Costume College 2011

[Cilean]

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen!!

I want to mention to you all that CoCo 2011 will be Gothic Age or the 15th Century up to  PRE-RAPHAELITES!! Which means if you adore them then make something lovely!
This is the time to save save save!!!!   Hotels are $124 plus tax for room rates they hold 4 people each. ( If you have AAA it will be $116.00 plus taxes)  You all check for rates on airfare if you look 45 days in advance, and since we are a year out this will be easy or check www.cheaptickets.com, and it is at a wonderful hotel called "Warner Marriott"
in http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/laxwc-warner-center-marriott-woodland-hills/.

I do want to gush, there was for me a very special guest Shawna Trpcic, who was Costume Designer for Firefly and Dollhouse, to name a few, she discussed tons of inside stories, how she gets costumes approved and the stuff she goes through day by day. She also mentioned someone took the Shindig Gown that Kallie wore and she made Inara's Gown from her own wedding gown!!!

Here is the URL for Costume College
http://www.costumecollege.org/

To save cash I suggest you join the Costumer's Guild or International Costumer's Guild and then you will get the $95.00 rate and not the $150.00 one.  There are also Scholarships available.

Gala is $75.00
Time Traveler's Tea is $50.00

So please come I am now asking many people I know to do classes like Butterfly Henins and Coifs and well all sorts of things!!

I am extending the invitation to you all, SAVE and come down to SO CAl and I will personally take you on a Fabric Haul Tour!!!

Huzzzah!!!

Cilean

[Lady Rebecca]

So what percentage of the classes are based on the time period chosen? I had already pretty much decided I'm going next year, but frankly, I have no interest in costumes from the 1400s. Will I still get as much out of it as I would with a Ren through Victorian theme?

[Cilean]

There is  always a theme for each year this year was SteamPunk, o there is a track of classes and information devoted to the theme, but also there are many many classes not pertaining to the theme at all.  So you can not wear costumes, which is what I did because of my shoulder injury I can't have things pressing on my shoulder. Another friend Kimiko Small wore her lovely Elizabethans through time, including her lovely 1590's black and white creations.  Since I have issues this year they hopefully will be fixed by next year, I plan on making a Pink Gown (for Friday NIghts Pink Princess Party), and I will be bringing and hopefully wearing my 12th Night Gown from the 1570's, and my new Ren Faire. So my long winded answer is it is your choice, I am hoping to make a fantastic Gown so I can wear a Butterfly Henin. But you don't ever have to wear anything close to it,

Here are some Gowns from the Gala on Saturday, and my own attempt at Steampunk


And another lovely Gown:


And my own attempt:





So nope to following the theme, do as you want and bring fun things!

Also? bring money there is a woman there? Who makes these hats that are too DIE for!

Cilean

[operafantomet]

So what percentage of the classes are based on the time period chosen? I had already pretty much decided I'm going next year, but frankly, I have no interest in costumes from the 1400s. Will I still get as much out of it as I would with a Ren through Victorian theme?

A wild guess: if it's Gothic up to pre-Raphaelites, could it be they're talking about the 19th century pre-Raphaelitic movement, and not the period before the artist Raphael lived (1483-1529)? This would include both the 16th, 17.th and 18.th century, as well as parts of the 19th century. Though, it seems a bit wide as a theme, so maybe they mean anything Medieval looking as in pre-Tudor and pre-Raphael, plus Medieval inspired pre-Raphelittes.

And now is the time to ask... What exactly is Costume College? I've seen people referring to it everywhere. Originally I though it was an actual education, but then I understood it was some sort of gathering. But is it ONE gathering? Several? One group, or many individual groups behind it? And what's going on there - educational classes and parties?

[Mistress Kathleen]

I had the same questions.. I followed the link in Cilean's post and found lots of info and the class list from this year.. Sounds like a lot of fun....

[Cilean]

Pre-Raphealites for at least in the US, means those in the 19th Century who eschewed the impressionistic view of their times. So I am thinking when CoCo is mentioning it, it means if you want to make something from the fantasy of the 19th Century idealistic paintings of Medieval, it was very popular to have balls in which you dressed up as people from the Medieval past in Victoria's Time she herself had a ball called the Plantagenet Ball as an example.  I don't think my body frame fits these gowns, however since I also fell in love with Veronica's purple gown, I want to make something with that flair.

So more information on Costume College, because I really want you all to come and have a blast!!


You don't pay for everything at once, or you don't have to do so;
You pay for the Membership/College, and if you want to you can space out if you want to go to the Gala and Tea.

You will get in April the listings of classes that are limited, and tours, and you make your choices, you will get confirmation by June on which ones you will be able to take, and then you have to send in checks, which are not cashed until August during College.

Hotel is $124.00 however if you are not opposed to sharing? You can get room mates to share the cost either from the College itself, or from your own friends.  I had room mates assigned to me this year and it was nice to meet new people.  So for the 4 day stint if you have 3 others it will cost you $124.00 plus taxes.  I am sure many of you all do Conventions in your area, so this is no surprise on how to save money.

