13 – Life goals:Have a big pile of money so I can roll around in it and buy all the dumb shit Icould possibly want for myself and friends and family. And travel everywhere. And buy a detached house so I don’t have tolisten to my neighbor watch Japanese art films at full volume all night.
17 – A fact about mylife:I pretty much never get rid of clothes. Like I will actually wear them until they fall apart or get destroyed somehow. Considering how I have been approximately thesame size/weight since 1997 and never need to get rid of anything because it doesn’tfit any more, I have way too many clothes. Anyone who has been to my house can vouch for this because clothes arefucking everywhere.
18 – Phobia:Man, I don’t even know. I used to freakout over needles but I made myself get over that one and am now capable ofcalmly donating blood. I also used tohate spiders, but then I made myself hold a tarantula so I’m better about thoselittle motherfuckers. So no phobias anymore.
Vampire, werewolf, siren! Also officially, hello, I'm Jes!
Hi Jes! It’s nice to meet you! :D
Vampire: Someone offers you a chance at immortality. Do you take it, and why or why not?
Ehh, I don’t think I would. Sure, it’d be nice to not have to worry about dying of old age or physical ailments, but knowing me I’d probably end up dying in some really dumb way anyway. And even if I didn’t, I think watching everyone I love die around me would turn me into a really sad, horrible person. After about 100 years or so, there’d be no one left from my life now, sure. Even if I made new connections though, it would be a constant cycle of loss and rebuilding only to inevitably lose it all again. I don’t think I’m cut out for that.
Werewolf: If you had to spend your life with just one person, who would it be?
I don’t believe in the idea of soul mates, just because I think it’s far more romantic for two people to decide that even though there’s no cosmic force pulling them together, that they’re going to choose the other to tackle the world with. So I’d have to say that person. The one willing to stand side-by-side and defy whatever might or might not be, and take whatever happens as it comes. That’s the person I want to spend my life with.
Siren: If you could make anyone do anything, what would you make them do?
You mean besides making Donald Trump to drop out of the presidential race? That would be high on the list, frankly. But I don’t think that would be the one thing, if I only got one thing. I’d want it to make as big a positive impact as possible, so I’d really have to consider it and consult some people far smarter than myself. Or ya know, make billionaires donate half their income to the poor, or something.
I made some art for the back of our front door last night. My roommate Jes and I are both overly obsessed with the Ariel Needs Legs motion comic. Please look it up on YouTube if you have not seen it.
Once again, MadQueenJes and I, with the help of CousinCecily, met up at 9:00 pm on Saturday evening to discuss Victorian Undergarments. I’ll apologize to the men, because this one was exclusively feminine in content. Sorry!
We had a lot repeat attendees from the earlier Victorian Costuming panel so we tried not to dwell to much on repeat content. Jes discussed corsetry myths and the importance of a proper and properly fitted corset. She also showed a Regency corset and chemise of the era leading up to Victorian era.
Then I stripped out of my outer gown (queue music and flying cash from Jes) and down to my corset and chemise (in this particular case a clean Victorian styled nightgown that was a good deal thicker and longer than my normal garments).
Once down to a corset, we started building up again with various undergarments from the Victorian era.
1830-1840′s Corded Petticoat, starched and secondary starched petticoat (both made by Timestitcher in cotton organdy and cotton/linen)
1850-60′s Hoop skirt bought off Ebay (be sure to adjust those hoop wires and add a bunch of pettis to get a proper, Non-Lampshade look!!)
1870-80′s Petticoat with built-in wire bustle (made and modeled by CousinCecily)
1880′s Tournure “Grand” bustle (large bustle made by Timestitcher), with Red Pants petticoat (Made by Timestitcher in regular cotton)
Jes covered corsetry materials, and we had various examples of steel and poly boning used in the creation of corsets and skirt support garments.
Once again, we ran out of time and could have kept going. We had examples of corsets for folks to look at, bustles to look under and super-starched petticoats that practically stood by themselves. I wish we had time for tips, tricks and “How to fake it,” but we had to clear the room.
