Costume-Con 30, At a Glance

Costume-Con 30 is a 4-day weekend conference for everyone who designs, makes, wears and/or admires costumes. CC-30 will include a myriad of instructional workshops, panel discussions, displays, a dealers’ room, costume competitions, get-togethers, parties, and the broadest collection of creativity all focused on costuming that you have ever had the privilege to contact in one place. Nothing starts the creative juices flowing in new paths like the intensive exposure to fresh viewpoints, techniques and enthusiastic dialog. Here, there be passion...

Want to get an overview of what makes up Costume-Con 30? Start here!

STAGE EVENTS

Masquerades - Costume competition; costumes are presented on stage with a bit of theatrical support to show the work off to its best advantage. Technically, we’ll have two, the SF/F, and the Historical. Costumers compete at several different levels: Young Fan (under 13), Novice, Journeyman and Master.

* Science Fiction and Fantasy costumes are evaluated by judges seated in the audience (Presentation) and by close examination by a separate panel (Workmanship) which is optional on the part of the contestant. 

* Historical costumes are judged on documentation (research on the garment(s)/style(s)/historical period), construction (how well it is made), and presentation (how well the audience is entertained). There are three categories: 

Recreation – where you look like you just stepped out of the historical period.  Not necessarily a recreation of a specific outfit in a picture, but as if it could be.  

Interpretation – where the ‘lines are period’ but no one would think you were from a historical period.

Ethnic – For essential changeless styles like an Indian Sari.

Future Fashion: A two-part competition

  1. The design competition takes place prior to the conference, with designers submitting their designs by mail. Winning designs are e-published in the Future Fashion Folio approximately 6 months before the conference. All convention members will receive a copy.
  2. Conference attendees have the option of creating designs from the Future Fashion Folio to present on our runway. Finished garments are evaluated on how faithfully the original design is realized.

Single Pattern/Wearable Art Costume Contest: There are three patterns to choose from this year; attendees pick a pattern, apply lots of imagination, and get to show off in their creations on stage at the Friday Night Social.

CC Runway: First time at a Costume-Con – up to ten entrants will be given the opportunity to create a design on Thursday, shop for it, sew it up, and have it presented on the Runway on Friday night, somewhat like the tv show, but in a very condensed time period.

STATIC SHOWS & DISPLAYS

Quilt Competition: Quilts, art quilts, and quilted versions of wearable art are evaluated and exhibited.

Doll Costume Competition: Costumed dolls (mini-masterpieces) are evaluated and exhibited. Costumes may be entered on purchased or scratch-built dolls.

Cactus Puppet Exhibit: Attendees are encouraged to create a kid-friendly cactus puppet that will be displayed during the convention, and then donated to a local children’s hospital at the end of the convention.

Costume Exhibit: Several costumers will be providing their past creations to be displayed on mannequins for your viewing pleasure.

PROGRAMMING, AND OTHER FUN THINGS TO DO

Demonstrations & Workshops: The main point of Costume-Con is to learn and share costuming techniques. To that end, many talented costumers will be sharing their skills and expertise to teach you something new.

Video Masquerade: If you have a costume presentation or story that doesn’t quite fit on stage for whatever reason, consider making a costume-video and submitting it by March 30, 2012 – it will be entered into the short-film festival, to be shown at CC30!

Retrospectives: CC30’s Honored Attendees, Bjo & John Trimble and Lance Ikegawa will each present a visual show of their past creations. [link to “honored attendee” bio page]

Dealers’ Room: A room full of great vendors that you can go buy cool costuming books and supplies, patterns, fabric, and who-knows-what-else, from!

Friday Night Social: A social event where you can dress up to fit the theme (or not, as you choose), enjoy a drink or two and some snacks, meet new folks and have fun, and sit back and watch the CC Runway contest and the Single Pattern Show.

Field Trips: Field trips are currently being planned to local points of interest. The events are geared to both the visiting costumers and locals alike. Destinations include the Costume Institute and the Phoenix Art Museum, the Heard Museum (SW Native American regalia and art), Wild West Mercantile, and more!


“Costume-Con” is a registered service mark of Karen Dick, used by permission. Thanks to CC26 for providing the basis for this page.