I meant to put up pictures of Vienna when it happened, but various technological difficulties and camera malfunctions meant I didn't even end up with pictures until recently. So this is what we wore in Vienna (if you don't recall, I went with my mother and sister to a vintage dance week in Vienna this February, and it was fantastic).
There were only two really fancy balls (and one casual costume evening which we did not manage to pack anything interesting for). First, there was an afternoon dance, with a lot of regency clothes and Sachertorte for refreshments. Mmmm.
For that one, we wore dresses made from a Past Patterns pattern for a Federal Dress. The grey one was made by Saundra Altman herself (she makes Past Patterns, and is a wonderful clothing historian). The brown one was thrown together on a sewing machine by mother and myself. The red one was made in Vienna, handsewn throughout the week by the two of us. Basically, mother realized she had nothing to wear and no time to make something, so she threw the pattern and a chunk of fabric into the suitcase. It is really cool fabric, by the way.
Ever since I went to a talk about Fashions in Federal New England (go
here to read about it), I have had this thing about regency dresses looking like columns. So I had to have a picture with a column. You can just barely see that I am wearing my fantastically cool red dance boots here. I love those so much.
Then there was the final ball. We wore 1860s, though that was not universal. I always forget how atypical we are in the Boston area (and Newport when we hold our ridiculously fancy dance week there) for segregating by time period. We have 1860s balls and 1890s balls, and most people at least make a stab at wearing the right silhouette. I think that the outcome is a more realistic ball-going experience... more like time travel and reconstructing an actual event, less like a mish-mash of fun historical things. Which is certainly not to say that I don't like mish-mashes too, I just think that what we do is particularly special.
Anyway, there was an impressive catered dinner, and dancing, and really adorable dance cards that Andrea made. Lovely lovely. Also, I love my shiny blue ballgown. It is too much fun. I am wearing red dance boots here too, although you can't see them.
Also, while I often look silly in pictures, this is my favorite. I was laughing...
Francesco Renaldi - Lady Maria Tryphena Cockerell and Lady Charlotte Imhoff Making Music at a Harpsichord. c. 1789
I love the ruffly train of her skirt. I feel like she herself is a bit weirdly proportioned, but that is alright. It makes me want to put the rest of the ruffles on my lavender/white striped skirt.
First of all, I think she looks lovely. I like the train on the dress, and the lace details are interesting... beautiful elegant lines to the dress. But I also found the wrinkles along the seams kind of fascinating. I guess I have justification for using shiny wrinkly fabric for ballgowns now.
If I say something about Scaramouche to someone, I am usually met with a, "What? Like the Queen song?" (referring to the "Scaramouce, Scaramouche, will you do the fandango?" line in Bohemian Rhapsody). If I said something to a Commedia del'Arte friend, they would surely know the name of the character (although the group I perform with does not use that particular character... they do Italian renaissance and he is a just a later character). But the best reason to know the name Scaramouche is for the incredible 1952 movie.
(Tension! I told you he was well-dressed)
(Aren't they all so pretty?)
(Meeting Aline - Seriously, are you sure this is the 18th century, not the 1950s?)
(Disguised as Scaramouche!)
That weekend is going to be a busy one for me. I have a Steampunk event the next day in Boston (stay tuned for more information soon), and will probably be attending a ball that the Harvard Gilbert and Sullivan group will be having that evening. Oh my! It is good to be busy, though, and I am very excited about all these things. Now, time to sew an outfit for this...
Ever since I went to a talk about Fashions in Federal New England (go here to read about it), I have had this thing about regency dresses looking like columns. So I had to have a picture with a column. You can just barely see that I am wearing my fantastically cool red dance boots here. I love those so much.
Then there was the final ball. We wore 1860s, though that was not universal. I always forget how atypical we are in the Boston area (and Newport when we hold our ridiculously fancy dance week there) for segregating by time period. We have 1860s balls and 1890s balls, and most people at least make a stab at wearing the right silhouette. I think that the outcome is a more realistic ball-going experience... more like time travel and reconstructing an actual event, less like a mish-mash of fun historical things. Which is certainly not to say that I don't like mish-mashes too, I just think that what we do is particularly special.
Also, while I often look silly in pictures, this is my favorite. I was laughing...
Rev. Matthew William Peters is the artist, and this is just called "Portrait of a Lady." She has at neat hat (love the massive bow), but the thing I find more interesting is that this is another black hat with a white underside. This would never have occurred to me to do on my own, but this is not the first time I've seen it (you can't have forgotten Victoria). I guess I will have to make one, now. Very interesting indeed.
Weird dress, but she has feathers in her hair, and that is neat.
I like the curtains. The people are ok. I really like the use of wigs. Giant wigs are a lot of fun.
This is very sparkly and white. I like her shoes.
Wigs! Yay!
Wigs, stockings, lovely shoes... some kind of wings? And a weird cloak thing?
More wigs! Wigs are so cool. And do I spy panniers?
I like giant fluffy skirts. Perhaps I should try hanging out on ladders. I would wear this. It would be inadvisable, but I would wear this.
Slightly less interesting, but she has a big skirt and is even more into hanging out on ladders.
A nice wig, and a nice hat. Like the stockings.
Quadrille at the Bal Bullier! This is fantastic, no? Guy dancing on his hands... guy IN THE AIR... Girls with their legs and skirts in various comical disarray. I find quadrilles boring. I don't like them much. But this, this looks like too much fun...
