February Fashion Friday

 Here is the next edition of our Monthly Fashion Friday

Today we are featuring a post from the inestimable Gail Carriger

Her post is from back in Oct 2019 entitled:
How to Thrift for Victorian & Steampunk Outfits (Miss Carriger Recommends)

Her introduction is included here below.
Definitely worth checking out for great information on turning Thrift Store finds in workable outfits when starting out.

Enjoy

Victorian Society of Alberta

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Dear Gentle Reader,

This is not for the faint of heart.

This is an older blog post I did on Retro Rack, that I’ve consolidated and moved here. It contains basic guidelines on how to cobble together a pseudo Victorian or steampunk outfit via thrift stores.

I originally wrote this post many years ago for a different blog, before I was a paid authorbeast, when I used my online journal as a kind of information distribution center for friends. Back then it was all about thrifting for the Dickens Fair, an icon of the Christmas season up here in NorCal/. I worked there for a decade or so.

I adapted it to be a general Thrifting Victoriana post and it can also be used as a basis for steampunk.

 One of my beta readers at Dickens wearing a top (we thrifted) that she made, from a 1980s plaid vest + skirt set (she tailored in the vest and used the skirt for bell sleeves). 

 

I thought I would reboot it one last time for you, my most fashionable of readers. My hope is it will evolve and become a place I can point people too whenever they ask me the inevitable questions, how do I thift for a {fill in the blank} costume.

Outfit made of thrifted velvet bathrobe, white king sized sheet set, tailored 1970’s blouse, straw hat re-purposed to be a bonnet lined with a pleated handkerchief, lots of ribbon.

Anyway, Fashionable Reader, as you may well have guessed I am the shopping denizen for my particular group.

One of my few super powers (including the inexplicable ability to turn off street lights) is thrift store juju. I’ve used it to construct various outfits over the years. You see I have an eye trained to spot the possibilities. So this post was written to help others develop the “eye to what can be”.

 Kai modeling a dress I made out of thrifted items: bridesmaid’s cream satin dress, a crochet tablecloth, brown velvet bathrobe, recovered hat, and pheasant feathers from a mask.

Please note:

This is meant to be a basic tips instruction manual to help those just getting into costuming, not for those with more advanced techniques.  All rules are made to be broken so please keep in mind that this post is 101, not seminar level. Also I’m not using modifiers for the sake of brevity, all of the instructions bellow are meant as suggestions not commands.

Here we go!

Continued on Gail's Fascinating webpage.
How to Thrift for Victorian & Steampunk Outfits (Miss Carriger Recommends)

From the President of the Victorian Society of Alberta

 Greetings Gentle Reader,

It's difficult to believe we are already halfway through the second month of 2022!  We at the Victorian Society of Alberta are hoping that we will have a busy and productive year with events, educational opportunities and fun social times.

While the past two years have presented many challenges along the way, it has given our group time to work on projects, repair equipment and learn more about the era we represent in Alberta history. 

So far, our two main events this year will be Days of Yore in Didsbury, Alberta, scheduled for July 30 & 31, and Time Island, held in Millarville, scheduled for September. 

If you are interested in joining us on our adventures, please either request to join the Victorian Society of Alberta - participants group on Facebook or email victoriansocietyofalberta@gmail.com.  There are a few questions you'll need to answer, and we have instituted a $20 annual membership fee as well as a stipulation you attend one event per year to keep your membership current.

If you know of any events or interesting historical tid-bits pertaining to Alberta history from 1880-1914, please let us know and we'd be happy to share them!

In closing, we are wishing everyone a safe, healthy and exciting 2022.  

Hopefully we'll see you "out in the wild"!  

Please come up and say hello.

Sincerely,

Christie Thacker
President
The Victorian Society of Alberta

February Book Tuesday

 All trails once led to Edmonton.

A very interesting map produced by the awesome Billie Milholland.

She says:

"I made this map using information from this excellent book:

The Beaver Hills Country A History of Land and Life    

By Graham A. MacDonald

It is not as well-known as it should be."

 #furtrade #HistoricTrails

You can follow more great information from Billie and others on their FB group:

    Historical North Saskatchewan River Watershed