Another annual event is on the books… and it was WONDERFUL!!
Honestly, it felt really good to be back after a three year hiatus. That’s an enormous canyon of time when you’ve been attending an event since 2000 and it’s now 2018.
You may remember I had a baby in 2016 just a month before that year’s event and was otherwise engaged to not attend this annual conference in Los Angeles. Then, last year I was wandered the marketplace and danced at the gala, but I don’t really count it as full attendance.
But this year – Yes!! I was back doing it all as before: teaching four classes, putting up four garments on display in the exhibit room, attending the gala and tea, staying up late, and generally having a grand time.
There was sewing in the hotel room – as usual, despite my push to try and not let that happen.
I merely had to put trim on my 1760s stomacher and trim on my 1880s hat to finish. Not too bad…. Yet it still didn’t get finished until just before I wore those accessories. –sigh-
However, I do believe this year I was the most prepared out of all these years going into the weekend.
If you are unfamiliar with Costume College, it is a three-plus day annual event held in late July (or early August) in the Los Angeles, California area and hosted by the Costumer’s Guild West.
We are an educational conference specializing in classes of lectures, demos and workshops covering any and all aspects of costuming from historical, sci-fi/fantasy, Steampunk, Anime genres to making and creating accessories, garments, jewelry, headwear, etiquette, photography, and anything else related to costuming and dress-up. Whoot!
This year I taught four classes – my usual amount.
- Dressing the Silhouette
- Dressing the Plus-Size Silhouette
- Fabrics for Fashion Plates
- Sleeve Fitting in Victorian Bodices
I felt a little rusty starting out on Friday. But the attendees helped me rev up, and I was back into the groove of teaching and sharing in quick time.
Dyeing Fabrics and 1830s Crazy Hair were the only classes I was able to attend. Not that I minded. And funny that those classes bookended the weekend – Friday 9am and Sunday 3:30pm.
Only attending those two was primarily because I would end up chatting with various people All.Weekend.Long. Which was the most fabulous thing about the entire vacation!! 😀
Truly.
People come to the event to learn about costuming. But you take away the most amazing conversation memories and ideas and friendships. <3
As seems my norm at any costume event, I didn’t take a whole lot of photos. So I apologize for that. However, do a hashtag search on Google, Facebook and Instagram for TONS of photos of the event. You can’t miss them and won’t be disappointed.
Yes, I got to the photo studio this year. You can find those in the coming weeks on The Shotwell Collection site. And I’ll share a few on Facebook and Instagram when I get them.
Then after you ooh and ahh at the delicious costumes brought out this year, please remember DO NOT COMPARE your own creativity with other attendees. Yes, you ARE good enough to attend Costume College! I’ve long-time costumer friends who were there the entire weekend in modern, casual clothes and still had a great time.
Yes, attendees bring out their best work but not everyone is at the same place in the journey. Your best costume may be the one found on Etsy, pulled from the closet that still fits, or the one finished yesterday. The key is to pull it out and wear it!
There’s no dress code at our beloved “CoCo” only that clothes are required and stay family/PG-13 friendly. Hehe
I had the grateful fortune to attend in 2018 on a scholarship. CGW has a variety of scholarships available with applications due by the first of September usually. You can apply here.
I was amazed at the creativity and variety of costumes this year.
Now to Make.All.The.Things!!!
If you missed me at the event or are scanning photos online, I wore a dirndl during the day on Friday and Saturday, a 1821 mint green silk dress Friday night with leaf tiara, my 1760s Rock Candy blue pet en l’air (short French sacque) over yellow petticoat for the Saturday gala, and my new 1884 Steelers Royalty bustle dress all day Sunday for teaching and the tea.
Tracy at The Historical Hairdresser did my gala hair. Ha! ALL THE RATTED HAIR!!
Although I missed the official Dirndl Meet-Up due to teaching a class at the time, a handful of us were hanging out beforehand and took a group photo. Then someone called out for us to sing Edelweiss. Oh my! It became a magical moment and I walked to my classroom in happy tears.
On Sunday I was asked to give a brief interview – on camera – about my Steelers dress. That was a bit nerve-wracking! I found out later they are the team from CostumeTrek and travel to various costuming conventions to get the dish on costume creativity. (Apparently I was the topic of their breakfast conversation too!)
