Finery Blog

Past Board Member: Catherine Scholar, Finery Editor

Why costuming?  What brought you here? I have loved historical fiction from childhood.  I remember reading the “Little House” books, the “Betsy-Tacy” series, “Anne of Green Gables”… and wanting those clothes so badly.  I grew up in the 70s with a super practical mother and there were a lot of flared pants, tunics and polyester in my wardrobe.  It just […]

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Past Board Member: Perian Cohen, Secretary

Why costuming?  What brought you here? My mom was always making me elaborate costumes when I was a kid, but I really started sewing when I needed plus-sized, cheap clubwear. College student life doesn’t allow for extravagant purchases of corsets and flowing skirts. Eventually, I started blending clubwear and history to make 18th & 19th century goth clothing. Then I […]

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Past Board Member: Frances Lopez, Secretary

Why costuming? What brought you here? I got involved in costuming through theater and a general love of being fabulous. I have been on stage pretty regularly since I was 7. When I got into my teens I started taking a real interest in characterization through costuming, and was fortunate enough to get to explore that more in college. From […]

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Past Board Member: Cynthia Howell, Treasurer

Why costuming?  What brought you here? My mother likes to tease me that I never out grew playing dress up, and honestly she’s not wrong. I love the opportunity to flounce around in a gorgeous frock. When I was little I would spend a part of the summer visiting my grandmother in Iowa. Grandma Shirley saved my mom’s ‘Ginny’ dolls […]

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Dior: The Day the Hem Stood Out

by Frankie Lopez. Published June 29, 2018, as a Facebook note. Post World War II, Europe and America were still reeling from devastation. Cars, clothes, rubber, and other consumables continued to be monitored and rationed. On either side of the Atlantic, wearing clothing that squandered fabric was considered unpatriotic and wasteful. Fashion was of secondary concern, and the style at […]

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It Costs WHAT?!

by Catherine Scholar. Published on February 11, 2018, as a Facebook note. The board is sometimes asked why our events and workshops are “so expensive.” How can we possibly justify charging $50 for a workshop, or $10 for a picnic in a public park? Why does it cost more to go to an event at a restaurant than to go […]

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PSA: Lamp Shade Prevention

by Frankie Lopez. Published November 3, 2017 as a Facebook note. This little article will cover three of the most common mistakes for Victorian skirts, and some quick fixes. Before you get discouraged … I have done all of these. Every. Single. One. You are in good company. With that… let’s fix that skirt problem! Lamp Shade Effect: The Lamp […]

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You’re So Fancy: How To Pull Together a Victorian Fancy Dress Outfit From Your Closet

by Catherine Scholar. Published as a Facebook note on September 26, 2017. Do you want to attend our Halloween Tea, but are afraid you’ll have nothing to wear? Do you look at amazingly detailed pictures of 19th century couture costumes and lament that you have no time to sew right now? Does the idea of making not just a Victorian […]

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Designing a Wedding Dress for Toni from Luann

by Philip Gust. Published in the November/December 2016 issue of Finery. When cartoonist Greg Evans decided that two characters from his popular Luann comic strip were getting married, he needed a wedding dress for the bride, Toni Daytona, who would be marrying Luann’s brother Brad. Greg and his daughter Karen came up with the idea of a contest for fans […]

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To Tea or Not to Tea?

by Cynthia Howell.  Published in the September/October 2016 issue of Finery. Ah, afternoon tea.  Such a delightful way to spend an afternoon: lovely surroundings, delicious treats, and our lovely guild members in their fabulous finery.  What could be more elegant?  GBACG afternoon tea events are generally quite popular, and the guild certainly plans to continue to host them.  However, hosting […]

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