Any-Period Party

[atherleisure]

Last fall I made a 1690's-1700's mantua. Why? Because I wanted one. They're cool or even nifty. Unfortunately, it's not a period that has a lot of events. As far as I know there's nothing people celebrate from that period - Williamsburg, VA and Charleston, SC were both founded right about that time, but I haven't seen anyone breaking down doors to have celebratory parties, and anyway the tricentennials were twenty or thirty years ago. I thought I'd stretch the point and go to the DFWCG's Georgian Picnic as a relic from the Queen Anne period. Life intervened so I had an excellent time at Liendo Plantation instead. That left me with nowhere to wear my mantua so I decided to solve the problem by throwing an any-period party - wear whatever you want from whatever period you want.

Illness and a daughter moving out kept some of the people who had planned to attend from coming, but we still had seven guests and a really good time.

You've probably seen the whole timeline on nuranar's LJ, but here it is again.



My husband and I bookended the chronology since we were dressed about three hundred years apart.


Then we had the Cheramies, who run the Houston Area Regency Society, in Regency attire.

Kaycee's neck-handkerchief looked perfect, just the like the fashion illustrations.

Ginger came in her gorgeous green 1810's dress.


Then we had the Lees in Civil War era, with him as a sailor no less.


Finally, we had the Grahams in their Edwardian Star Trek uniforms.


We had dinner, and then Richard sat down to play some Chopin nocturnes for us.


We tried to find a Star Trek theme to play, but the book didn't have one. Of all the series there are in the show, we thought it would have at least one!


Ginger and I had a marvelous time with some show tunes instead. It's been years since I got to sit down and accompany someone like that so it was a real treat to do it again.


Then I just like this picture - 1700, 1800, 1900 (in round figures) talking together.



As always, thank you to the Grahams for supplying the pictures and giving me permission to post them.

Comments

[hiraimi.livejournal.com]

How great you finally got to show off your mantua! It really looks amazing. So much train, omg! I hope more opportunities to show it off present themselves...or get created, as this one was. It looks like a very nice cozy gathering. Everyone was dressed so well - I think I particularly like the presence of a sailor uniform.

[atherleisure.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's a very well-behaved train. I think I'll probably have another party like this the next time I have something I want to make and no place to wear it.

[mala-14.livejournal.com]

What fun! You look great in your mantua. It can be tough sometimes finding venues to wear the less popular eras. Good on you for making your own event.

[atherleisure.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I figured it wasn't fair to make an event in a less popular period because almost no one would have anything, but this worked out really well.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

I just realized I don't know what kind of skirt supports you are wearing! May I ask? And mea culpa if you've already discussed this. :p But I think it's part of why the train is so nice; it's got that support that already holds it out, instead of hanging from your waist.

[atherleisure.livejournal.com]

You're anticipating my next post, which will be on the dress!

[chocolatepot.livejournal.com]

I again have to express my deep admiration for your mantua!!

[atherleisure.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It was so much fun to wear.

[starlightmasque.livejournal.com]

You all look so beautiful!

[atherleisure.livejournal.com]

Thank you. We had a well-dressed crowd!