In the last year or so conversations have come up regarding bullying and unkindness happening – more often than before – in our small community. My post on perfectionism touched on how striving for the (elusive) perfect costume project can blind us in applying our own rules of historical accuracy to everyone else’s creative work.
Unfortunately, intimidation and bullying occur in all industries – including our beloved historical costuming circle.
I strive to create a “Joyful Community” here. I constantly monitor my “Historical Sewing” social media accounts to keep conversations kind, respectful and meaningful. I’m not afraid to hide, delete and ban comments and commenters that bring too much heaviness and negativity to the posts.
You might be thinking now, what does this have to do with this “Butt Ugly Brigade?”
See, I made a post on the Facebook page of my recently finished 1884 Steelers Royalty bustle dress that many followers had been waiting to see.
The dress was made for our Costume College 2018 group: the Dress of Wrong. The project description means you create a historical ensemble with accurate silhouette and undergarments but use obviously wrong fabric. (Think a Regency dress out of Snoopy fabric.)
With the main theme of the event being “Dressing the Royals” I came up with merging our family’s favorite sports team – the only NFL team to win six Superbowls – with my favorite historical fashion era.
It was truly a Dress of Wrong; however, I purposely only used the Steeler logo print fabric in the overskirt so I could repurpose the underskirt and bodice later (‘cause, why not get more mileage out it, right??).
So on the Facebook post a random stranger said: “What is that print thing hanging from the dress? It looks like old, used pajamas! The yellow and black is pretty, but ditch that print thing! It is butt ugly!”
Seriously.
-Sigh- Oh, those anonymous comments made behind a screen!
After a few years of dealing with *thousands* of followers on social media, I’ve learned to be a duck…. And let words roll off my back like water off a duck.
Some of my friends took a stand for me and replied back to the original commenter. (Grace and peace to her.)
I knew I didn’t make my (very fun and well-received) Dress of Wrong ensemble for this particular person.
I made it for me. To have fun being creative with a historical mash-up dress.
The story now goes: I took a screenshot of the comment and shared to my personal FB page. “Ha! I made something “butt ugly.” [See… let it roll off your back and don’t be so bothered by negativity you see online.]
Through a fun and interesting thread of conversation there, my friend, Jeanette, suggested “we do a Butt Ugly theme next year [for Costume College].”
Side Note: the 2019 theme for Costume College is “What’s that Fabric?”
And this is how you make lemonade with the lemons that are thrown your way…. You start a new group and call it the BUB – The Butt Ugly Brigade.
“What’s that fabric?”
“I don’t know, but it’s butt ugly!”
THIS is how you fight the bullying in our costuming community – with JOY and CREATIVITY and finding the LIGHT.
Our little group grew to over 100 members in a day! (yowzers)
And I’ve been truly amazed at what has come from a single “butt ugly” comment about my own costume. We’ve bonded together to stand for all types of creative work and the freedom to “be you” in your costuming.
We are taking those ugly, awful, hideous fabrics buried in the stash, hanging at the thrift store, or on the clearance rack at the fabric shop and turning them into artistic projects – pom-pom fringe and Bedazzled alike.
Honestly, this group has *exploded* so quickly, and we now have mini-groups doing funky vintage aprons and others making royal orders devoted to Liberace.
Ha! Yes, we are bringing it ALL!
As a group we want to:
- Show the world we support others within our small industry.
- To encourage each other…. even when we have on the most disgusting costume and not the fabulous Worth reproduction.
- To recognize the work that went into a particular project.
- To raise each other up as members of the worldwide costuming community.
- To grow together as we journey this creative road. No matter where we are at on that road or the current goals we are working towards as individuals.
Even if you aren’t attending Costume College in 2019, you can join our Butt Ugly Brigade (BUB) commitment by spurring others on in their costuming. To offer support and guidance to someone even if their creative work doesn’t appeal to your own sensibilities. <—– REALLY IMPORTANT
That one who is researching weaves of historical textiles to replicate them and the one hot gluing trim to the hem and everyone in between – we are all in this together.
Combat those awful, random stranger comments by keep moving forward. And keep sharing your creativity with the world – butt ugly or not.
That foolish poster could have expressed her dismay while doing it humorously. For example, “ Butt ugly fabric.. I think I have it’s brother in my closet.” No need to be a jerk.
I am a 12, not a Steelers fan, but I still LOVE your Dress of Wrong! I even gleefully imagined a Seahawks dress, and then thought how fun it would be for a photo with dresses representing all of the teams. Then I thought of Hogwarts houses, and… While there is certainly a place for historically correct, there is also a place for playfulness, creativity and simple joy in blending the things you love. I enjoy your posts, your classes and your love for what you do! Enjoy your BUB! I love the idea of a group of BUB!
Thanks, Jamie! Branching out or blending creative loves really fires up the imagination! And the skirt and bodice of my Steelers dress will be worn again with a new overskirt as a Hufflepuff dress – go Badgers! 😉
Kudos!!! Well done!!! Love the dress, love how you handled the negativity, love this article!!!
Steelers! I love it! I think the dress is wonderful. I love the spirit behind the project and what you did with it. I also LOVE this blog post as it gave me perspective today as I deal with negativity and cyber-bullying in my own small sphere. Thanks, Jennifer!
