Once Upon A Time...

   I watched ABC's new series Once Upon A Time this past weekend.  I had been waiting for weeks for this show. I love fairy tales, princesses, and, of course, fantasy costumes.

   As far as the show went, I quite enjoyed it.  I thought parts of it could have been done better, but the way the episode split between the past and present, the fairytale world and the real world, was really clever.  However, I found a couple things disappointing in the look of the show.

  As many of you know, I am a very big fan of wedding gowns.  Ginnifer Goodwin's wedding gowns as Snow White, to me, felt boring and too conventional for a fairy-tale wedding dress.  Yes, the skirt is covered in fluff and feathers, but it's not at all different from what we see on the runway in today's fashion market.  Into a magical land where outfits can be as extravagant as possible, and this is what the designer comes up with.  Snow White's dress that she wakes up in, in her coffin, is far more beautiful than her boring, yet overly done skirt, of a wedding dress.

   Now, my biggest annoyance of this episode was not the dress, but the hair.  Goodwin's wigs were just awful, there was nothing redeeming about them.  For her wedding day, it looks as though she got her hair done for her wedding... went to bed and then got up the next morning to get married.  The wig looks like a wig.. which is not what you want a wig to do.  It looks ratted and far too thick and frizzy.  Also, the hair color is not dark enough for my liking.  If she's wearing a wig anyway, why not make it as "black as ebony" like it is supposed to be. So far, not fitting the classic Snow White description... which is kind of important since it's her hair that makes her skin look so snow white.

  Not just her wig, but I am not a fan of her actual haircut in the real world.  I like a pixie cut when it fits the face, but Goodwin could do much better with a bit longer hair.  According to my father-in-law, who may not be a hair expert, but still made a valid point, said she looked like a cancer patient.  And I don't know if it's just the way her hair is shaped, but he's not wrong.

   My final take on the show is that it is entertaining and I am definitely going to continue watching, but I hope they take a look at the costumes and say, "Hey.. that could be better!"

"Hairspray" at the Chanhassen!

   I know I usually reserve Mondays for wedding gown related content, but I went and saw "Hairspray" at the Chanhassen Dinner Theaters this weekend.  I helped build the costumes for this show and let me tell you, completely unbiased, this show was amazing! I think everyone would enjoy it, even if you aren't usually a theater fan.

   I already did post a short blog about some of the costumes that I worked on for the show, but there is something about seeing them alive on stage that shows them in a whole new light. 

   All the the colors and costumes together, in each scene, mesh and blend amazingly.  This is something designer, Rich Hamson, has a knack for.  Occasionally, while working on one of his shows, I look at some of the outrageous patterns he chooses in his fabric and think, "How is this ever going to translate on stage?"  My eye is getting better, I am noticing, as I ask this less often.  However, each piece looks perfectly poised and meant to belong in each scene, on it's chosen character, nothing ever looks over the top unless that is it's purpose.  He often layers shears over his outrageous patterns, to dilute them somewhat, and it actually makes the garment more exuberant than before.  The color palette in each scene and throughout the entire show is clearly defined, but not overwhelming and often cleverly done by mixing colors you would think might never go together.  Rich is a natural when is comes to color and style and shows this well in CDT's current production.

   Above is the preview for the show, take a look! If you are a theater, music, dance or costume fan, this show will definitely keep your attention!
  

Tulle!!!

 

  Matrimony Monday::

   I love tulle! I had an abundance of it in the skirt of my own dress.  One thing I love about just a single (or possibly double) layer of tulle, is it adds a lovely halo around the skirt of your gown. It also makes for lovely straps or sleeves to add a new touch of style for a strapless gown.

   Tulle adds volume and flair appropriate to the day.  The only problem with this fabric is that it is fragile and tears easily.  I ripped my skirt at least three times the night of my wedding.  However, being learned in fabric manipulation, I laid out the hole on a table and evened it out by trimming the excess away.  Remember, your wedding is one day and you will probably never where your gown again. Yes, make it special, splurge on extravagance and design, but if you are reluctant for tulle because of its fragility, don't be! Tulle is great and if you make a hole or two during the night, it only means you danced just that hard, had a great time celebrating on your special day and looked fabulous doing it!

To Renaissance or Not to Renaissance

   Thursday Threads: To Renaissance or Not to Renaissance

   The Minnesota Renaissance Festival has finished another season of comedy, dancing, music and lots of dusty air.  The MN Festival is well known and often called one of the best in the country, mainly because of it's stationary location and actual buildings instead of tents.  I, too, have had a lot of fun out there and have long dreamed of being part of the magical realm, though, recently, I have been coming out of the magic of it, having gone so often, seen all the shows I want and eaten all of my favorite foods numerous times.  Sometimes, I don't know how they all do this every weekend, especially the women in the large, upholstery gowns.  Heat stroke, anyone?

   This year, there was an article in the Star Tribune about the historical accuracy at the Renaissance Festival.  Costume wise, the festival does present more of a Tudor period in the Royal Court Costuming, but the overall festival is really all over the place.  From Medieval, to Renaissance, to Tudor and Elizabethan, the garments present among the festival employees and volunteers can vary greatly (not to mention the pedestrians who go in costume, such as myself).

   Now, I know my costume is not historically accurate.  I often go as a "gypsy" and participate in the middle eastern dancing, when really, in the Middle Eastern Renaissance, the women would have been covered from head to toe for modesty, just like many women in the area still are today.  We parade as "gypsies" so we can get away with our eclectic ensembles and avoid most criticism.

   In light of the variety of eras and the variety of creatures (Fairies, satyrs, etc..), this festival in my mind is hence forth re-dubbed the Fantasy Festival.  It's far more appropriate, considering, and many, if not most, fantasy stories contain fragments of real history.  If you go there expecting a good time, full of fantasy and magic, you'll have a good time. Though, one thing real history and the Renaissance festival have in common, no indoor plumbing.  I wish the festival were more contemporary in that aspect.

   The inaccuracy has never really bothered me, I highly enjoy the variety of people and creatures I see out there every year.  I would like to comment on my very favorites this past year.  She may have overshadowed the famous Twig the Fairy, but the new Satyr is both creative and adorable.  Her hooves are magnificent.  Metal heel backs, hooves jutting out in front (must be crazy difficult to walk in), and a mass of freckles on her face, a new great character to add the fun of the festival.

A 1950's Wedding

   Matrimony Monday: 1950's Wedding  

   It sounds as if the wedding went off without a hitch. At least, she loved her dress which makes her dress-maker ecstatic! She sent me my first testimonial, which, not to be braggy, I would like to share.

"Hi, Ally

   
  I can't tell you how many compliments I received on my beautiful dress! Everyone wanted to know where I got it, and I was happy to tell them it was hand-made for me(....)

  Thank you again for your willingness to work on this dress. It came out perfectly--I couldn't be happier!


~Erin"


   I love wedding gowns and I like, in a small way, being part of someone's special day.  I love how a little color adds a whole lot of splash to this lovely frock and I love working on so many different styles and this one was very fun!