Sunday at the fair

[jay]

After the last entry... patgreene got up from a nap and felt better, and I decided to go ahead and dress up for the Dickens Christmas Fair. It was rather overwhelming at first... the kids loved it.



The sounds and crowd affected patgreene a bit, but I liked the bustle. And bustles, on some costumes ;-). On Thanksgiving, dawnd had given me a red patterned waistcoat... I already had a formal shirt, shoes and trousers, but my tuxedo jacket was just too modern. On Saturday, I got an ascot and found a long jacket at a thrift store in Palo Alto. Pat pinned the sleeves, and we were off... nursing our wounded minivan through the rain to the Cow Palace.

Initially, I regretted dressing-up... I felt I was under/wrong-dressed for the 1/3 of the people there in period costuming, while too overdressed to be mundane. Encountering akienm and dawnd by chance in a shop, they had beautifully-detailed period costumes. Akien had his walking stick and a new cape and a gorgeous green silk waistcoat (that he'd made himself!). Dawn in a full hoopskirt and bonnet and gloves... beautiful. I actually felt rather intimidated around them because my own costuming fell well short of their standards... I wonder if that kind of thing happens at renfaires? I felt sheepish and quickly departed.

With Pat and the boys, we wandered... saw several shows (street theater, music hall, magic show, book reading, Scottish dancing troupe), played arcade-like games with the boys, admired penny-farthing bicycles, and were lucky to meet bdot while she was on a break from working in the teahouse. Keeping the kids together (and little hands off of breakables or first-edition books in shops) required constant attention. But worth it... David resumed talking in the faux-British accent that he'd adopted after seeing "Oliver!", and walked up to gentlemen and wished them a Happy Christmas :-). All of the males acquired new hats, too... We stayed until nearly closing... it was much fun, and even teenage-blase James got into the spirit after awhile. Hey, I'd go back.

And Pat took a photo of me after we babyed the car home:

Comments

[archway.livejournal.com]

Oh, you look dashing!!!!~BG~

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Thanks, and glad to see you back!

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you guys had a good time--even James! Did you ever spot Allegra? I was hoping maybe we'd see you at Closing at Fezziwig's, but I guess you'd all gone by then. For future reference, I almost always stay till closing there, because they do a sing-along Hallelujah Chorus, among other things. One of my fun traditions at the Fair.

Regarding your costume--*I* thought you looked dashing! Quite lovely indeed, despite your own feelings of shortcomings on the matter. And the picture shows that you did indeed look nice. So there! I hope you will wear that jacket at other functions sometime. I can imagine you cutting quite a figure at some NASA function sometime.

For the record, our OWN costumes are as detailed and accurate as they are (which isn't very accurate, actually, if you scratch the surface!) because Akien WORKED Fair for several years, and I have always hung out with those who actually worked it (getting in as a "gatelist" AS IF I were working it). In order to do that, our costumes had to be as good as those for the cast members. Yours, however, was AT LEAST as good as some of the Boothies (people selling stuff at the various booths--their costumes are not as stringently monitored), and better than the vast majority of the Fairgoers who chose to dress up.

Additionally, this is one of my artforms. In the SCA I have a Laurel (equivalent to a Knighthood for artistic pursuits) in part due to my costuming. I have very high standards for myself, and I try to assist people in knowing what DOES look right, but I don't necessarily hold OTHERS to those standards. You looked quite lovely, and don't need to be at all ashamed of your appearance there. It would be kind of like me being ashamed that I didn't know how to do some ice skating move that you know how to do. You've spent hours and hours learning how, and have taken lessons and studied. I've skated around, and had a few folks attempt to show me some stuff. But I've never taken lessons and studied it--I can't possibly know as much as you do. We all have our areas of expertise.

