Period Drama Fashion Week ~ Wrap-Up

      Well, Period Drama Fashion Week has come to a close. This event has been fabulous, ladies! I'm so glad that so many of you participated! In fact, I really hadn't expected that so many people would participate and I'm thrilled that this was such a success.

      Here are the lovely ladies who participated (click on the blog name to see their Fashion Week posts):

     ~ Laura of Gazing Wonders
     ~ Heidi P. of Along the Brandywine
     ~ Miss Dashwood of Yet Another Period Drama Blog
     ~ Miss Laurie of Old-Fashioned Charm
     ~ Maddie Rose of The Madd Rose
     ~ Livia Rachelle of Rose Petals and Faerie Dust
     ~ Rose P. of The Best of Classics
     ~ Lizzie of His Redeemed Child  

   ** If you participated and haven't given me a link yet, you can still do that and I'll add your name and link to this list. :-)

       Thank you all SO MUCH for making this event such a success! :-) I really enjoyed hosting this and I would love to do more events in the future.

 

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A Fashion Chat With Sadie

    Hello everyone! Today I am going to interview my own dear sister Sadie! Sadie is my fellow period drama nut and fashion fanatic, and she is also an historical hairstyle expert. She knows a lot about the hairstyles and general hair care of the past, and she always has new information to divulge because she is always learning new things. :-)

   Sadie is also the Lady Sybil Crawley to my Lady Mary. And no, I'm not obsessed with Downton Abbey. Whatever made you think that?

  So anyways, without further blah-de-blah-ing from me, please welcome Sadie!
   
Welcome, Sadie! Tell us a little bit about yourself-- your age, your favorite TV show,  your favorite pastimes,  the longest book you've ever read, your favorite kind of tea, and how often you wash your hair. Ready, set, go!

     Hello everyone! My name is Sadie, as you might have guessed. I have a blog called Birdie's Perch, on which I've posted a few simple hair tutorials, and hope to post a few more. I'm 13 years old, and therefore am not very knowledgeable about hairstyles, but I am thrilled to pieces to share a little of what I do know with you all. My favorite TV show is Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman, but I also loooove Downton Abbey, The Waltons, and Christy to name a few. The longest book I've ever read is probably Great Expectations, and I confess I might not have understood every word, but I enjoyed it excessively. I like almost any kind of tea (as long as it's natural), but my favorite is green tea. Green tea is very good for the hair, both internally and externally. Speaking of hair, I only wash mine every four days, and I'm on my way down to once a week. I have tried going no poo twice, and I might go again in the summer, but I decided it would be too hard in the winter when I'm trying to keep my hair moist.

What exactly does "no-poo" mean? It sounds kind of scary.

     To go no-poo means to stop using shampoo. Most people who go no-poo use baking soda and apple cider vinegar to wash their hair. I did that for a little while, but then I found out that baking soda is a bit harsh on hair, so I used a solution of honey and water for a little while. I liked that alright, but it didn't like me. Just kidding. I didn't really do it long enough to know if it would work well, but raw honey is a bit expensive, so I probably won't use that again any time soon.

Would you consider yourself an expert on historical hairstyles?

     Certainly not! I only know a bit about historical hairstyles, but I'm learning more all the time.

Tell us your favorite fashion era, and what you love about it.

     Right now I'd have to say the Colonial period. I love the men's clothing, especially the capes. Oh, the capes. The women had gorgeous dresses, too. I especially love this period of hairstyles. Not only did the women have lovely hair, but so did some of the men!

What are some products or treatments you recommend for healthy hair? (We won't mention the bananas.)

    My favorite hair treatments right now are olive oil, coconut oil, and emu oil. When my hair needs a lot of moisture, I comb oil through it from root to tip, let it soak for a few hours, and then wash it out. But when I'm not taking a shower any time soon and my hair is looking pretty dry, I just take a tiny amount of oil on my fingers and run it through the length of my hair. I also put apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle with water and use it as conditioner sometimes. They're are tons of DIY natural hair care treatments out there, and most of them work wonders. I can only name a few, but they're all over the internet if you're interested. Just whatever you do, NEVER put bananas in your hair without putting them through a blender and mixing them with some kind of oil. NEVER.


