Led by simplicity: Victorian ball gowns

By | June 8th, 2022|Categories: Ball Gowns, Fashion, Victorian Era|Tags: , , |

Few things are more fun to simply look at than Victorian ball gowns. They are truly a feast for the eyes, made with rich colors, exquisite trimmings, artificial flowers, and yards of the finest fabrics. The women who wore them went to great effort to make sure that each detail was just right for each [...]

Tragedy Retold: The Ashtabula Train Disaster

By | September 22nd, 2019|Categories: Ball Gowns, Customer's Fashions, Entertainment, Fashion, Victorian Fashions|Tags: , |

The 1876 Ashtabula Train Disaster story is being retold in a PBS documentary. Recollections fashions will be worn by the actress portraying Mrs. Julia Stone.

Recollections’ “Sharp Objects” Debut

By | June 9th, 2017|Categories: Ball Gowns, Civil War, Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

What do you do when Hollywood comes knocking on your door? You answer the call of Sharp Objects! Sharp Objects is the new eight-episode HBO series that went into production in May. It is based on the 2006 debut novel by Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl).  The series stars Amy Adams (Arrival) as Camille Parker, a reporter [...]

Recollections Fashion Show at the Centennial Building

By | October 23rd, 2015|Categories: Ball Gowns, Civil War, Edwardian Era, Fashion, Hats, Old West, Pioneer Dress, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Recollections Fashion Show Recap The Lake Huron Discovery Tour 2015 has come and gone, but the Recollections fashion show at the Centennial Building in Alpena continues to live in the memories of those who joined us on October 10 for the festivities. The day started early for Recollections, with the models from the show prepped [...]

Halloween is Just Around the Corner!

By | September 3rd, 2015|Categories: Ball Gowns, Civil War, Downton Abbey, Edwardian Era, Fashion, Old West, Pioneer Dress, Roaring 20s, Uncategorized, Victorian Era, Victorian Era Celebrations|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Halloween is Just a Hop-Skip-and-a-Jump Away!   Yes, the calendar just flipped from August to September, and the thermometer is still registering summer temperatures. But, make no mistake, it's almost heeeeeerrrrre! It's time to start thinking about autumn and one of its highlights - Halloween.   Themed parties, no theme parties, and everything in between [...]

Costume College 2015

By | August 21st, 2015|Categories: Ball Gowns, Civil War, Destinations, Edwardian Era, Fashion, Old West, Pioneer Dress, Roaring 20s, Steampunk, Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

By Sue McDonald   Costume College - Whirlwind of Classes and Special Events   If you haven’t heard about Costume College, then you haven’t been paying attention! After hearing about it for years, a friend convinced me to enroll last year, and I am now positively addicted to the excitement, the many opportunities for learning [...]

The History of the Hoop Skirt

By | June 8th, 2015|Categories: Ball Gowns, Civil War, Underpinnings, Victorian Era, Victorian Fashions|Tags: , |

When we think of the hoop skirt, we tend to think of the Victorian Era. And it’s true that hoop skirts were used then. However, hoop skirts have been around since as early as the sixteenth century. The farthingale was a hoop skirt popular in Europe, and different forms of farthingales originated in France, Spain, [...]

Period Events & Entertainments Re-Creation Society

By | May 4th, 2015|Categories: Ball Gowns, Edwardian Era, Steampunk, Victorian Era, Victorian Era Celebrations|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

What is Period Events & Entertainments Re-Creation Society?   The Period Events & Entertainments Re-Creation Society (PEERS) is a non-profit corporation based in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. The organization is dedicated to remembering, researching, and re-creating the performing arts of the past. Their goals include producing and sponsoring original and re-creations of [...]

Creatures of Habit

By | March 26th, 2015|Categories: Accessories, Ball Gowns, Civil War, Fashion, Roaring 20s, Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

Creatures of Habit Background Creatures of Habit is a true costume emporium offering more than 19,000 costumes and 500,000 authentic period garments and accessories for rent or purchase. They are much more than that, too! Jack Cody and Natalya Haden opened Creatures of Habit in 1987 with the intent of costuming Paducah and the surrounding [...]