"Dress"

I've been patterning pants among other things this semester and learned about "dress".

Dress is adding 1/2" up and out at the bottom of the front left pant curve (crotch). I've spent my fair share of time in men's dressing rooms, changing them in the dark, and discussing and washing their underwear, but after a long week "dress" just really got me. I couldn't stop giggling when my tailor quantified amount of dress. The ladies in the BYU shop should just shake their heads at how far I've fallen.

FYI: Dress is specifically on the left because the way flies are constructed more often than not makes the left side preferred, but a bespoke pair of trousers can easily accommodate right dress.

Yes, this is highly euphemistic and yes, this is the old-timey technical term. 

Sherlock: The Sign of Three

:::Best middle episode yet. I don't feel like the premiere counted as a real episode, it was so out of the norm.
:::I laughed, I cried, this is Sherlock.
:::I like Mary more and more every time I see her. She is perfect for these guys.
:::How will the series change now that they're married?
:::How will the series change now that she's pregnant?!
:::Benedict Cumberbatch.
:::Martin Freeman.
:::Whatever can the finale be about?

New (to me) Musicals: The Last Five Years, Drowsy Chaperon, & The Light in the Piazza

I love musicals, but have realized recently that I know next to nothing about the more "modern" pieces, basically anything after 1965 (and the likes of Phantom and Les Mis). This summer I really dug into Sondheim and still have a few of his to listen to/read (next is Assassins!), but now I'm working on all the others people talk about of which I know very little. To this end I started a Spotify playlist and took suggestions and am working my way through cast recordings.

I can't tell you who wrote what, or what themes or motifs are shared between composers and lyricists, but I bet you can't tell me how the House of Worth changed from Charles Frederick to Jean-Phillipe, or why 1879-1882 is so unique, so here is a (not entirely) lay person's responses to my first three "new" musicals.

Last Five Years
::: hopeful and heartbreaking
::: lovely instrumentation, accessible and light
::: I can actually sing these songs and not feel like a total hack for trying.
::: sharp, clever lyrics
::: poignant and sincere messages

The Drowsy Chaperon
::: I went on a few dates with the real Janet Van De Graaff's cousin
::: that first one has nothing to do with the musical
::: neither does the second
::: seems like Millie had a baby with R&H's Cinderella
::: what a romp
::: showy and exactly what a musical should be, by its own admission
::: seems like fun to costume :)
::: I imagined my friend Carter playing the narrator

The Light in the Piazza
::: I actually saw this on PBS years back
::: just me, or was it just a lot of screaming ballads?
::: I liked little bits here and there, but the whole thing kind of bled together
::: I did stop and think that "Let's Walk" is not bad

Sherlock: The Empty Hearse

:::I totally called that they used the kidnapper double in some way!
:::Oh John...mustache.
:::Mary is the lady cop in Case Histories!
:::I really like Mary, I hope she's not a bad guy.
:::Were those Benny's real parents? I think so...lemme check. Yep.
:::Was just flipping the switch off the bomb brilliant or stupid?
:::I think I need to watch these with other people...I have more violent reactions with other people around, but only if they're totally quite and only react to the same things I do.
:::Lastrad's looking good...and hugging Sherlock was the best.
:::Mrs. Hudson's lookin' good.
:::I thought Sherlock's being gone for two years seemed like a huge gap...then I realized I had a literal puddle of tears on my computer after the last episode of series 2 in 2012. That did take awhile!
:::I still want to know why his shirts are always so tight. I'm not complaining, but they're beyond a simple European cut.
:::Sherlock can kiss me on the cheek.
:::I need to watch this episode again, about three more time.
:::Martin Freeman is perfect, perfect.

Animated films I'd totally be down designing real costumes for

Anastasia, duh.
Rumor has it this is being workshopped in Russia, but news has been silent recently. I'd love to get my hands on it and actually make it period appropriate. Can you imagine the ghost ball fantasy?! Or the Paris costumes?! 1917 and 1927, awkward but fantastic years! Russian national dress!!! I'd die and go to heaven. Also, Rasputin's song.

Frozen
Of COURSE they're making this into a stage show. Computer animation is making leaps and bounds, but their textile rendering still leaves things to be desired. I will say Hans' satin lapels really struck a chord with me, as did Elsa's ice outfit (the most magical of quick changes!). The idea of Fantasy Norway is so intriguing and I'd love to make the women's clothes actually appropriately cut. I swear...do they even know how clothes are put together?! And all of the princely outfits and lovely rustic leathers on Kristoff and delightful winter folkwear on Anna.



Ok, that's only two...mostly because all the other Disney Princesses have been done and if I did them I'd totally mix them up! But for real, these two would be amazing! Maybe Brave as well...KILTS.

Shelby 7ish years ago...

A video popped up on my newsfeed of a friend from 2007 and I hardly recognized him, which lead to my going through my old Facebook albums. I give you THEN AND NOW!!

Homecoming 2006...Senior year. I would be at BYU in a year and wanting to get married in two...thank goodness I was not a teenage bride. Those two years did not help much. But 7 years did! (if I do say so myself). Oh the wonders of a college education in hair, make up, and costumes (and some toning at the gym).

Top 10 Entries of 2013

These are my favorite contributions to this blog in 2013, no particular order.

Nightmare Jobs
The Mill on the Floss aka I love my brother SO much
Retro, Vintage, Antique, and Extant
Cities to Live In (or rather "in which to live")
fun little Q&A (some answers have changed already!)
Watson Face
How to Catch a Wedding Bouquet
Dating
Old-Timey Love
Opening Night Dress 2013: The End

Resolutions 2014

Be fearless.
Be kind.
Be studious.
Be proactive.
Be flexible.
Be patient.
Be considerate.
Be brave.