Gangsters all around

I was already exhausted from the Gaslight Night, then I followed it up with a 2 hour skating session on Friday, so by the time it came around to Saturday evening, I was already struggling in the energy department. But I still managed to get up and ready for the Gangsters Ball. We had a group of five this year, and I had a wonderful time. The shows are amazing - my favourite being the singing stripper who danced to Marilyn Monroe's Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend (just so happens to be from my favourite MM movie - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes). And this year the costumes were a cut above with many people decked out in vintage inspired finery, and not quite as many corsets and tutus on show. I am a snob, I know. But I do like a bit more class with my events. :)

My four companions were all decked out in 1920s. I did makeup for two of the girls - 1920s style. As for myself, I wore a new 1950s halter dress that I had made out of a piece of pink/peach crepe (I think) from my stash. I was very happy with how it turned out and it really matched my currently pink hair. It also just happened to go very nicely with one of my vintage fur cocktail hats. I complemented it all with a vintage fur stole that my lovely mother lent to me, as well as a pair of gold sequin shoes that I bought specially for the occasion. In hindsight, I really should have just worn my sparkly hello kitty ballet flats to avoid the foot pain.

Next year, I am definitely planning to wear flat shoes, and hopefully take some swing dance lessons in the meantime. Along with that, I was very inspired by the girl in the 1930s evening dress - so I am very tempted to go down that road next year.

Gaslight Night

It was an incredibly busy weekend. And it all started on Thursday night. One of my fellow costumers and good friends found out about the "Gaslight Night" in Ipswich to be held on Thursday evening. By Wednesday, four of us had decided to attend. The event was to be a Steampunk / Victorian themed evening where the main drag of Ipswich opened up it's doors for the evening and the vintage cars would be on display. There were some there as old as the 1900s, which had us all drooling over them. All the vintage stores had their doors opened, there were market type stalls selling Steampunk wares and various cafes and shops open. It was a magnificent event and I was amazed by the number of cars on display as well as the number of costumers all decked out in Steampunk.

I chose to wear my safari ensemble again. I made a couple of changes - a blonde wig, different socks. But since I have not yet had the chance to make a gun, I pulled out my whip from the zorro costume I did many moons ago and popped it on with a belt. It is my satisfaction until I can get my gun made. The thing that really surprised me was when I whipped off my corset for the hour and a half drive home and discovered that my shorts actually fit better without the corset. I think in future I will forgo the corset with this outfit - it will be a heck of a lot more comfortable for it too...

Vintage Fair Time

While I didn't make it to the regency ball, I did get to go to the Brisbane Vintage Fashion Fair. There were only three of us there, but we did have a wonderful time. We shopped and shopped and shopped and then when our purses were empty, and our feet sore, we headed down to the local french cafe for lunch and cakes (as you do on a vintage day out). I scored some wonderful pieces - a couple of 40s hats that I will have to make matching outfits for, a 50s sunhat that went rather well with my dress for the day. I also managed to snag a few full and half slips (2 for $7) as well as a gorgeous 1960s bag and a few other bits and pieces. It was a very successful shopping trip, and I am looking forward to using my new bits and pieces.

As for my outfit, I wore my new 1950s style halter dress. It was made out of 3 metres of border print cherry and strawberry fabric that I bought when I was in Japan in 2010. It has been sitting in my wardrobe taunting me to be made into something and I finally caved. It took a bit of creative cutting to make use of the border for the skirt, but I am very pleased with how it worked out. The most annoying thing though is that it is a tad tight. I made three dresses at exactly the same time, exactly the same pattern, this one is too small, one is too big and the other is perfect. Very frustrating. At any rate, I love it and look forward to wearing it again. My wonderful cousin got a few photos of me, so I am able to share with you all (the only time I managed to take photos was when I finally sat down to rest my feet and eat - I really must remember next time to take more photos, even if my camera is really crappy).

 

A Regency Ball

Well, I didn't make it to the regency ball a couple of weekends ago - unfortunately I was laid up in bed with a headache that would not go away, so instead spent the evening sleeping. But my Mum and Dad still went, and from the photos that they took and what I have heard from the attendees, it seems that everyone had a lovely time. I stumbled out of bed long enough to help my parents get into their gear and send them on their way. My dad wore his cream and brown regency suit - the jackets are just so form fitting that you someone to physically lift it up onto your shoulders for you. And my mum wore her yellow gown with black open robe, but because it is a drawstring gown, she needs help getting into it. I also quickly whipped up a hairstyle for her - I was going for something along the lines of Judi Dench in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice with a style closer to late Georgian, and it just so happened that I had a bright yellow feather in my stash to pop in mum's hair.

Here are my mum's photos from the evening.