Meet Your Board: Natalie Wiener, Secretary

Why costuming?  What brought you here?

I was one of those kids who LOVED to play dress-up, and I guess I just never grew out of that phase. There is something transformative and empowering about putting on an outfit that makes you feel fabulous, whether it’s a costume for a special event, or just your everyday clothing.

What’s your costuming focus?

My main passion is historical costume — everything from ancient Roman to mid-20th century clothing. I’m also a huge sci-fi and fantasy nerd, and I’ve been known to dabble in a bit of cosplay. I particularly love when I can combine both perspectives, like when I led a group of friends in making 1940s-style Star Trek uniforms.

Do you do anything else crafty or artistic?

A little bit of everything! Knitting, crochet, embroidery, jewelry-making, passementerie, weaving — I love to tinker and explore new techniques and materials.

What’s your day job?

I work in museums as a registrar/collections manager, which means doing all the behind-the-scenes work to care for the art and artifacts in a museum’s collection.

What was the first costume you made?  Is there a picture?

My very first costume was an Egyptain queen ensemble that I made out of thrift store curtains when I was 7 or so. Unfortunately, there are no pictures of it, but I did recently discover this image of a nun habit (!) that I made and wore as a second grader.

What’s on the sewing table now?

A fitted wool gown for a 16th century middle class English ensemble. It’s nearly finished — I just have to sewn on trim and closures — but it’s hard to stay motivated without deadlines. I can’t wait to wear it to a Renaissance faire with my friends once it’s safe to hold large events again!

What was your first/most memorable costuming disaster/ learning moment?

My favorite story of a near-catastrophe is the time that I showed up to a ball without the bustle to wear under my early-1870s silk frock. I panicked; without the supporting understructure, my dress would droop and be a hazard on the dance floor. Luckily, our resourceful and generous community came to the rescue. A kind stranger in the dressing room lent her vinyl garment bag, and a friend helped me fold it strategically and pin it to the back of my corset (thanks Christina!). It provided just enough lift to save the day, and I had a wonderful evening despite the initial moment of panic. Don’t forget your bustles, folks!

Costume you’re most proud of?

In 2019, I made a dress based on a fashion plate from 1914, which is my very favorite era of fashion. I’m proud of how closely I was able to match the fashion plate, the dress was made almost entirely from materials from my stash, and it was the most comfortable evening gown I’ve ever worn.

What’s your holy grail costuming project?  The one you dream of doing?

I’m currently in the early stages of a project that has been my holy grail since I was a young teen: Sabriel from the novel by Garth Nix. It’s a complicated costume, with a lot of different components and accessories, but I finally feel like I am up to the challenge.

Tell us one (or two or three) things about you that others might not know.

I play the flute, I can read Latin and a bit of classical Greek, and my favorite movie is Jurassic Park.