Jazz Age on the Delaware
Aug. 2nd, 2015 02:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mandie_rwIf you're tired of seeing all the beautiful, well-fitted, and glamourous costumes on the people at Costume College, look no further! I have a refreshing change from all those pretty things for you! ;)
Actually, I had a really good time yesterday; I reported at 10am, ate candy for 45 minutes, and then was stationed at admissions til 1.30. And then I got to go play with a small group of friends that were attending as guests. A really strenuous day, let me tell you, haha. It was an easy 90 degrees, but so much less humid than it's been lately that it didn't feel that hot, especially in the shade. In the direct sun it did get a little toasty. I was at the front table at admissions, and we kept moving the table back...and back...and back...as the sun moved. By 1.30 we were right up against the carriage house! Which smelled very strongly like an old basement.
This was the first Jazz Age on the Delaware, and I thought it went pretty smoothly, as these things go. I didn't hear about any major casualties, anyway! And personally, I thought it was a lot nicer than the Jazz Age Lawn Party that we went to in NYC a few years ago. The only better thing about that one was that you didn't have to purchase a ticket, could just sit outside the "pen" and picnic if you wanted. At this one you had to pay the $45 to get onto the grounds at all. But it's a much nicer location, I think - right on the river, with a mansion for a pretty background, a lot more space to spread out, more trees, lawn games, and you could actually hear the music! The only other negative was if you weren't a gin person, because Hendricks was a sponsor and there wasn't much else. I am a gin person though, so if I'd been purchasing I'd have been happy!
And I think the crowd looked better, overall. Not that there weren't any fringey-out-of-a-bag flapper Halloween costumes, but at least the vast majority of them were butt-covering! We saw waaaaaay too many butts at the JALP in NY! And most people at least made an effort - women in floaty sundresses, men in a hat and bowtie, that sort of thing. The evil costume snark in me was actually quite disappointed yesterday! I actually didn't see any "OH HONEY NOs"...so sad. ;)
Right, the dress.
Sorry for the blinding apron, the original was actually even worse. This is after toning it down!
I got an unprecedented amount of people thinking I was a nurse. I mean...okay? Sure, the dress could work for both, but do you see a red cross? Also, it's not WWI up in here. Stop it. I was severely confused each time it happened. Lady: "where's the Red Cross?" Me: "....uhhhhh, I dunno, down there?" *waves hand vaguely* Lady: "No, no, you. Aren't you a nurse?" Me: *stares idiotically* Later I guessed that she was asking about the uncapitalized red cross. That was not on my uniform. Definitely one of those "knows just enough to be dangeous" people...
The apron straps had a tendency to creep down, while the apron crept up. For practicality's sake, I'd button the straps to the ties rather than sliding the ties through a loop on the bottom, as they are now. If, in theory, I were ever going to wear this again! Maybe for next year's Jazz Age on the Delaware... And I did remember to get pictures sans apron when I went home.
IT'S SO UUUUUGLY. I mean, I am content in the fact that it does, in fact, look very appropriate for working-class 20s, which was the whole point of this dress. But damn it's ugly. My own sensibilities just cannot with this dress!
A very few pictures of Things That Are Not Me at the party that I thought to take...
Pretty riverfront. "It's a BOAT. A boat with a SAIL." "Damn, we know boats so well."
Lawn games and the mansion, behind a tree. I am SO good at this picture-taking thing.
Judy bought a hat, which may have been one of the Best Hats Ever.
And she won the costume contest! Which no one actually knew was happening as it wasn't in the program, and we didn't know she won, either, til one of us was in the porta-potty and heard them calling her name, LOL! I should have gotten a full-length of her outfit, as it's rather fab. Although apparently some derpy person asked if the coat was hand-painted. "Uh, no, it's from Joann's." Hee. We decided she should have said yes, because if you have to ask...
In summary, I hope they decide this event was a success and do it again next year! I will even wear the Dumpiest Dress in the World again! Maybe. ;)
Actually, I had a really good time yesterday; I reported at 10am, ate candy for 45 minutes, and then was stationed at admissions til 1.30. And then I got to go play with a small group of friends that were attending as guests. A really strenuous day, let me tell you, haha. It was an easy 90 degrees, but so much less humid than it's been lately that it didn't feel that hot, especially in the shade. In the direct sun it did get a little toasty. I was at the front table at admissions, and we kept moving the table back...and back...and back...as the sun moved. By 1.30 we were right up against the carriage house! Which smelled very strongly like an old basement.
This was the first Jazz Age on the Delaware, and I thought it went pretty smoothly, as these things go. I didn't hear about any major casualties, anyway! And personally, I thought it was a lot nicer than the Jazz Age Lawn Party that we went to in NYC a few years ago. The only better thing about that one was that you didn't have to purchase a ticket, could just sit outside the "pen" and picnic if you wanted. At this one you had to pay the $45 to get onto the grounds at all. But it's a much nicer location, I think - right on the river, with a mansion for a pretty background, a lot more space to spread out, more trees, lawn games, and you could actually hear the music! The only other negative was if you weren't a gin person, because Hendricks was a sponsor and there wasn't much else. I am a gin person though, so if I'd been purchasing I'd have been happy!
And I think the crowd looked better, overall. Not that there weren't any fringey-out-of-a-bag flapper Halloween costumes, but at least the vast majority of them were butt-covering! We saw waaaaaay too many butts at the JALP in NY! And most people at least made an effort - women in floaty sundresses, men in a hat and bowtie, that sort of thing. The evil costume snark in me was actually quite disappointed yesterday! I actually didn't see any "OH HONEY NOs"...so sad. ;)
Right, the dress.
Sorry for the blinding apron, the original was actually even worse. This is after toning it down!
I got an unprecedented amount of people thinking I was a nurse. I mean...okay? Sure, the dress could work for both, but do you see a red cross? Also, it's not WWI up in here. Stop it. I was severely confused each time it happened. Lady: "where's the Red Cross?" Me: "....uhhhhh, I dunno, down there?" *waves hand vaguely* Lady: "No, no, you. Aren't you a nurse?" Me: *stares idiotically* Later I guessed that she was asking about the uncapitalized red cross. That was not on my uniform. Definitely one of those "knows just enough to be dangeous" people...
The apron straps had a tendency to creep down, while the apron crept up. For practicality's sake, I'd button the straps to the ties rather than sliding the ties through a loop on the bottom, as they are now. If, in theory, I were ever going to wear this again! Maybe for next year's Jazz Age on the Delaware... And I did remember to get pictures sans apron when I went home.
IT'S SO UUUUUGLY. I mean, I am content in the fact that it does, in fact, look very appropriate for working-class 20s, which was the whole point of this dress. But damn it's ugly. My own sensibilities just cannot with this dress!
A very few pictures of Things That Are Not Me at the party that I thought to take...
Pretty riverfront. "It's a BOAT. A boat with a SAIL." "Damn, we know boats so well."
Lawn games and the mansion, behind a tree. I am SO good at this picture-taking thing.
Judy bought a hat, which may have been one of the Best Hats Ever.
And she won the costume contest! Which no one actually knew was happening as it wasn't in the program, and we didn't know she won, either, til one of us was in the porta-potty and heard them calling her name, LOL! I should have gotten a full-length of her outfit, as it's rather fab. Although apparently some derpy person asked if the coat was hand-painted. "Uh, no, it's from Joann's." Hee. We decided she should have said yes, because if you have to ask...
In summary, I hope they decide this event was a success and do it again next year! I will even wear the Dumpiest Dress in the World again! Maybe. ;)
