A revelation

[frualeydis]

I just realized why I feel more and more drawn to Nordmark (SCA principality that covers Sweden). It is not that my original society, Nordrike, isn't good anymore or anything like that. It's that I need the company of fellow costume fanatics. Although there is a high material standard in Nordrike, many have good re-enactment group standard, especially those who do late 15th century, there aren't any people who are interested in costume the way I am. People make good clothes so they can wear them while they do other things they're passionate about, be it period sword fighting or crafts, or even partying. But they're not passionate about costume. They can be good and meticulous researchers for their specific period, but the costuming is a means, not an end. And they don't have a broader interest in costuming or dress history.
Outside my local group there was two women who shared this passion for costume and who I talked a lot to before, but Caroline is very ill and Julia has left our society to do late 14th century re-enactment with this group. (BTW, seeing this guy in armour or period clothing, still makes my heart flutter, 8 years after I first met him. I'm not in love or anything like that, I just think he looks so good in his gear. There are lots of pictures of him and other people under "Bilder".)
There were others too, but they were not as interested and have narrowed their scope to only one period and place and are not interested in anything outside this period.
So I need new costuming buddies. They don't have to do more than one period, just be interested in learning more and have an open mind about other people's interpretations. And to still be curious about costume, I hate this feeling of "I know everything I need to know" that I feel among many people in Nordrike. I want to be able to discuss sources, construction theories and practical tips with other costumers.

And yes, I should be working.

Comments

[guyelfkin.livejournal.com]

It's actually similar to the state of the costuming community in the UK.

THere are many many people who do costume as a means to and end for various groups and societies, but very few of them are interested in costume generally, costume outside their specific focus of interest (a specific period or group usually) or in costume for the sake of costume rather than to enable them to take part in that group's activities.

As a result , generic costuming groups like Costume Guild UK, and costume events, such as Wardrobe - the UK Costume Convention have trouble attracting members and the events are underattended.

In the US, the population is so much bigger that the smallproportion interested enough in costume to join such groups, attend such events is big enough to keep the ggroup running and make it worth holding the events, over here we struggle to do both.

Teddy

[pinque.livejournal.com]

Same here. It tends to be in small groups as a side issue. Like the SCA or cosplay. I find the cosplay groups here to be the least open to other ideas actually, and seem to not realise that the term simply means costumed play which has been happening around the world lobe before the term came to be known only for the japanese cartoon/comic book costumes.

There are no places to celebrate costume in all its forms.

[guyelfkin.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it can be a lnely existence as a costumer interested in a range of costuming....

which is why it's nice we can at least commiunicate with others electronically.

Teddy

[guyelfkin.livejournal.com]

{gack!} Typos

LONELY!!! I meant to type lonely...{sigh!}

Teddy