 You did mention the bananas! :-) Haha. What is one of your very favorite dresses from a period drama?

     Emma's dark green dress. That's such a beautiful color, and the dress is simply lovely.



  You've mentioned before your various hair inspirations from period dramas. Who would you say is your greatest hair inspiration?

     Oh, probably Dr. Mike. I love how she does her hair a little bit differently every day. Even though it's not always very accurate-ahem- it always looks beautiful.

 That's funny, because mine's Sully. Okay, name three dresses off the top of your head from period dramas that you'd most like to have in your wardrobe.

     Let's see...

                                       Rosa's blue dress in The Mystery of Edwin Drood,

                               Peggy Bell's green dress (formerly Mary Smith's ) in Cranford,

                                               and Ada's pale green dress in Bleak house.

What is your most-worn garment?

     Probably my new denim skirt that I just made.

If you could be the hairstylist on the set of any period drama, what would you pick?

     Could be or could have been? Probably either Little Dorrit or Bleak House. They some very pretty hairstyles, and some very interesting ones.

What eras of fashion are you most knowledgeable about?

     Probably the Colonial and Civil War eras.


                                                                      ~*~*~*~

     Well, thank you Sadie! This has been most enlightening! :-)

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Period Drama Fashion Week~ Kickoff and Tag!

   Fashion Week is here!! I'm very excited about everything that's in store for this week and I'm looking forward to reading all the lovely posts you ladies have been working on! I have several fun posts planned, as well as a few guest posts and an interview. But to start out, let's have a tag!

    This tag is mostly about fashion, but I've stuck in a few random questions just for fun and to make things more interesting. :-)

#1 Tell us five random things about yourself.

   1. Springtime is my favorite time of the year!
   2. I am very neat and tidy person. I like to have things in order, and I can't stand to have things out of place.
   3. I am extremely fond of old western movies.
   4. One of my dreams is to work in a small-town library someday
   5. I am pretty much addicted to Downton Abbey. :-)

#2 What are some of your favorite dresses from period dramas? Pick three.

    Ohhh I have lots of favorites! But here are my top three:

   1. Amy Dorrit's wine-colored dress from Little Dorrit

2. Jane Austen's pink flowered dress from Becoming Jane

3. Jane Austen's green and brown dress from Becoming Jane

    I really love Jane's wardrobe, even though I'm not a huge fan of the movie.

#3 How would you describe your own style?

    Simple and pretty, usually pretty sensible and sort of vintage-ish. A bit eccentric at times. :-P

#4 List (up to) five of your favorite period drama wardrobes.

    1. Lady Mary Crawley in Downton Abbey
    2. Lady Sybil Crawley in Downton Abbey
    3. Jane Austen in Becoming Jane
    4. Emma Woodhouse in Emma (2009)
    5. Dr. Michaela Quinn in Dr. Quinn

#5 What are some of your favorite fashion eras?

      I absolutely adore the Edwardian era! I think that's probably my favorite, but I also love the Regency period, the Victorian period, and the 1920s, '30s and '40s.

#6 What are five things that make you happy?

   Books, movies, music, sunshine, and flowers.

#7 Do you like to wear hats?

     I love to wear hats! Some of my favorites are my straw hat, my black hat (which I call my Downton Abbey hat), and my Yankee soldier hat. Although the latter I generally only wear in the privacy of my own home. :-P

#8 Do you have a favorite fictional character who has the same name as you?

   Yes! Emma Woodhouse! : )

    Also, the main character in one of my favorite novels, The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen, is named Emma. Actually, she has the same middle name as me too-- Emma Jane Smallwood. I found it extremely ironic, especially since we are so much alike in other ways too!


#9 What is one of the ugliest dresses you've ever seen in a period drama?

