasons on her feet (I’ve heard of stranger things), so my mother decked out a pair of sneakers with fall leaves, spring flowers, winter snow, and summer fruit.
- And of course you’ll recall that Aphrodite bore a son, Eros, god of love, aka Cupid. Which inspired my ingenious μήτηρ to kit out my otherwise nude “Fun In The Sun” Cabbage Patch doll with a bow and quiver of heart-tipped arrows.
Of all my old costumes, this is the one I see myself continuing to wear. Minus the naked Cabbage Patch Doll of course.
*Yes, I realize this is a chiton, but how many chiton parties have you seen? Hmmm. Interesting idea actually…
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