Anyone interested in more information is more than welcome to message any of us. There’s also a “Victorian’s at 221B Con” support group on Facebook.
Handout:
Images from Bridges on the Body, and Fashion-Era.com
Undergarments History by Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com - This is the article I excerpted from for the handout (with reference). Please, this is a great piece with lots of images and goes into far more detail of the evolution of underwear from Regency through early 20C.
Websites and Blogs
www.fashion-era.com – Lots of articles and images for historical fashion and undergarments.
www.historicalsewing.com – Jennifer Rosbrugh is a teacher from Costume College, writer of tutorials and general blogger of all things historical sewing. Numerous articles regarding costruction and wearing of victorian undergarments.
Www.metmuseum.org – lots of examples of historical undergarments.
Www.yesterdaysthimble.com – tutorials, sewing diaries, articles
http://bridgesonthebody.blogspot.com/ - blog chronicling writer’s challenge to build every corset in Norah Waugh's book, “Corsets and Crinolines.”
http://www.yourwardrobeunlockd.com/ - Articles, tutorials, archive and so much more. Amazing, amazing site. Membership required for full access.
http://www.foundationsrevealed.com/ - Sister site to Your Wardrobe Unlocked that focuses on corsetry and other foundation pieces. Membership required for full access.
http://www.mistressofdisguise.com/ - Blog and tutorials. Her tutorial on “Some Quick, Cheap Panniers that Don't Suck” had me laughing.
http://www.trulyvictorian.com/ - Patterns, articles, tutorials etc.. You can't go wrong with patterns purchased here.
http://www.lafnmoon.com/ - Patterns
I'm sure some of you all, especially those whose selfies I've reblogged today, may believe that I'm trying to artificially boost people's egos, prop up fellow trans folks self-esteem (even though at least one person I've reblogged is cis to the best of my knowledge) or just trying to pass off positivity platitudes out of some misplaced pity. I conjecture this because these are the vile thoughts of self-doubt and shame that immediately spring to my mind when people say nice things about my appearance and/or selfies. OK? So I know full well how easily you will try to dismiss my words and reactions, but I swear this to you, I am completely genuine.
It really does seem to me that all of you gorgeous people received some instruction today to post selfies of your inexcusably attractive faces. Like, there was one awesome selfie, then another, and they just! kept! coming! all day long! I am thoroughly taken aback by seeing, all at once, how very stunning the people I follow truly are. Gracious!
Anyhow, thank you all for sharing your selves with all of us today. Just ... maybe, next time? You'll do me a favor and spread it out over a few days or something? I'm not getting any younger, and really, I don't eat very well, nor exercise overly much and I fear for my poor, poor heart.
spooky-voidbat-skeleton-war (that cheeky look and his gorgeous hair?)
madqueenjes (I'm swooning at her elfin face and giant eyes!)
t3hsiggy (sad face, and still beautiful, and that kind of smirky/resigned face .. my heart! And such super adorable cheeks!!!)
ladyfenric (I love her face and her glasses and her eye make-up! TEACH ME YOUR WAYS!)
adigitalmagician (Nervous and a little shy, what a cute dress! WE WANTS IT! And your "messy" hair is a great style on you)
aliensexmagic (OK, but did you see their eyes?! or their lips?! Seriously they're so effortlessly attractive I want to scream!!!)
theskeletariat (that mussed long curly hair! AND THAT SMIRK, MADAM!)
irias-mind (OK, BUT CAN ANYONE ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT IRIA EXISTS? SHE KNOWS DAMN WELL WHAT SHE'S DOING!)
And, see you have me shouting again! Seriously. I can't cope with any of you!
You're all lovely, and adorable and beautiful and gorgeous and I am a shit writer for running out of adjectives. You all should be feeling very good about yourselves, and look at each other! You're surrounded by beautiful people too!