     This dress worn by Fanny Thornton in North and South (2005) is one of the most hideodious dresses I've ever seen. It's perfectly horrific!  I don't normally like blue and yellow together, and all the gaudy trims and frills are simply horrid. Ugh!

  (I found this picture on Recycled Movie Costumes, a really neat website about costumes that have been used in several period dramas.Go check it out!)

#10 What is the most-worn color in your wardrobe?

     Probably brown, actually. I wear a lot of brown and black and purple, although I never wear brown and black at the same time. :-P

#11 What are your sentiments on the subject of tea?

      I think it's perfectly delightful, especially on a cold winter afternoon. It's not my favorite thing to drink and I kind of have to be in the right mood for it, but in general I'm very fond of tea. My favorite kind is peppermint.

#12 Do historical inaccuracies bother you?

    Most of the time, yes, they do. I'm not by any means an expert on historical fashion, but when I see something horribly inaccurate it usually does bother me. If it's not something huge and it doesn't really pop out at me, then I probably won't care, but in general, inaccuracies bother me.

#13 What are some of your favorite eras of men's fashions?

     The Edwardian era, the Regency, and the 1920s (I have a special fondness for knickers. :-P)



*Swoon* That coat!!!



  
      Mr Knightley has some really great outifits. :-)

    I'm also extremely partial to uniforms. : ) Had you noticed?


#14 Have you read any books on historical fashion?

    I've read parts of a few, though I don't think I've ever read a book on period fashion all the way through from start to finish. My favorite book about period fashion is Georgette Heyer's Regency World, which is a delightful little book that has all sorts of information about the Regency era. It's extremely interesting and very informative! I've never read any of Georgett Heyer's books (and so the almost constant references to her novels which turn up in this book are a bit, *ahem*, bothersome) but I absolutely love this book and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in Jane Austen and the Regency era.

   Another book I love that has lots of details about period fashion is The World of Downton Abbey, which is all about the making of the show and has lots of information about the period and the costumes and such. It has soooo much information and lots of pictures too. It's terribly interesting. :-) If you're a fan of Downton Abbey, I highly recommend this book!

#15 If you could pick just three fictional characters to have over for tea, who would you invite?

   Jeremiah Flintwinch, Mr. Smallweed, and Old Orlick. Kidding! :-P Hehee. That would certainly make for an interesting tea party!

   Hmmm....let's see. It is a sad thing indeed when I can't even answer my own questions. :-) Well, first off, I would definitely invite Emma Smallweed Smallwood from The Tutor's Daughter, because we have so much in common and I just know we'd be best friends. Then I would invite Violet Hayes from A Proper Pursuit, and probably Margaret Macy from The Maid of Fairbourne Hall. I just know we'd all get along splendidly. Oh, that sounds like so much fun! :-)

  And here is the list of questions!

1. Tell us five random things about yourself.
2. What are some of your favorite dresses from period dramas? Pick three.
3. How would you describe your own style?
4. List (up to) five of your favorite period drama wardrobes.
5. What are some of your favorite fashion eras?
6. What are five things that make you happy?
7. Do you like to wear hats?
8. Do you have a favorite fictional character who has the same name as you?
9. What is one of the ugliest dresses you've ever seen in a period drama?
10. What is the most-worn color in your wardrobe?
11. What are your sentiments on the subject of tea?
12. Do historical inaccuracies bother you?
13. What are some of your favorite eras of men's fashions?
14. Have you ever read any books on historical fashion?
15. If you could pick just three fictional characters to have over for tea, who would you invite?

    Please fill out this tag and post it on your blog at any time during the week and tag your post with the label "Period Drama Fashion Week". Then come back here and comment with the URL to the label, and label your other posts for the week with the same thing so then at the end of the week when we have the link-up of everyone's posts, there will just be one simple link to all of them. Does that make sense?

    Alrighty then. Let the fun begin! :-)

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Period Drama Fashion Week~ The Details!

