One of the things I wanted to do this year at the retreat was a costumed swim. My friend L from Staten Island and I invited the rest of the group to make historic bathing costumes of any time period. We even had a slot in the schedule to meet at the dock for our swim.
I spent most of my time getting my costume ready for Day 2. This was the day of the ball, and I wanted to go as a Regency Gent (ok, I wanted to go as a rake. A cad. A rogue).
Menswear is a whole different box of worms. I still have a lot to learn, but I had so much fun making and wearing this outfit.
First day of the retreat was my Little White Dress in a lightweight Swiss dot cotton. I first wore it to the Jane Austen Tea put on by our local JASNA group, but I’ve been working on it since last summer. It’s a 1790’s number.
Over the weekend, I went to my first Ren Faire, a small local event at a farm we often go to seasonally for strawberry and apple picking. I planned to go with a friend in Tudor era fashion (1485-1603).
This summer, I finally finished my 18th c. banyan. I love it so much that I often swan around the house in it in the evenings. And now that winter here in everything but name, I’ve finally photographed it, too.
The fabric is cotton from Anuprerna on the outside, and Indian block print cotton on the inside. Outside and inside are relative, since it’s reversible.
