Your Fantasy Costume

Last Faeriecon (a fantasy fairy convention taking place each year in the east coast, in which by the way I’ve been performer myself the latest two years)  some of my friends from band Woodland and Faun where showing off their fancy top hats…  Hmm  I should have followed the clues into “Luna Rana” stand but it was way too hectic for me to visit the booths then, and now I’m trying to catch up with all the cool stuff that I missed .

I saw this lovely top hats close, so I can tell you they’re the best quality! and they really look coo

Another example,  they’re super cute!

so go and grab one from LUNA RANA top HATS. I saw them, they’re great, xmas at the corner, c´mon!!

Still unsure…?

There’s another lovely shop called Silver leaf Costumes that features some delightful top hats too. I’d this one in Steampunk style.  They also have some lovely mini hats and are lovely too. So complete your research with this SILVER LEAF COSTUMES top HATS. I think among this two stores you can find one that fits your style, mood and head!!

Above: Steampunk hat from Silver leaf

And my favourite from them . I think I’m still more on my leprechaun side . I certainly wouldn’t mind to have one of these (listed also in lovely red)

They all looked like Mad-Hatters in a lovely way and I couldn’t get out the poster of upcoming Tim Burt0ns Alice in Wonderland movie. Sure this girl is going to increase the sales of her hats by the time the movie is out.

Above: Picture from Tim Burton’s  upcoming movie Alice in Wonderland

If you want to go on investigating that line. He  looks weird huh? I sort of love the make up so…

This is a make up tutorial to mimic the Mad Hatter´s from Tim Burton’s next upcoming Alice in Wonderland movie. By the way for the tutorial they’re using “glamour doll eyes” eyeshadow that I certainly recommend as they have some striking color mineral eye shadows.

The venetian masks always cause a double impact. The first time I saw the movie “Into the labyrinth” I was fascinated by the Masquerade Ball scene where Jareth (see previous article about Labyrinth’s goblin king)  and Sarah dances. It all had a magical,  elegant yet slightly decadent  look. There’s something in the venetian masks that fascinates us and also can awake a slight sense of horror too.

The Carnival of Venice  o Carnevale di Venezia ( read wikipedia article for in detail historic information) will take place next February in Venice (Italy) but throughout the year the masks and its symbolism have become part of every masquerade ball and fantasy party and meetings.

Masks  (traditionally made of leather or papier-mache) have always been a central feature of the venetian carnival; traditionally people were allowed to wear them between the festival of Santo Stefano ( December 26) at the start of the carnival season and midnight of Mardi Grass (Tuesday). They have always been around Venice. As masks were also allowed  during Ascension and from October 5 to Christmas, people could spend a large proportion of the year in disguise. Maskmakers (mascherari) enjoyed a special position in society.

Portale di venezia This is another website that offers information and historic background about the Carnival of Venice and the masquerades.

Venetian Masks Shop offer a wide range of superior Venetian Carnival Masks to wear and suit your individual requirements at sensible prices. Their  Venetian maskmakers (Italian: mascareri) are all based in Venice and provide us with the highest quality handmade Venetian masks. Many of which follow a long history of excellence and skilled craftsmanship that has been passed on from generation to generation. This websites features one of the most extensive collection of models I’ve found on the net and you can complete your search with some accessories like three horned hats, capes and hooded cloaks.The website also includes a section telling about the history of the maks.

For people based in UK I recommend  masks of venice where  you can find also the typical cloaks, gold and silver sticks and some models inspired in movies like the phantom of the opera

If you happen to be in Italy and want to opt for renting an accurate replica of a masquerade garment, from wig and mask to shoes, you can have a look to this site called Marega. To look for more garments in this XVIII style please have a look to our previous article about Marie Antoinette and rococo

Another recommended website is maskitalia.

In Ebay  you can find a wealth of affordable models too,  but also  some one of a kind items as well Have a look to Venetian masks on ebay

In particular in ebay  I’d recommend and highlight  the store Venice Buy, it has masks that are very expensive, but they’re certainly unique, some even with oil paintings with Venice scenes. This shop really has a collection of very unusual venetian masks like the ones below.

As there are so many resources about them, we’ll update this article very soon in an organic way.  So bookmark it to know when it expands.

Next weekend people dwelling in England will have the pleasure to be able to attend the Avalon Faery Ball and Avalon Faery Fayre. Taking place in Glastonbury town Hall, Somerset. With music by the Dolmen, it’s your chance to dress and show with your best garments. There will be also a fair with sellers during the day, so you can also look among a wealth of crafters.  For more information please visit the faery balls website.

On another part of the globe, USA next early November we’ll be able to experience the Faeriecon.

Faeriecon will be celebrating in Baltimore (USA East coast) next 6-8th of November. Array yourself in your most beautiful faerie finery, don your wings, gather your friends and family and cross the threshold! You will find the largest gathering of faerie artists and authors in the world who look forward to meeting you, amazing, magical apparel, beautiful jewelry, mysterious masks, handmade crafts, fashion shows, performers, musicians, storytellers, exhibitions, panel and workshops.

And at night, the gates of Faerie open once more at the Good Faerie and Bad Faerie Masquerade Balls, acclaimed the last two years as the astounding highlight of FaerieCon. This year featured performing bands are:
-Good Faery  Ball: Telesma, SJ Tucker and Woodland
-Bad Faery Ball: Priscilla Hernandez (Spain) (yay, that’s myself by the way!) and Faun (Germany)

Look deep into your heart: are you a Good Faerie or are you a Bad Faerie? Make your choice, create your costume, and dance the night away in the Magical Realm.

The next link has to be one of the most amazing fantasy costuming sites in the internet.  Alley Cat Scratch costume is a mega data base of movie costume documentations, studying and research in great detail from famous movies gowns models and designers, providing write-ups and will help you to create your own replica.

If you’re intending to dress like ANY of the characters from The lord of the rings movie, or inspired by Tolkien works. We want you to recommend you to visit Alley. They’ve studied about the costumes from fabric to patterns to metalwork. From hobbits to elves, covering not only the gowns and garments, but also cloaks,  headresses, wigs, leather-work, shoes, belts and even make up tutorials to make you look a lotr character. They have a community to get feedback, keep you up to date with costume exhibits in different areas, and also cover dresses patterns, sewing tips  and tutorials of other movies, fantasy and sci-fi and futuristic, but being their pivotal focus in lord of the rings movies.

A must see… for those ones good at crafts, and also for those ones not so but in need of ideas, from very easy to be done to things that are for those with good hands…! Bookmark for reference, it’s an awesome site.