Oh, and *I* made that green silk waistcoat, thankyouverymuch! Most of what Akien was wearing yesterday was his wedding outfit (not the shirt--he decided to leave that one at home--*pout*--because the collar is a little fiddly, and he wasn't feeling well yesterday). He DOES know how to sew, and DID sew something for our wedding (the officiant's white tabard, the night before the wedding--there had been a communications snafu on that one), but not that. *humph*

Did you see the music hall production in the V&A that has "Neptune" in it? If so, you saw my friend Michael Masumoto. Michael wrote the musical in which Akien and I were both performing when we met in 1987.

[who-is-she.livejournal.com]

wow. a whole side of you guys I have just learned more about.
I never knew anything about Dickens Fair before.
and I never knew you were knighted in costuming, or that Akien "worked" the fair (although I remember him mentioning some kind of fair.. but I thought it was a renaissance faire sort of thing)

Dawn, I can only imagine you would have looked scrumptious in one of those hoop skirt numbers... with a corseted waist, eh? That sort of outfit would feature your figure quite nicely. wish I could have seen you guys. Did you take pictures?

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

We didn't take many pictures yesterday, in part due to the rain. But here's a picture of me with Victoria several years ago. I'm pretty much wearing the same thing I wore yesterday, though I've improved the hat since then:



I do need to take some pics of me in my fancy new corset, though, to show off dreamervictoria's excellent sewing skills.

Akien mostly worked RenFair (in Scots camp, hence his penchant for kilts), but he also worked Dickens Fair. At Dickens Fair in the late 1980's he played Benjamin Disraeli, the most famous English Prime Minister during Victoria's reign.

And I wasn't "knighted" for costuming alone--as with much of my life, I am a generalist. It was a bit for costuming, a bit for cooking, a bit for dancing, and a a bit for singing.

clarification

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

And I wasn't "knighted" for costuming alone--as with much of my life, I am a generalist. It was a bit for costuming, a bit for cooking, a bit for dancing, and a a bit for singing.

I realized that came off sounding rather conceited. What I MEANT to say is that there are others in each of these areas who do their thing to a much higher degree of skill than I. I just dabble reasonably well in a number of areas.

Re: clarification

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Actually, I hadn't thought you sounded conceited... ;)

Re: clarification

[who-is-she.livejournal.com]

I didn't think you sounded conceited either!
just realistic.
:)
and... that 's the way I am too. I think it's a much more well rounded way to enjoy life, frankly.
:)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Akien as Disraeli? I can imagine...

It was a bit for costuming, a bit for cooking, a bit for dancing, and a a bit for singing.

And I've been privledged to experience both the costuming and cooking over this past weekend... and singing in the past. But I haven't yet seen you dance... hmm.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

This part of their history and avocations was new to me also... apart from what I'd gleaned from photos around their house. And the corset featured dawnd very prettily... initially, it threw me into one of those speechless, admiring moments :-).

[who-is-she.livejournal.com]

Admiring moments.. ... I'll bet.
;)
yum.

Judith is going to make ME a corset.... in trade for some art.
I need to decide what color and type of fabric I want.
I am excited! I never had a real wearable corset before.
just the old antique ones I collect to inspire me in my studio.......

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Yum, in turn... ;^).

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about men's fashions of the period, but a little about women's (dating from a penchant for 19th century British women's history in college). I saw several women wearing gowns that struck me as period appropriate but not place appropriate -- mainly in ballgowns walking down the "street". You, on the other hand, I thought looked wonderful and realistic!

We only saw the end of a show at the V&A -- mainly the end where they sung "Rule Brittania." My own favorite parts of the day were the street theatre (especially the "Six-Foot Congolese Banana Slug"), "Tobias the Adequate", and the very risque version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" put on by the girls at Mad Sal's. (The smaller ones just looked bored through it, but James's jaw dropped almost to the floor :D )

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

I saw several women wearing gowns that struck me as period appropriate but not place appropriate

Yes, that's a bit of a problem. For those WORKING the Fair, you are at least supposed to have a "wrap" to put on over the gown if you are going "outside." The alternative is to have two bodices, one for daywear and one for evening--which is a very period thing to do. But it's expensive and a bit of a pain to change everytime you go to Fezzi's. :^)

One of these days I'll have to see some of the Mad Sal's shows. Since we're in very upper class costumes, we tend not to spend much time down there. As actual performers, we pretty much COULDN'T be down there, since it would be terribly out of character (unless we had a lower-class "guide" to go "slumming" with :^). But I've heard they have some very excellent shows.