                                  "Is there anything more thrilling than a new frock?"
                                                       ~Lady Sybil, Downton Abbey

   I am really excited about hosting this event! I hope it will turn out to be perfectly splendiferous! But remember, this is my first time hosting a blog event of any kind, so I'm not 100 percent sure what I'm getting myself into. So if I say something that doesn't really make sense, just chalk it up to inexperience. Thank you. :-P

   Oh yeah, and I probably should warn you now that this week might have a bit of a Downton Abbey theme. :-)

  Alrighty, so on with the details. I've made participating in this party is pretty simple, so if you want to join in the fun, all you have to do is...

• Choose one of the buttons (you can find them here) and post it on your blog (I realize it's a little late for that now, since the party starts in two days, but nevermind my poor planning. Do it anyway. :-P)
• Comment on this post to let me know you're participating
• Fill out the tag (coming March 3rd) and post it on your blog sometime during the week
• Write your own post(s) about period drama/historical fashion (this is optional-- even if you don't want to write anything you can still participate by just doing the tag)
• Label your posts with "Period Drama Fashion Week" so that you'll be able to provide just one link at the end of the week when we have our link-up of all the posts written by different participants

   You can write about basically anything so long as it's related to period drama/historical fashion. A list of your favorite period drama dresses, the costumes in your favorite period drama, or even a period drama fashion trivia quiz are all good ideas. I'm making this easy, people. The rules are few and the possibilities are many! :-)

And one more thing....have fun! This is supposed to be a fun event. I think it's going to be terrific, and I really hope many of you participate!

    See you there! :-)

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My Favorite Hello, Dolly! Quotes

Here are just a few of my favourite quotes from this hilariously entertaining musical. : )

Dolly Levi: Hello! Hello there, how are you? Oh hello!
Horace Vandergilder: You know too many people.
Dolly: Total strangers.
Horace: Then why do you greet them?
Dolly: It makes me feel good to have so many friends.
Horace: Oh, say hello for me too then.
Dolly: I already did.

Horace Vandergilder: Eighty-percent of the people in the world are fools and the rest of us are in danger of contamination.

Dolly: And on those cold winter nights, Horace, you can snuggle up to your cash register. It's a little lumpy, but it rings!

Horace: You are a seven-foot-tall nincompoop!

Ambrose Kemper: That's an insult!

Horace: All the facts about you are insults!

Dolly: Goodness gracious, the whole room is crawling with men. Irene, darling, congratulations.

Gussie Granger as Ernestina Simple: What do you mean, "oysters aren't in season"? Anyone can have oysters "in season", I want them out of season!

Horace: They don't have any, Miss Simple.

Gussie Granger: Then tell them to go out and dig for some!

Cornelius Hackl: Well, you see, we're two ladies about town and we're looking for a hat to Malloy and...
Barnaby Tucker: We're hats, you see, and we're looking for a lady to Malloy with for the after...
Cornelius: We want a hat.

Cornelius: Smile, Barnaby.
Barnaby: I'm smiling.
Cornelius: Look rich, gay, and charming.
Barnaby: I'm looking gay and charming.

Horace: Any man who goes to a big city deserves what happens to him.

Ticket seller Mr. Sullivan: Where to, Dolly?
Dolly: Yonkers, New York, to handle a highly personal matter for Mr. Horace Vandergilder, the well-known, unmarried, half-a-millionaire.
Mr. Sullivan: Gonna marry him yourself, Dolly?
Dolly: Why, Mr. Sullivan, whatever put such a prepostrous idea into my head-- er, your head.

Cornelius: There is no Mrs. Hackl.
Barnaby: Yes there is, your mother!
Cornelius: She didn't mean that.

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Celebrate Musicals Week: Kick-Off Tag!

   Celebrate Musicals Week is here! To begin this party, Miss Dashwood has posted a fun tag! I'm not sure how much I'll be able to contribute to this delightful party this week, since I was naughty and didn't get my posts ready ahead of time and now I'm so busy that I'm not sure I'll have the time to finish them, but I will try to get a few musical-themed things up! Thank you again Miss Dashwood for hosting this musicals week! : )

   Here are the questions:

1. What musical did you pick to "spotlight" this week and why?

    I chose Hello, Dolly! because it's one of my favorite musicals, and one that I have known for a long time and have always loved.

