Costume College covers ALL aspects of costuming from historical to fantasy, undergarments to accessories. All time periods and genres are included. There’s really nothing like the event. It takes hundreds of hours from many volunteers over a full year for each event which began in 1991. There have been other tries at creating similar events elsewhere but none have lasted. The established Jane Austen events around the world are probably the closest you’ll get to 18th century exclusively.

Shawna, I am so sorry that happened to you! I hate to be the one to say it, but Civil War reenactors tend to be the absolute worst for snarky mean comments, esp about authenticity. It would be extremely unlikely, in my experience, to find that kind of crappy attitude at Costume College.

Glad to have you in our Joyful Community Natalie – even in the background! Hope to one year see you at CoCo. 🙂

Thank you for such a kind and incisive look at Costume College. Not sure I’ll be able to attend until years from now — family and other issues keep me from much travel — but am keen on the concept and the sharing that goes on. That’s one of the things that makes costuming the fun it is.

Thank you for reaching out to us with a consistently warm and encouraging tone; it’s one of the reasons I quietly read your bog with such pleasure. It’s good for the soul :}

Very best,

Natalie in KY