Finery Blog

Meet Your Board: Chang Meng-Freedman, Workshop Coordinator

Why costuming?  What brought you here? I first became interested in costuming through high school art class when I studied the artworks of Charles Dana Gibson and Harrison Fisher. I was drawn to the clothing depicted in these illustrations and wanted to create my own. What’s your costuming focus? I make mostly historical costumes. I especially love niche historical fashion […]

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Two Important Announcements from the GBACG Board

There are so many things happening in the world right now, in the midst of a global pandemic the systemic racism of the country are now more than ever laid bare. With these GBACG board felt not only the need, but the responsibility to speak to our wonderful membership about Black Lives Matter in addition to our 2020 events announcement. […]

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A Letter from Your President

Hello All, It is nearing the end of March, and we have experienced some unprecedented times to say the least. Two months ago, we had our wonderful open house, surrounded by so many friends. Within the last two months, COVID-19 has become a very real presence in all of our daily lives. I wish I could be writing to you […]

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GBACG Open House 2020 Review

By Christopher Erickson GBACG Board Member-At-Large The Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild (GBACG) recently held their 2020 annual open house on Sunday, January 26, in the Albany Veteran’s War Memorial Hall in Albany, California. As it is also the 30th year of GBACG organizing events, the open house had a few special arrangements this year including a catered lunch. As […]

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Regency Capsule Wardrobe Tips

By Angela Grimes Squeeeeee! You have just purchased your subscription to the Regency Week or Weekend you have always wanted to attend! Of course, like bees in a new hive, images of gowns, bonnets and the like buzz and hum in your head! The fabric stash is begging to be rifled through. Etsy and eBay need to be explored!  But […]

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Miss Fisher Con 1920s Fashion

By Jean MartinGBACG Finery Editor With “Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears” premiering at the Palm Springs Film Festival last month and it’s imminent arrival in theaters (on February 27, 2020) and streaming (Acorn TV starting on March 23, 2020), I am reminded of the Miss Fisher Con that I attended last July in San Jose. It was the […]

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Deanna Troi Cosplay

By Sabrina L. Nelson Close friends know that while I enjoy “Star Wars,” and while I even made a General Leia Organa costume, I’m much more of a Trekker. “Star Trek” was my first love and remains a guiding light in my fantasies of the future. And when I was a pre-teen, I had my fangirl crushes: Captain Kirk for […]

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Putting Together a Western Outfit

By Christopher Erickson GBACG Board Member-At-Large Putting together a western or cowboy outfit can be something that can easily be accomplished utilizing items already in one’s wardrobe or cheaply found at any store or thrift outlet. OUTFIT SPECIFICS Shirts can be any dress shirt from a linen or poplin-style fabric. The material should be a bit rougher and less refined. […]

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At Home with Josephine at Malmaison: An Early 19th Century Soiree

Event Review and Photos by Christopher EricksonGBACG Board Member-at-Large The most recent GBACG-hosted event was a salon in the theme of the Napoleonic era held at The Bellevue Club next to Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, on Sunday, October 20, 2019. The event was held in the Mural Lounge with a view of Lake Merritt Wildlife Sanctuary. The Mural Lounge […]

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Victorian Seasonal Traveling Ensembles

Article and Photos by Niz Hadid Editor’s note: Niz has a sewing side business called House of Tinkers. I recently completed and sent a collection of dresses for a YouTube channel “Black Girl in a Big Dress.” The idea I had was basically supplying everything you would need for a season traveling abroad during the Victorian era. Some of the […]

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