I’m talking about Milwaukee, where I spent last weekend drinking of the beer and wearing of the costumes.
As most constant readers of the Cheap Chick know, my four main passions in life are:
1. Having fun with frugal living.
2. World media domination, ala Rachel Ray.
3. Hot Australian men.
4. Costuming.
Over Mother’s Day Weekend, I got to indulge in one of my passions at Costume Con 28, held in Milwaukee, WI at the gorgeous downtown Hilton. (Frugal tip – we didn’t stay at the Con hotel, but across the street and down half a block at the Ramada. I think we saved $100 a night that way, plus parking and the Interwebs were FREE.).
I attended the Con with costumer extraordinaire and BFF, Larue, as well as our little costuming buddy, Princess. The three of us had juuuuusssssttttt enough room in Larue’s minivan to fit ourselves, our 5 costumes each, and food for the weekend (Frugal tip 2 – pack your own breakfast and lunch, then only eat out for dinner to save on food costs).
Although there were none of the aforementioned hot Australian men present, there was plenty of eye candy costuming going on – from sci-fi to fantasy to anime to historical garb from all periods of time. Every time you’d turn around, there would be another cool costume to squee over.
However, the very best part of Costume Con was the attendees. The people we met were more than worth the price of admission (a mere $75 per person for the whole Con). Some of the nicest, sweetest and awesomest costumers gathered in Milwaukee, and lucky me, I got to hang out with them for 3 days.
But let’s face it – I could TELL you all day long about what a great time I had, or I could SHOW you. And I think we all know which one you’d prefer, am I right? Let’s get on with the show, aka PICTURES:
Friday night was the Meet-n-Greet, which we arrived at fashionably late, dressed as Poncy, Flouncy, Adam Ant-y Pirates. Sadly this is the only picture we got of the three of us. Take my word, we were fabulous.
Saturday day, we dressed in 18th Century French outfits. Think Marie Antoinette or Danger Liaisons. In the next picture, I’m wearing an awesome wig from MaxWigs.com – the Mary Ann in pale blonde, purchased for a mere $14.99.
Here I am, lookin’ coy.* Larue made this costume in about 10 hours, including the hat, from start to finish. Yes, she is that amazing. No, you can’t bogart her for your own use. (*And no, I’m not “in love with my own middling good looks.” But thank you, past commenter, for being concerned on my behalf.)
Saturday night, we changed into our Evening Wear – i.e. another set of costumes. We ran with the spy theme of the Con, and went as Kim Possible (Princess), Mata Hari (me), and Judith from the Bible as painted by Cranach (Larue).
Saturday night was the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Masquerade, which is what the Cons call their costume presentation and competition. The creativity and artistry exhibited was totally mind-boggling… and undocumented, as my camera batteries chose that moment to die. Epic fail.
Sunday day, we changed it up again and went in Steampunk. Larue is an Explorer, Princess is a Pilot, and I’m an Assassin, complete with an array of modded weaponry affixed to my body.
Sunday night was the Historical Masquerade, aka The Night of the Green Bay Packer Elizabethan. I entered my costume and won for Best Humorous Presentation. I think the football-shaped basket helped me win.
Here we are in our Twisted Historicals – Army Camo, Green Bay Packer, and Batgirl. I think we inspired some costumers to give this look a try.
As I mentioned, there was amazing eye candy and amazing people present at the Con. Here are a few of my faves:
Nola and Gail, from Arizona. These ladies are professional costumers, and are filled with awesome sauce. Gail entered her costume, made from hotel supplies, and naturally won a boat-load of awards.
Cassandra and Kathy, from Canada and California, respectively. They, like us, had 5 costume changes – and each one was more amazing than the next. We instantly adored these two, and followed them around like costuming groupies.
Glynnis, from DC. She is an honorary Posse member and a friend of Larue’s from Costuming College. We adore Glynnis, but wish she’d move a bit closer to us. DC is FAR, people.
Suzie, Glynnis’s roommate. She happily, and comfortably, wore Regency clothing all weekend long. Notice her insane cuteness.
The ladies from our TC Victorian Society. I know – their stuff is so good, it makes me want to cry. Fortunately, they’re local, so I can actually see them more than once every year or so. Yay!
Costuming may not be the cheapest, most frugal past-time a Chick could have. But the cost of meeting these wonderful people and dressing in wonderful costumes? Priceless.
Now, on the pain of death, share with the group what your passion is, and how you afford to do it.
6 Comments
I had a wonderful time this weekend with the Wench Posse Contingent to WI, and meeting all the fab people you have highlighted here. Meeting them inspires me to up my game.
Um, topic? I afford my costuming (mostly) by selling what I make and wear, or by buying materials at a VERY reduced sale price. Otherwise? I would probably be in a sad costuming hole of monetary despair.
Y’all were so much fun this weekend! Hope you can go to Joisey next year…
Well my passion is costuming as you can see by the Victorian Picture (I’m the one in the middle) but even though I try to buy fabric with coupons and on sale..or bartering in the LA fabric district when I get back there. I still spend too much money.
But I so love to Garden and it’s very thrifty because I trade perenials with other gardeners, I get free perenials from gardeners whose gardens are overflowing and need to be split. I also get free manure from a farm and “harvest” free border rocks from farm’s fields. Of course I have permission from the farm owner first.
I borrow a tiller from a friend and use a lot of my own hard labor.
If I want to buy a plant…I wait til the end of the season when they are on sale.
Looks like a lot of fun. In my college days I was a member of a medieval rec society, and also attended a lot of science fiction conventions where they always had costume contests. Now I don’t sew worth beans although I did make a couple of medieval dresses.
These days my money pit is my 60+ years old house (which we can’t afford to fix up and sell). Also 2 puppy dogs can get pricey although they’re more of a time sink than a money sink. That being said older doggy will be 14 in July so he may get more costly soon
Love all the pictures, it looks like a lot of fun!
I have several things that I love to do in my spare time such as painting/rehabbing furniture, sewing, quilting but my favorite and the one I spend the most money on is needlework such as needlepoint. And no, it isn’t like grandma’s needlepoint. Of course I love the many types of fibers and threads you can get from overdyed cotton to the hand-died imported silks. I enjoy making things for others as gifts and have at times done stitching for magazines to help finance my obsession. Basically I guess like you, I try to keep expenses at a minimum on other things so I’ll have more for buying pretty threads and canvas designs.
Howdy! I know it is very late for me to post here, but I’m rather new to the blogosphere, so I’m claiming ignorance if I broke any rules of commenting.
I, too, am interested in costuming, but so far the only clothing I have that could possibly be considered “costume pieces” are my two corsets and my crinoline. I hope to start sewing again during my transformation, and REALLY get into costuming. I am particularly in love with Steampunk looks, and hope to go to Costume Con when it is in Arizona.
Right now, my biggest hobbies are going to comic book and pop culture conventions. I also hope to get back into knitting/crocheting before it gets too cold- as I am between jobs, perhaps I could even make some money selling warm stuff.
As a student filmmaker, I also take pleasure in watching TV and movies… especially movies… LOTS of movies… and working on my baby, the script that will make me rich and famous… well, probably not. But it’ll be my first masterpiece.
Back to costuming-
I wonder, do you sew the costumes yourself? If so, do you have any tips for future corsetiers? I am trying to figure out how to design and build my own corsets, as I find I am too long for the “average” corset on the market.
Webbernet hugs, everyone!