Our “Dress of Wrong” group, hosted by The Lady Detalle, was fantastic! Again, I was unavailable for the official group photo, but The Lady and I managed to grab a snapshot in the hallway of our bustle dresses of wrong.
It was extremely exciting to meet SOOO many of you!
Blog readers, followers on social media, and online class students were all part of those I interacted with and chatted for endless hours during four very full days.
Now, Costume College is not for everyone and that’s ok.
I know people who simply dislike this kind of conference or would rather not attend our little gathering. And if you went in 2018 and didn’t like it, that is quite fine too.
However, as you look at the photos and/or recall the moments of the event, I encourage you to keep sharing your own love of costuming in your part of the world. Keep doing your own brand of creativity! And I hope one of these years I can meet you in person in L.A. 🙂
This sounds really cool! what do I have to do to be able to come? do I have to make something new or can I use something I already have?
First, visit the Costume College website. You’ll find LOADS of info for attending. Many people come in regular street clothes and only dress up for the few official events during the weekend. The Facebook group for Costume College is active and more questions and answers can be read and posted there. You are more than welcome!
I suggest looking up a local Victorian Society, mine is Victorian Society of Colorado. Maybe JASNA (Jane Austen Socty of No. America)? (I’m not familiar with JASNA but heard of it.) Or create your own local group, I’m in one of those, too; we have an annual “Swap Meet” with vendor tables, go to teas, have put on a few historical fashion shows, have occasional “workshops” which are informational. Whatever your local gals (and guys, don’t leave them out!) can offer to each other. Too much fun!
VSC has not updated its calendar since 2017. What’s going on?
Are these kinds of events held in other parts of the country (east, mid-atlantic)? Thanks!
Not entirely sure. I know there aren’t any the size of Costume College that are primarily education based. You’ll find lots of “comic-cons” and other costuming conferences like DragonCon in Atlanta that might have a few panels to attend, but the majority of those conferences is not education focused. Check with local historical societies and dance groups for possible smaller events of the educational sort.
As far as i know there is nothing like this on the east coast. Something I’ve been talking to a few people about trying to fix.
I have a couple friends trying to get a new event going on the East Coast. Jeanette Murray of The Perfect Touch is one. You can contact her for more details. I’m also part of a Facebook group for this new group trying to get something planned. So you can reach out to them there.
Thank you Jennifer for allowing me to tag along. I have wondered what Costume college was all about.
Perhaps another year I will meet you there. I have retired my 1854 costume that I have been wearing doing reenactment and am now starting from the ground (skin) out for a gown and underpinnings from 1875.
Wish me luck. I have a lot to learn.
Welcome to the 1870s!!! They are my favorite. 🙂
And be sure to review all my blog posts on bustles.
I was really hoping to make it to your Fabrics for Fashion Plates but they had me working too hard. I did get to see a good part of the Dressing the Silhouette before being called out again for an emergency. But I’m glad you made it back, and doing what you love, teaching. I came back with some inspiration for petticoats and am working on that now.
Keep up the good work, Jennifer!
Hugs, Val
Thank you, Val. 🙂
Will there ever be a Costume College East Coast? Dying to go, but don’t want to travel from Florida to California for it.
Costume College ™ is an annual event put on by the Costumer’s Guild West which is based in Southern California. Any non- or for-profit organization can create their own kind of educational event. We do have lots of out-of-state and international students who save and travel to California for the event (including me now coming from Utah).
I’m so pleased that you were able to attend my crazy hair class! It was lovely having you back in action at CoCo. Your sleeve class has been a revelation for so many over the years!
Ridiculously pleased to have merited a photo on your blog– I’ve used your tips and tricks for some of my costumes! It was great meeting you at my first CoCo– I’m totally going to come again next year! And for anyone who wanted to know the details behind the two 1920s dresses, here they are:
Here and
Here
You are welcome. Happy to have met you at the event! And thanks for the links – wonderful dresses!
Thank you Jennifer for “taking me to Co Co with you ” via your Facebook posts. I really enjoyed seeing the costumes and people whose blogs I read. Someday I might attend but have to take your bustle dress class first. Thanks again.