Channeling Jack Sparrow - or perhaps Mr. Pickwick?

As I mentioned in the previous post, I had absolutely no idea what goes into pulling a costume together for Carnival.  I considered just renting one but Faye advised it would probably be better to have one of my own because there is a limited selection of good ones to be rented in Victoria.  So, we began the process of creating a costume and, since then, I have realized there is an entire sub-culture out there of experts who love doing this sort of thing - and it requires a lot of expertise and knowledge.  Who knew!  I cannot wait to get there and see it all.

So, what (or is that whom) should I be?  I wanted to find a costume that didn't involve a lot of luggage.  Faye and Barry are taking 6 checked bags and four carry-one to get their costumes overseas.  However, that is for four costumes.  Mine was just going to have to fit in one side of my little suitcase.  Also, as the weather in Venice at that time of year can be iffy to say the least, I wanted something that would work in the rain and cold.  Thirdly, it has been a very long time since I have worn a dress and I thought any woman's 18th century costume would be big, bulky and difficult to pack and wear.  So, I decided to go as an 18th gentleman.  Faye approved - telling me that often in that century woman dressed up as men so they could go out on their own.  It was frowned upon for a woman to go out unescorted apparently and that is how they got around that problem.  So, next up was the search for a pattern. 

I found one which I thought would be perfect.  Faye, however, disagreed.  Apparently, I needed an 18th century frock coat and the pattern I liked was for a 19th century one.  I thought to myself who cares.  Are the some kind of Carnival fashion police who would berate me.  No, said Faye; she just didn't want me feeling uncomfortable being in a 19th century costume when everyone else would be 18th century.  As if I would know!!  However, one cannot go on a 18th century pub crawl, something we are scheduled to do, dressed up as someone a century later!  So, I found another pattern that might work and this one garnered approval.  Picture some kind of cross between Jack Sparrow, the pirate (made famous, of course, by Johnny Depp) and Hamilton or George Washington.  That was the look I was aiming for.  However, with my height (or lack thereof) and my shape, I am afraid I am going to look more like Mr. Pickwick of Charles Dickens fame!  So, the Simplicity pattern below has been morphed into clothing for an 18th century gentleman.  Let's see how that goes!

Now that we'd settled on a pattern, we needed fabric that would work for me.  So, Faye and I headed off to Fabricland which, at the time, had a 50% off sale.  I managed to get all the fabric and notions for under $200 - and that was for the britches, the vest, the shirt and the frock coat.  I was pleased.  Then, the next step was having it made.  I ended up sending everything to a dressmaker in Chicago whom Faye had used and every measurement of me possible had to be taken and sent.  Now it was just a matter of waiting for the finished product.  When it arrived a month later, everything looked good except, for some reason, the britches, the shirt including the sleeves and the frock coat sleeves were all too long.  So, they had to be altered - and that was fraught with problems.  The coat sleeves were then too short but we figured out a solution!  Anyway, here is what the pieces look like.

I was excited.  I was ready.  Not so, said my Jedi leader, Faye, you have only just begun.  It appears I have much to learn!  Next, I apparently needed "embellishments".  Hmm, I wondered; what could those possibly be.  Well, obviously I could figure out on my own I needed a wig, a hat, and mask.  I would buy the hat and mask in Venice.  However, I learned there was so many more details.  For example, I remembered the mysterious little package Faye and Barry had given me at Christmas containing glue and little black spots.  What were they for?  Well, in the 18th century people put "moles" on their faces to cover up pock marks and, according to Faye, also communicate unspoken messages to each other.  For example, if a woman's husband was out of town, she could glue the marks in a way that signalled to her lover the coast was clear, so to speak.  Okay, now I get it; I need to put those on my face - not that I have either a husband or a lover to send signals to!  What else?  Well, obviously, the wig needed to be sourced - thankfully, Faye had one to loan me although it needed a bit of tidying up.  As an aside, I am sure it now needs a lot more of that since it has been in my carry-on bag!  Next up was an adornment for the hat.  So, we made one of those out of leftover fabric and it included two hat pins fashioned out of beads.  I returned to Fabricland to get more velvet trim which would also be added to the hat.  Finished!  No, not yet.  I also need makeup including white stuff for my face - I'm sure it has a proper name, you know, that stuff used by clowns (I hate clowns) - plus very red lipstick, rouge, eyeliner, etc.  Even with a mask, I wondered?  Apparently yes.  And, I also needed brooches and rings.  We fashioned a glamorous ring out of a brooch and some elastic.  Don't forget about buckles for my shoes, I was reminded, as well as gloves.  Obediently following instructions, I headed to Chinatown to buy an apparently much needed fan.  That accessory turned out to be the biggest bargain - $1.95 for one that is black and gold.  Okay done!  Well, yes, was the answer except for the cards.  The cards???  Yes, you put a photo of yourself in costume on a card that you can give to photographers requesting them to send you any photo they take of you.  Right!  Am I actually going to be photographed?  Yes, explained Faye very patiently.  You are.  Obviously, I have much to experience!  

So, she came over, helped me with my wig and makeup and took photos.  I then made the cards although I am still not convinced I will be handing them out to anyone.  So, here I am all dressed up.  The only difference will be that the hat I buy will be bigger and the mask I plan to buy will be black and gold, I hope.  So yes, I guess I do look more like Mr. Pickwick and, thankfully, not a pirate.

Guess I am finally ready for Carnivale.  Here I come - but not without a few adventures in London before I get there.  One is going to a costume rental place on Shaftesbury Avenue in the West End early next week to help John and Pedro select their costumes.  Hope we don't end up looking like an 18th century version of three stooges!