2 posts tagged “corsets”
So, I have what I've titled Books I Should Use Toward Thesis, Hypothetical. Or, BISUTTH, for short. The first book was Perfoming Blackness on English Stages, 1500-1800. The newest addition is Black Africans in Renaissance Europe. Because, clearly, I just can't leave this particular topic and era alone. It's what's making my SCA research for possible persona choices and costuming so tedious.
On the one hand, I say "Hang it all!" in the face of being told I can only do Renaissance Italy because that place and time is when Africans (really) started being seen in Europe, and want to make a bliaut just to be cantankerous. Also because they're really snazzy.
On the other hand, the only other silouettes that are even remotely interesting to me are 15th and 16th century Florentine and Venetian. Which feeds into the pigeonhole I've been pegged into, but I've always been intrigued by this particular period EXACTLY FOR the reason that it's when the European exploring started in earnest and the African Identity was made known to the European consciousness at large, rather than just the Venetian traders and the Crusaders and such. Well, an African Identity other than the Moors, since they'd been in and around Europe and the Mediterranean for a bit, but that would eventually be a subsection of what I'll probably end up writing as I'm writing like an academic again without even trying.
[sighs]
But, ALSO because I *really* want to try making a partially corded corset like a few costumers I've been poking at have done. I mean, according to other folks, if I sew them in there really tight and stitch across them, I can actually wash the thing. Which is extremely useful in a corset. Also, the comfort factor is high up there. Only partially-corded though, because I seriously doubt a fully corded one would withstand me moving around and such without eventually buckling, given my figure and all. Not unless I used 1/8" hemp cord instead of 1/16" and put hella channels in that thing. Maybe use cable ties for the center front and to give some extra structure and support to the eyelets and lacing. The figure thing is also one reason why I think the bliaut wouldn't end up working, as I'm fairly sure it's supposed to be self-supporting. Unless I'm thinking of a cotehardie. Well, regardless, stupid boobs. They make historical costuming just as difficult as modern costuming.
Although, I lied somewhat about these being the only periods to interest me. Nothing of Elizabethan whets my appetite except an Effigy Corset. Mainly because, hi, extant garment source! Two, one can never under-estimate the power of being able to get into and out of a corset by yourself. Front-lacing For The Win.
I still need to figure out what to wear OVER the corset, but details, details. Painting research continues apace for that. The book I mentioned earlier has some paintings sprinkled throughout the text, so it's helpful on two fronts!
Another question I'm thinking about, aside from backstory for a persona and a name, is what the hell to do with my hair? I mean, sure if anyone gave me mess about locs not being historically accurate, I could just pull the Black Rage card, but I kinda don't want to be an asshole about this. I'm thinking it'd be coif and hat to cover the hair if I were Elizabethan, but I'm still looking into Italian options. 12th century Germanic would most likely just end up being a wig and figuring how to pin curl locs so to fit under said wig.
Then, there's bellydancing, once I get back into enough to be in shape again, and what historical options for that would be. Or, if I'd just go eh and only worry about bellydancing at Pennsic. Which, thanks to Josh, I have a new way of referring to it: "Pennsic is the Burning Man of the SCA, isn't it?" If this is true, they won't care about a bellydancing chick.
All right. Let's try this out.
So, for those of you just joining the program, I do, on occasion, sew. I've not done so in a while, but my costuming brain just clicked itself back on a few days ago and. Well. I did some damage at JoAnn's this morning.
And it all started because my mother wants pajamas.
Also, there was to be a photo of the aisle of brocade and sari fabric loveliness right here, but I can't retrieve it from my camera right now. Nuts.
Anyway, we move on to the meat and potatoes of this whole shebang: Corset plotting. You see, it all started when I found out about a (now out of stock) corset made by Lip Service called Beyond the Thunderdome.
Those that know me know why this creation had to be mine by hook, crook, or manufacturing. Seeing as how hooking before I *have* the corset is a little backwards, and they really didn't make any in my size, I'll have to go with door number 3.
Clearly, I can't make my corset be an exact replica of this one, because that would most likely get my ass handed to me should Lip Service ever find out. Also, I want mine to lace in the front and the back. And possibly on the sides. I'm all about making something that works with my crazy weight fluctuations, yo.
As a random aside, I am a big fan of buckles and lacing and black and zippers. You'll realize just how little I'm kidding if I actually start making more stuff again and posting about it.
Over that a way are photos of the actual Lip Service corset. I have more from all good angles necessary for pattern reconstruction. Because I plan to hand-draft my own version/take on this and make it to my measurements (give or take about 15 pounds, so I won't have to make more than one of the things unless my weight gets ridiculously out of control). With all those grommets and snaps and buckles and such.
Yes, I do wear my crazypants all the time. But, if I can pull this off in whatever spare time I have, I will officially be happier 'n a pig in mud. I will also have something I can use to flounce about L.A. in October. I think that's a feasible costuming goal. Nothing to hand-drafted pattern to mockup to pattern reworking to 2nd mockup to final pattern to actual corset in about, what? Seven months? Yeah, this might actually happen.
In regards to this endeavor, my aforementioned damage done at JoAnn's also included other patterns. Because one always needs a good fishtail skirt pattern.
Why, yes. It IS between "batik skull and crossbones" and "I'm the GD Batman" as the lining of my all black corset. I am a GD rockstar.
Something else I could NOT pass up was some purple brocade remnants that are just big enough to each be a panel of another corset some time in the future. Maybe I'll make another Victorian to go with the pinstripe Victorian I already own.
There'll probably be more sewing and sketching and knitting babble on here as the months wear on, but that's where I'm at right now.
