thrift store costumes

$50 No-Sew Regency Era Challenge

Time for another $50 No-Sew Ensemble! Lady Whistledown will surely approve of this elegant lady’s Regency ensemble. As a costumer and President of GBACG, I spend lots of time at events and talking to people online about costuming, expectations, and confidence in the hobby. It always breaks my heart when I hear any of these: “I wish I could join […]

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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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Men’s Cheat List for Costuming as a Patron at Dickens Fair

By Christopher EricksonGBACG Member-at-Large Here are a few tips and tricks that I picked up from starting out by costuming out of my closet that works great for men’s wear. Most men should either have most of these items in their closet or be able to find these items at thrift stores or online. Men’s shirt:        A plain white […]

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$50 No-Sew Dickens Era Challenge Part 2: Elevating the Look

Ok now for part two of my $50 store bought, no-sew challenge… taking the look to the next level with decorations, accessories, and if you want, period undergarments.

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$50 No-Sew Dickens Era Challenge Part 1: The Base Ensemble

Hold on to your bonnets for a 2 part blog post on my $50 No-Sew Dickens Ensemble! Showing that you don’t have to sew or spend much to look fabulous at Dickens!

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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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SciFi Costuming on a Budget

by Kathe Gust, First published for the July/August 2013 issue of Finery Thrift store science fiction costuming can work if you are open about the character you are willing to attempt. If you are planning to replicate something exactly, this is may not be the method for you. If you are willing to be the Ambassador from Planet X, a […]

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La Mode du Vampire

by Perian Sully, First published for the March/April 2010 issue of Finery Since the publication of Dracula by Bram Stoker in 1898, the classic or romantic vampire has been a very popular cultural phenomenon. A vampire is a sympathetic figure, their personal struggle between some spark of latent human goodness – usually instigated by his falling in love with a mortal […]

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Instant Zouaves!

by Liz Martin, First published for the November/December 2009 issue of Finery The Dickens Fair costume shop walks a fine line, balancing historical and theatrical needs while accommodating the skills of their volunteers. Following is a condensed workshop on modifying a modern women’s jacket into a mid-nineteenth century Zouave style. Women’s Zouave jackets were a variation of the bolero jacket […]

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Quick Bright Things

by Linda Wenzelburger, First published for the September/October 2009 issue of Finery Perhaps the first thing people think of when it comes to faerie costuming is wings. Wings can be simple or incredibly elaborate. There are so many possibilities! They can be bird wings or butterfly. Dragonfly or bone. Branches or leaves. Hard or soft. Paper or fabric. And on, […]

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