We do have a hospitality Suite, and it is 3 rooms large!!! This year we had space to do finish some of the workshops/classes and spot classes on embroidery and yarn type things.

So this  year, we had for Renaissance Period
Elizabethan Pairs of Bodies Workshop
Smock/Shirt/Partlet Workshop
Renaissance Fabrics  Lecture
Recreating the Tudors Lecture
Dressing the Tudors Lecture
Irish Gowns and how they made them Lecture
Irish Hair Dos Lecture
Irish Head Dresses Lecture
Great Scots Kilt Lecture
Blackwork Embroidery Workshop
Buttons How to  Workshop
Elementary Mold Making for Jewelery Workshop
French Drape Pattern Making Workshop


Now these are just a few of the classes!! As I have stated they have not done a Renaissance theme in my era of going to CoCo, so I am still waiting for that day but many people come in Ren Gear. So do think this is something that can happen and then come and join us for the fun, it is so much fun and the new hotel has tons of space, and 2 swimming pools, it is just awesome!!

[Lady Rebecca]

Awesome. I will totally be there next year. We still have to wait until Oct/Nov to sign up, though, right?

[Cilean]

Yes it is different for this coming year, so they are making people wait who did not get their packet at CoCo 2010.  We have loads more room now, than in our last hotel so it was limited to around 350, this year we had I was told 465, and we still had space for more.  I will be sending my registration in the next weeks coming to make sure I am part of the next year.    Also it seems Jen Thompson is coming to 2011, from  http://www.festiveattyre.com/, it will I think be her first time at CoCo 2011. I am sending personal requests to people in the SCA who know how to do the period in question and a few others to see if we can get some more workshops in the Renaissance Era.

Cilean

[Hoowil]

I mentioned going to my wife, and she actually said she'd consider it. It'll come down to time and money, of course. I may have to choose between CoCo and possibly two faires. I'll have to start setting aside money now...

[Lady Rebecca]

I finally received my welcome letter in the mail today. I'm so excited! Now I just have to figure out what to make for it...

[Cilean]

I finally received my welcome letter in the mail today. I'm so excited! Now I just have to figure out what to make for it...

I am so happy! Good, if you want a room mate? You are more than welcome!  Wait until you get the class schedule so many things to do!

Cilean

[Lady Rebecca]

I finally received my welcome letter in the mail today. I'm so excited! Now I just have to figure out what to make for it...

I am so happy! Good, if you want a room mate? You are more than welcome!  Wait until you get the class schedule so many things to do!

Cilean

One of my friends is coming also, so we're going to room together. I already booked the hotel, and I can't wait for the class list!

Do you know which week in April they usually get sent out?

[operafantomet]

And now is the time to ask... What exactly is Costume College? I've seen people referring to it everywhere. Originally I though it was an actual education, but then I understood it was some sort of gathering. But is it ONE gathering? Several? One group, or many individual groups behind it? And what's going on there - educational classes and parties?

Repeating this question: Is Costume College a generic term for costume gathers, or one specific event? Sitting in a deserted country in the wrong continent leaves me ignorant of this, but I wanna know! I bump into the term every so often, and it seems lots of fun. But I still haven't understood the specifics.

[Lady Rebecca]

Repeating this question: Is Costume College a generic term for costume gathers, or one specific event? Sitting in a deserted country in the wrong continent leaves me ignorant of this, but I wanna know! I bump into the term every so often, and it seems lots of fun. But I still haven't understood the specifics.

It's a weekend (Fri-Sun, with tours on Monday) event, that takes place in a hotel in southern CA (like a conference might), but it's made up of tons of classes, a marketplace, plus special events such as a tea and a gala. It's sponsored by Costumer's Guild West. I have to say, though, I think I'm most excited about all the classes. You can find out more info at costumecollege.org

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

It appears another year wil have passed. A busy schedule for 2011 will leave little time for this pursuit.

Have fun and learn lots.

[operafantomet]

It's a weekend (Fri-Sun, with tours on Monday) event, that takes place in a hotel in southern CA (like a conference might), but it's made up of tons of classes, a marketplace, plus special events such as a tea and a gala. It's sponsored by Costumer's Guild West. I have to say, though, I think I'm most excited about all the classes. You can find out more info at costumecollege.org

Aaah, so it's one specific events. Looks so interesting. Jealous!

[Valencia]

oooh, I only live about 30 minutes away from there, I am going to go, even if it's just to visit the marketplace!

[Cilean]

What I can say is please join us, so much fun, my hubby is a non costumer, and he had a blast this past year.  There are wandering classes, about all sorts of things, and like I said if you pay for the first part and you will get the class list in April and then you pay for the classes when you get that and then you can well get a good hotel buddies and well it is not hard to save, so I hope I shall see you all!!!!

Cilean