The show with "Rule Brittania" was the one with my friend Michael in it. Though I don't think I could describe what he was doing in that particular number.

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

We didn't see the whole show at "Mad Sal'", mainly the "12 Days of Christmas" and bits of other things -- the little ones were quite restless at that point, and we needed to go home. But yes, the performers were quite good.

I don't know what we're going to do next year -- both the smaller boys want to go in costume. (They have caps, and they've seen "Oliver!" -- they want to go as street urchins.) In fact, after he got his cap, Kevin announced he wanted to be a street urchin for Halloween next year. But Brian's wardrobe is more upper-crust.

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Well, Brian could always be the rich-uncle type fellow in Oliver, and they the street-urchins that he's just taken under his wing! He could have fun "introducing" them to the "finer" things in life. :^) I do have a hard time imagining getting the boys into the sort of costumes an upper-crust boy might wear, though! Velvets and lace? I think not! But let me know if you want suggestions on other costume pieces to pick up at thrift stores over the next 9 mos to year.

And FYI, if YOU wanted to try going in costume, I do have stuff that would probably work for you. Hoops, skirts, a shirt that works, hats, wraps. No corset or outer jacket that would fit you, but enough that you'd get by and not look out of place with the others.

And no one EVER gets to see the "whole show" at any of the stages. Possibly not even the performers. :^) There's just so much going on at all times that one simply can't take it all in. Even going every single day it's open, and systematically trying to hit each and every stage show, you couldn't do it. Mostly I'm happy if I get in a bit of dancing, a bit of singing, a bit of shopping, maybe a stage show, and some food (preferably scones at Cuthbert's, and Yorkshire Pudding). I hit all those yesterday, so it was a successful day for me!

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

A quick question about Fair orientation... is it vaguely West End to East End, class-wise and socially? I noticed a stratification between Mad Sal's and the V&A... not as observed by the booths, but in terms of the street performers and characters.

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

As far as I know, it's whatever fits in the space, with no reference to any actual geography. But you might want to ask bdot directly, as she probably knows better than I.

[bdot.livejournal.com]

meaghan knows all the words to that version of 12 days....and delights in singing it whenever she can!

apparently, she spent most of yesterday at mad sals!!!

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

LOL... (pictures her singing that version at school ;)

Thanks hugely for the passes -- without them, I'd have probably gone anyway, but Pat and the kids would have probably stayed home. And the kids loved it :-).

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

We left about 6:45... I didn't know about Closing at Fezziwig's! Pity, I could have heard you sing. And enjoyed one more glimpse of you in your new corset ;^).

I felt naked in that scene without a hat... (grin). Thanks for your coaching on costumes, and suggesting the Fair in the first place.

The jacket is still too young, although a better choice than my regular tuxedo jacket. Judging by the length and interior labels, it appears to be 30s-40s rather than 60 years earlier. And it needs different buttons... I'm not sure if that grey striped pattern on the ascot would have been used a century ago, either. Although, as you said, I noticed that several of the Boothies weren't even as close as I was... which surprised me, but I just figured that it was the end of the day.

But in any case, thanks for the positive and kindly feedback :-). And your advice and assistance. Besides, the other reason that I left sheepishly was that you were quite stunning, in the I-don't-know-what-to-say-next sense (grin).

don't need to be at all ashamed of your appearance there

What can I say? ;-) I'm a perfectionist, and don't let myself off easily even as a newbie...

*I* made that green silk waistcoat, thankyouverymuch

Ulp -- my mistake, I mis-heard it as akienm's handiwork (as well as him looking splendid in it). Was there a particular reason for wearing the wedding outfit this time (as compared with the photos from a couple of years ago)?