2. How did you discover the musical you picked?

   I really have no idea when the first time I watched Hello, Dolly! was, but it was certainly a very long time ago so I really don't remember. I feel like I've always known it!

3. If you had to pick three favorite songs from your musical, which ones would they be?

    "Hello, Dolly!", "Before the Parade Passes By", and probably "Should've Said So Long". It's HILARIOUS. : )

4. What's your least favorite song from your musical?

 Hmmm, I really don't know. I love them all! Maybe "It Takes a Woman". It's just not as memorable as the others, plus Horace Vandergilder is always so pessimistic and that's kind of "his" song.

5. Who are your favorite characters in your musical (choose up to three)?

  Definitely Dolly, Cornelius, and probably Barnaby. I'm not too terribly fond of Horace.

6. Which versions of your musical have you seen/listened to, and which is your favorite?

  I've only seen the 1968 movie starring the amazing Barbra Streisand and the grumpy old man Walter Mattheu, which, in my opinion, couldn't be bettered.

7. Is this your favorite musical of all time? If not, what is?

   While this is one of my top three favorites, I don't think it's my absolute favorite. My three favorites are Hello, Dolly!, Meet Me In St. Louis, and The Phantom of the Opera. I don't really think the story of The Phantom of the Opera is all that great-- it's too much like King Kong-- but I love the music so much so I stuck it in there.

8. Which cast album/musical soundtrack in your collection do you listen to the most?

   I actually own only one musical soundtrack in our movie soundtrack collection, and that is the 2004 Phantom of the Opera movie soundtrack. My sister and I used to listen to it a LOT, but we haven't very much lately, probably because we listened to it way too much two years ago when I gave it to her for Christmas. We made a rule that you can't listen to The Phantom of the Opera while riding in a car. : )

9.  What is your favorite costume from your musical?

   Either Dolly's purple dress or her red suit. Seriously, ALL the costumes in this movie are amazing!

  
10. If you could change anything about your musical, what would you change?

   I'd probably cast Minnie Fay as someone who could actually sing worth beans. (Minnie is adorable and all, but unfortunately she Simply Cannot Sing.) Other than that, it's perfect. : )
  Oh, and this has nothing to do with Hello, Dolly!, but I just want to say, I don't know WHY Matthew Rhys wasn't cast as the Phantom in the 2004 The Phantom of the Opera. THAT is something I would change if I could. : P

11. Which roles would you most like to play in any musical, if you had the opportunity to do so on stage?

   I would love to play Mrs. Dolly Levi, because that would just be so much fun. I'd also love to play Eponine in Les Miserables, since she sings some really beautiful songs and I just love her part. Another part I would like to play is Esther Smith in Meet Me In St. Louis, but unfortunately that musical is hardly ever performed anymore. Susan Bradley in The Harvey Girls would also be a great role to play.

12. If you could choose one performer to play any part in your musical, who would you choose and which part would you have them play?

   Like I said, I think everyone is pretty much perfectly cast, and even if I were to re-cast Minnie, I'm not sure who would fit the bill. I'm perfectly content with it as it is!

13. Do you consider yourself a musical theatre fan in general or do you just like a few musicals?

   I'm probably a musical theatre fan in general, though I tend to prefer the older musicals to the 1980's Broadway musicals that everyone is crazy about. I've been watching musicals ever since I was a wee thing, so they're really part of my childhood.

14. Are you tired of the word"musical" yet?

   Funny you should ask.....: P

(In case you've already done or read this same tag and are wondering why I skipped the last question, or are astonished by my audacity in doing so, it's because I don't own a musical device and I have no idea whatsoever what this strange phenomena called Pandora is. Well, I have some idea, but not enough to answer the question properly.)

 Thank you, Miss Dashwood! That was most enjoyable!

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