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| My first encounter with making costumes was
the year a bunch of us decided to enter a Hallowe'en contest
as the crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The following year I decided to do something more
challenging, and embarked on Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn for myself and a
friend to enter in a Hallowe'en contest. I believe I began
that project in July, to be finished in time for the end of October - due to
all the pearls that needed to be sewn on.
Then I had a long costuming dry spell. I didn't get bitten by the
costuming bug again until about 4 years later when I saw all the great new
Renaissance and Medieval patterns that the major pattern companies were
finally making available. Then it was medieval, medieval, medieval. I was
only able to wear my costumes at Hallowe'en parties or contests - or so I
thought at the time.
In 2002 I saw Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, which I enjoyed very much,
and so I re-watched The Phantom Menace, and I was struck
with awe once again by Queen Amidala's totally stunning costumes by Trisha
Biggar, and became obsessed with having to make the Celebration gown that
the Queen wears in the final scene of the movie. I made it and entered it
into a Hallowe'en contest that year, and after that stumbled accidentally
upon the forums at theforce.net, which led me into discovering the vast
online Fan Costuming community - which since then has been the source of
many friendships, fun times and of course endless inspiration for new
costumes! I currently attend at least two Sci-Fi/fandom conventions
annually - my favourite being Dragon*Con in Atlanta, GA, held every Labour
Day weekend. My favourite genres of costuming inspiration are Moulin Rouge,
Star Wars, but also many one-off costume themes/characters that just grab me
when I see them in movies. I'm becoming a repeater in Down With Love and
Doctor Who costumes, while still being greatly inspired by Moulin Rouge -
which is my favourite movie of All Time. |