Turban It Up

February 27, 2019 notadamselindistressmegLeave a comment

This week is a little different. I’ve talked about cosplays and different retro inspired topics, but now I’ll get into a more historical reenactment flare, and doing it on the cheap.

It’s my never-ending despair that so many reenactors insist that the hobby (regardless of era) is expensive. I’ve here to say: you can do it on a budget, and not sacrifice historical accuracy in the process. Saying otherwise is so very detrimental to the hobby, and to encouraging others to partake in history. I’m advocating for inclusivity, while educating.

So there’s just a taste of my soap box. I’ll step down now.

This week, I’m going to present a cute, little fixed turban hat for the Regency era.

Turbans were quite popular in the Regency era (what folks typically think of when we talk about Jane Austen for a reference). They varied from pieces of beautiful fabric wrapped, and tied around the head, and those that were “fixed,” or made to look wrapped, but in actuality, tacked down as a proper hat.

I had originally thought to simply cut my matching fabric and wrap around my head. There’s plenty of good tutorials on the internet for that, but then I grabbed the fabric and realized that I didn’t quite have enough. To the internet I went, and found this wonderful tutorial by one of my favorite blogs and historical seamstresses: Festive Attyre.

Conveniently, sun hats are on the cheap at places like Target and Walmart, so I picked up a cheap one from Target and cut the brim off. Warning, don’t do this on carpet with a nosy kitty. The straw bits shed and then you have to painstakingly pick up the pieces.

After, I cut a strip for the band around the printed edge of my fabric (PS. I’ll talk more about this fabric when I post about the dress itself that matches it when I wear it in a few weeks). I cut a giant oval, and went to work following the tutorial.

It was fairly easy, and I’m no milliner. In fact, that’s where I will save and spend: on hats. They’re tricky buggers. Not this one. I really enjoyed the draping, and inconsistency of the pleating. You cut your fabric, then sit and just pin and stitch. I actually did it watching television, and in the span of a movie, had it complete.

The final touches, the pulling, and folding on the access of the crown poof (though I’ve seen enough evidence of different hats that you could stop there if that’s the look you’re going for), is a trial and error, pull, tack with pins, and stare at it for a bit, experiment. I redid my pins about three times before I ended up with the final product.

In the end, it creates this cute fixed turban. Now, I haven’t decided if I’m sticking some flowers or feathers in it (probably feathers), and I still need to line it (though I just may not)…but for $5 and some left over fabric, I have a cute hat that is 100% accurate, and didn’t break my bank.

1940s · Historical · Military · WWII

Jacket Style: The Ike Jacket

February 14, 2019 notadamselindistressmegLeave a comment

I had an easy cosplay post lined up, and I’ll still get to it, but I wanted to mix it up a bit and offer up a post on an accessory that is completely findable, wearable, and historical. The Ike Jacket.

A brief history: The Eisenhower or “Ike” Jacket, was a late WWII issued jacket. It was inspired, and you could even say, directly taken from the British battle jacket. Eisenhower had requested a jacket that was cropped, but functional, like the British battle jacket. What came of this was the M-44 issued jacket. Cropped, practical, but stylish.

You see them rise in Post-War, not only by the US Army, but the US Air Force. They underwent several different adaptations, but it become one of the most popular uniform additions to not only the US Armed Forces, but police and civilian forces as well. It’s easy to wear, provides movement, and it looks good.

The women were issued a version of the Ike Jacket as well, particularly the WASPs, however, these are incredibly difficult to find. At least at a reasonable price. If you’d like to try and find one, you’ll spend a decent penny.

The men’s version, however, is fairly popular. If you attend reenactments, or browse eBay, you have find nice versions for anywhere between $17-$30. There are some, with their original pins, patches, badges, etc. that go for much higher, but if you want a simple Ike, you can find them.

I found my beauty for $10. In fact, I found a blue, which would date probably to around the 50s when the Air Force adopted them, for the same price. There are subtle differences, so if you intend to wear them for reenactments, and are subject to inspections, you’ll want to do some hefty research, but if you are looking to acquire one to keep warm, or to wear about, they are an affordable option.

I purchased mine at an air show and reenactment when the weather turned out to be a wee bit chilly (ironically, the next day, I was melting in my mechanic coveralls). It certainly kept me warm… and offered a lovely set of photos.

So if you’re looking to add some historical to your life, an Ike Jacket might be it. As always, just respect that these are historical pieces, that someone may or may not have owned, and worn with pride. Love them, respect them, and give them life.

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The Manifesto

January 22, 2019 notadamselindistressmegLeave a comment

That’s right… the first post. The Manifesto! I could be cheeky and pull a Plays-With-Squirrels moment (if you get that, I love you), but I won’t.

Basically, this is the mission statement post. All blogs have them. It’s just part of nature. Who am I to shake that up? I’m not, that’s who.

So, I was sitting one night, frustrated with the various communities (cosplay, retro, reenacting) that were basically making it seem like you have to have money in the bank to do these hobbies. You have to have the $20/yard period correct fabric. False. I buy at Joann, and have been regularly complimented on the historical accuracy. You have to have such-and-such prop that’s 100% screen accurate. False. I rarely do, yet people get who I’m cosplaying. You have to purchase from insert-expensive-retro-site-here. False. I buy from Amazon, or big-box stores and STILL look “accurate.” My point being: stop telling people they have to be rich to play, and start helping them look for ways to play that’s in their budget.

Therefore BudgetBounding begins. An open book of what I spend, how I do my research to get the historical accuracy so that I don’t spend $20/yard, and how I throw together looks for cheap. It’s simultaneously easy and hard, and I’m all about it. Everyone can do these things. Everyone. And I want to help show you how you can.

Stay turned for some Captain Marvel. Some 18th century. Some retro. All of the things.