(no subject)

[ksmith]

Why is it that those fragments of scenes, those odd mentions and bits of business, are the parts that take the most damned research?

Comments

[mithriltabby]

Anthropic principle, perhaps? (You were already able to assemble the big ones because you’d already done enough research for them that they fit together easily from what you had in working memory.)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I think it's because the Big Scenes seldom involve descriptions of shirt collars. And jackets.

[mithriltabby]

Yeah, those details can get interesting. My mother’s a member of the Costumer’s Guild, so I can usually pick her brains for details; you might find their bookshelf handy.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[lmarley.livejournal.com]

Yup. I'm constantly getting hung up on historical underwear.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

"He took off his shirt."

How, exactly? Did he unbutton it? Were there buttons back then? Or did he untie the neck and pull the shirt over his head? Was there a collar? Was it long and pointy or kinda like a ruff. Because at some point, when you least expect it and you don't really have time to look things up, it will matter.

Jiminy Christmas Pete!

[lmarley.livejournal.com]

I love costume museums, for this very reason. Last winter I spent an hour in the basement of the Met in New York, making notes on the quite fabulous exhibit of costumes they had there. Used almost everything, too!

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

"The Met" as in the Opera House? I would have taken the time to visit if I had known the had things like that. Although the hours spent the Metropolitan Museum of Art were not wasted. Their clothing display was confined to couture, however, which I would have enjoyed at any other time.

[lmarley.livejournal.com]

I did tour the Met that trip, also for research purposes, but in this case I meant the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was a display of couture, but there were at least half a dozen historical costumes, and some of them were spectacular. The internet has been very helpful, as well. I had good luck googling things like "18th Century Costumes" and found good sites that are meant for costume designers.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Were the costumes early 1800s? If they weren't, I would have blown them off. Not the period I was interested in.

If I did miss them, then it wasn't for want of hunting. I asked the guides, and tramped all over that damned place. My feet ached.

[jemck.livejournal.com]

May I recommend Fashion in Costume 1200-2000 by Joan Nunn.
(Amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fashion-Costume-1200-2000-Joan-Nunn/dp/156663279X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228494142&sr=8-1))
(Amazon US (http://www.amazon.com/Fashion-Costume-1200-2000-Revised-Joan/dp/156663279X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228494245&sr=8-1)

My copy is one of those entirely serendipitous 'ooh, that looks like it could be useful' authorial book purchases, that I have since found invaluable.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Oh..a reference book...

Thank you!