Was Michael the figure of Neptune, himself? I saw him, in that case... and you and Akien met at the Fair? In what musical? I didn't know that... you both seemed very much at home there, in your element... and perhaps it has anniversary-like overtones between the two of you.

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

6:45 is when the Fezzi's closing is supposed to start. I think they were running a tad late yesterday, though.

Yes, your jacket is too recent for Dickens. Though with some sewing modifications it could work pretty well (make it more of a cutaway, morning coat affair, or tails). Though it seems a shame to do that to a very nice period piece like that. I'd probably just look for another one over the next year. The ascot was fine, though. Stripes were fine, and to combine the stripes with the floral print was VERY Victorian. Add some plaid pants and you REALLY would have had it! :^D

Akien wore his wedding outfit because he felt like it. It's more comfortable than the more period stuff, and his neck was out of alignment (still is actually).

Yes, Michael was Neptune himself. :^) No, Akien and I did not meet at Fair, though it could be said that we met BECAUSE OF Fair, in one sense. We first met at my house on E 18th in Oakland. My housemate Tom worked Dickens in 1986, and met Clovis there. Clovis was a once-and-future GF of Akien's. They all ended up in a threesome for a while, and I first met Akien when he came to our house with Clovis to pick Tom up for some event or another. The second (and to Akien more memorable!) occasion of our meeting was at Randy's house for a rehearsal of that musical that Michael wrote (Bronwyn, a musical based on Welsh mythology). The first performance was at 12th Night Coronation in the SCA. (I performed in it the same day I got my Laurel, actually. :^) Then Michael wanted to re-stage it at UCB (where he was still attending school, IIRC), which necessitated re-casting a few roles. Akien joined the cast at that time, and we started dating the night of the cast party in March of 1987.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Rather than cut this jacket, I think I'll aim for a cutaway... I'm kicking myself for allowing one to slip away last week on ebay. Although patgreene reminded me "how much formalwear do you really need, unless you work for the State Department?" (grin)

(actually, I bought my first tuxedo when I was stationed in Washington, having grown tired of rentals... but have scarcely used it since returning to California-casual-land. :)

Plaid pants, eh? Maybe a dark green plaid to set against the red floral waistcoat...

akienm seemed externally unaffected by his neck pain on Sunday... he must have hidden it well. I hope he's better aligned now, or at least has a chiropractor visit arranged.

Bronwyn, a musical based on Welsh mythology

with all due respect to bdot... was the play's namesake character male or female? I find it giggle-worthy that in some context, you and Akien were introduced by "Bronwyn" ;^).

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Yes! A dark green plaid would be perfect against the red floral. So would many less-loud combos, BTW. There's just something quintessentially Victorian about what we would consider loud or busy combinations of patterns and fabrics.

The Bronwyn we sang about is a Welsh woman.

Akien has been to the Chiro now, and his neck is improving. He was much drugged at the Fair on Sunday.

Take your time on the cutaway or tails. You'll find one eventually, without having to overbid.

[who-is-she.livejournal.com]

Hey, ok. I'm not a costuming expert, but Dawn is.. and she says you look good.
:)
I think you look GREAT in this picture. I think you're too hard on yourself a lot of the time, Brian.

Glad you had fun at the fair, and glad you got your outfit documented.
:)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

(nods) and I trust her implicitly. Really, it was more about my own feelings of inadequacy in a new and unfamiliar environment... (grin)

Also, I had patgreene and the boys, but no one *experienced* with me -- I was winging it. It worked -- I had a good time -- but the first hour or two was awkward.

[p3aches.livejournal.com]

I like guys in suits. Oh my god you look great. yummy yummy.

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Didn't he look dashing? Very smart.

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

You should see him in his regular tuxedo, as well. Very dashing. The man was born to wear black-tie.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

You look lovely in that garb.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

(blush) thanks!