We’ve shown you the video of the ball and the bazaar’s couture, now it’s time for us to promenade in our own finery! Fill up the champagne flute and grab an oyster or two then feast those peckish peepers on our glory.
Four of us attended this year’s ball. Each of us choose a different look which emphasized various historic or fictional aspects of Edwardian society. For the most part, we obsessed over what to wear, even if it was just a simple decision between black or grey. When the time finally arrived though, we each had selected an outfit that paid compliment both to ourselves and the event.
Morgan (pictured at left with her companion Don in Raven Production’s exquisite photo booth) sports a grand ensemble which takes liberties with historic inspirations creating a scandalously elegant visage of courtly juxtaposed with exotic. Don meanwhile, would probably have fit right in at a club full of tofts and rakes during the brief era that followed the dawn of the 20th century with his more historically accurate portrayal of an Edwardian gentleman.
Before going on to Mairin and Dusty’s outfits, it must be noted that certain considerations need to be given adequate attention when selecting an outfit for such an affair. One thing we all failed to account for was how bloody hot the ballroom would get once it was jammed full of hot blooded revelers!
Dusty and Mairin (pictured at right) hand made the more eye catching portions of their characters’ wardrobes. Both hail from the shadowy, less law-abiding, but certainly still noble corners of Edwardian London.
Mairin’s is a celebration of the patchwork past revised to sensational effect. Though the color scheme was significantly inspired by the Wandlung mini-hat which tops it all (and which Mairin herself chose and supplied the fabrics for), the hand-made from a Victorian pattern corset, associated over-blouse, and bustle-less skirt sprang from a need for the underworld’s ball-worthiest finery. She was thankful for the sleeveless top and mostly airy bottoms but was still a bit overly warm. At least the caged bunny hanging at her side didn’t complain.
Dusty was fortunate enough to purchase his brocade pants and a dress shirt with a collar that could be ironed to give the classic “winged” look from Reno thrift stores. The remainder of his outfit (which will be gone over in detail in the next post) consists of modified thrift scores and his first ever made from scratch leather gauntlet and spats.
While we would love to lay claim to titles of best dressed in attendance, this was fortunately not the case at all. In fact, we all had to admit at some point or another that we were probably dressed up and rocking as much flare as the average attendee. There were certainly many dressed more fabulously than we.
In our opinion, it is more about having a costume that suits and enhances your particular personae for that evening. We found that for us, if what you are wearing helps you to be the character you want to be then it is likely the subtle details only you and those intimate to you will fully appreciate that your mind will subconsciously orbit as the brighter stars of the evening pass.
