Another Titanic event to attend!

View of the Rose Garden from June 2004.

Although the majority of Titanic commemorative events happened last month, on or around the actual anniversary of the sinking, there are still a few here and there, providing more opportunities for wearing the costumes that everyone worked so diligently to complete.  The next one on the calendar for the San Jose area is the South Bay Ladies' Tea Guild's Titanic Survivor's Reunion Picnic.  Here are the details:

Titanic Survivors’ Reunion Tea: Imagine yourself as someone who might have been a passenger on the Titanic, and survived the tragic sinking.  We'll get together for a picnic to celebrate our survival and remember those who were lost.  Gentlemen and older children welcome!
Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012.
Location: San Jose Municipal Rose Garden (near the Rosicrucian Museum)
Cost: $25 per person
Suggested Costume: day or dressy afternoon dress, 1900 through 1915, all classes.

1912 fashion catalog page. From the
American Duchess blog.

Advance ticket purchase required to facilitate food preparation, because a selection of Edwardian period-appropriate picnic foods will be provided, including sandwiches, cookies, cake and iced tea.  Tickets will be on sale until Thursday, May 10, so please R.S.V.P. and send food fees soon!  Checks and PayPal payments can be accepted, or if you see me in person you can pay in cash.  Costumes are suggested, but not required for admission, although a big sun hat and picnic blanket are recommended because there are only a few picnic tables in the shade at the Rose Garden!

As for costume, there are several sewing patterns on the market that will provide you with a good look.  Men can wear straight-leg slacks in a solid color, with in-obtrusive pockets, a matching vest and single or double-breasted blazer, white button-down shirt, dark bow tie or necktie, suspenders, dark leather dress shoes, and a straw boater hat.

1912 fashion plate.

If you don't make your own costume from one of the historic patterns, women should wear a long straight or slightly A-line skirt, with the hem somewhere between the ground and mid-calf, with a matching or lighter color blouse with a jewel or high square or V neckline (lace-trimmed is good), a decorative belt, white tights and Mary Jane pumps, and a wide, fancy sun hat.  One of the distinguishing aspects about this period of fashion is the fit of the skirt or dress waistline: it should be tightly fitted, and high on the torso, somewhere around the bottom of the rib cage.  The look that people often associate with "Victorian" is actually Edwardian or World War 1-era style, so those lace collars, lace-trimmed blouses, and huge flowery hats are much closer to Titanic-era style than Victorian style, and are good for this event.

If you're looking for historic patterns, remember that the Titanic set sail and sank in April of 1912, so you'd be looking for styles between about 1910 and 1915.  The late-Victorian/early-Edwardian froufrou is too early, and the 1920s Flapper look is too late for this period.  Wearing History, Hints of History, Sense & Sensibility, Laughing Moon and Patterns of Fashion are all companies that produce patterns good for this time period.

I you'd like to attend, please R.S.V.P. by e-mail to southbayladiesteaguild (at) yahoo (dot) com!  Looking forward to seeing you there!