Hugs. Keep marching on. 🙂
❤️
Jennifer, you are awesome. I wish you would have been at my very first event. There were a few “Butt ugly” comments made. I was so crushed, and as a newcomer, I didn’t know what to say, I just curled my tail between my legs and left. I now wonder if they made the comments to hurt, or make me not join in. But thanks to people like you I have learned so much, and not just the right way to put an outfit together. You have the heart and soul of a saint. Keep up the good work.
Aw… I’m so sorry you experienced this! And thank you for your kind thoughts. Let’s keep plugging away together. 🙂
Love this and you, Jennifer! All I want to say is not all butts are ugly! 🙂
Thanks. And very true! The fabric I picked out from the clearance bin is ugly to me but the counter lady who cut it actually liked it.
Brilliant idea. I believe if what you are doing is making you happy then go for it, its not hurting anyone else so not their businesses to be negative. How can a community grow if people are afraid to experiment in case someone criticises their efforts.
Experiment – this is important to our own creative work. And it works for both striving for more serious, historically accurate ensembles and the super fun, “who cares but me” kind of projects.
What a fun email to read! Jennifer you are a treasure. Your email really made me smile! Luckily I did not see any mean comments but your response is a lesson in grace for us all. 😀
I love your Butt Ugly Brigade as I LOVE bustle era dresses but I also love current day fabrics. I made my first bustle dress from Disney Villains fabric and a cheap satin from the fashion district. I got snarky looks when I wore it but didn’t care because I actually survived making my first bustle dress! So long live the BUB!
Yes! And your dress was wonderful! So creative and just plain fun. 🙂
I simply LOVED this dress! It has inspired me to make my own dress of wrong in my favorite hockey team colors for next year!
Fabulous!
Oh my stars! I love this idea! I love your blog- your insights, creativity, costumes, and encouragement are all so welcome in this crazy world! I am Hoping to finally attend Costume College for the first time next year, and I’ve been daydreaming of what sorts of gowns to make, and now I have a perfectly ridiculous idea that I think needs to be brought to fruition to celebrate the BUB movement, tee hee hee! Many thanks, hugs and cheers Madame!
Yay! Happy to have you ride along with us. 🙂
Oh my goodness that is just too funny. Your dress of wrong is magnificent and I like what you ladies have in mind with the group. Bravo!!!
I, too, thought the Steelers “sheet” was awful, but I laughed along with you because I had followed the creation from the beginning. My biggest concern was putting SO MUCH WORK into something you would not use much. But now I also understand that your dress is going to be modified/re-worked at a later time and I am looking forward to that.
For the last 15 years or so I have been on the edges of the costuming world with re-enactors of various eras and have truly seen some odd garments. But the worst I ever saw I actually had to wear in a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta (The Gondoliers). I was the Duchess and the community theater was over the moon to have inherited a Disney stash of costumes. I have no idea what was in the mind of the designer – but it definitely WASN’T Victorian. Colorful, yes. A headdress that it most resembled a bishop’s miterat least 24″ high that required 4 tie downs to keep it on…. My friends and I are still laughing.
Oh my gosh! (laughing here!)
And yes, I wanted the Steelers bustle design to be flexible for other “true Victorian” bustle ensembles. I’m making a new overskirt now for a Victorian event in September. But I’ll wear it as the Steelers dress too at times, just for fun.
I love this! I remember seeing your dress at Costume College and I loved it then too! And I absolutely love the idea of creating something historical out of modern fabrics. I’m inspired for next year! Thanks for fighting back against the haters and keeping this community kind.
looks like you had fun with your dress. . .and it really isn’t as ‘butt ugly’ as your disgruntled fan expressed. . .save your creations for those of us who appreciate fine costuming and subtle humor.
thank you for your blog.
Thanks for reading and your support, Geri!
Your dress is darling, Jennifer! I’ve been wanting to sew a historically accurate costume using totally historically inaccurate but FUN fabrics. You’ve inspired me.
I think your Dress of Wrong is fantastic, as is your fun response to an icky comment. BUB is hilarious- way to go!
I’m reading “The Heiress Effect” by Courtney Milan right now. The heroine deliberately dresses in butt-ugly dresses to put off suitors (also she has no taste). Perhaps you could recreate one of her costumes. 😀
Oh, fun idea!
Haters gonna hate. The rest of us are having fun.
Go Steelers! I love that dress! Way to turn it around. Keep on keeping on!
Dear Jennifer–I so much appreciate you taking a stand and speaking up about the negativity and bullying that goes on in social media. In support of your efforts, I will think about what really ugly costume I can make for Costume College 2019 to join in with the BUB. Thank you for promoting kindness in our costuming community.
Cheers, Jody! Thanks.
We are planning to officially meet up in our BUB costumes at the Friday Night Social in 2019. But feel free to wear yours anytime during the weekend. We’ll have badge ribbons (perhaps a few types of them) to hand out during the entire event.
I cannot tell you how happy your Steelers Dress of Wrong made me! I’m also a Steelers fan and the bustle periods are amongst my favorite. The Dress of Wrong concept is also something I’m very fond of as I think it’s incredibly fun and it showcases the limitless creativity of sewists. Thank you for doing this!
I tend to see these comments to use slightly off color terminology as “jack@ss comments” as in you (anonymous commenter) are a jack@ss or at the very least ought to feel like one for saying something like that. Fabric wise you can never tell how a fabric looks all depends on so much context. Besides drive by commenting never results in something good.
Ladies, Ladies, Ladies, Remember what your Mother told you when you were a child, “ If you haven’t anything nice to say, don’t say anything”.