What to Wear to the Faire?

Got my costume lined up for Dickens Faire, I don’t own anything that’s appropriate.  Yes, I COULD wear my Klingon gear, but that is so SoCal Pleasure Faire!  I went to a local rental place, Daisy’s, it’s an independently owned costumer’s and she’s so fun to be around, plus she’s from England so she’s got an AWESOME accent.

I realized that when I walked in I was likely to NOT get something that was approvable for a participant, but I was going the extra mile of not going with my usual “goth” look nor my boring jeans and novelty t-shirt.  I did, however, decide to go local since my jab at a place in the SF Valley area tried to pass off their “Titanic” line first, then their “Elizabethan” stuff and finally when I told them that neither of those were the right era I was shown their “Victorian” line.  Yes, I could’ve dealt with the Velcro closure, but I couldn’t abide the sequins…REALLY? Yes! Yes, sequins…didn’t realize what a costume snob I was becoming.  ANYWAY…I turned down her shiny poly riding outfit and finally she admitted that people renting costumes generally don’t want the big-butt look that the correct period gives you.  <eye roll>

So, back to Daisy’s….I figured since she sews most of what’s in there herself I would at least get a decent garment even if it wasn’t quite right.  I let her know I was looking for Victorian, ala a Christmas Carol…so how about a caroling outfit?  She whips out this plaid dress…it was cute…it was definitely from the 70’s, but I would deal…I mean really, who’s going to call me out….ok ALL of you…but you don’t know Daisy!  So, she was pulling out cloaks and bonnets and then she said, “Where did you say you were wearing this?”

“Oh, to the Dickens Faire in San Francisco,” and I smiled excitedly.

“TAKE THAT OFF!  That just won’t do!  That dress is fine if you’re going caroling at the mall, but some those people have been working on their outfits for over 10 years!”

She showed me a bonnet and cape, red and green plaid, “I’ll make you a dress that’s either red or green to go with these, see you on Friday!”

Fan-tas-tic!  She will have everything I need, sure it’ll zip up the back and sure it’ll have metallic gold braid trim…but it will have been sewn with love and speed, maybe not JUST for me, but I get to be the first person to take that dress out for a spin!