How I Became a Fashion Historian
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- I'm often asked how I ended up in this field, when I discovered my interests, and how others can find their own path through such a novel career option. Fashion history is relatively new in the academic world and has only been recognized in the last couple of decades as a valid field of study. The historical costuming community has played a huge role in developing the knowledge and interest. When I began to do research as a teenager, it was in a library- in books and microfiche. Blogs and websites chronicling the journeys others were making through their projects appeared a few years after I graduated from college. The world of historical sewing is dramatically changed since I began to take interest, but the experiences, difficulties, and successes are still very much the same.
My path has taken me through technical theatre, costume shops, trade shops at Colonial Williamsburg, running my own business, historical workshops, and more. It's not where I would ever have planned on ending up, but the journey has been worthwhile! So let's talk about different ways to pick up skills, why it's important to reach out and socialize, and how to not get caught up waiting for your dream job.
Sins Against Our Soles (Thesis): digitalcommons...
True Colours Flag Project: www.amrevmuseu...
Other Makers
Kim Boice: www.facebook.c...
Kirsten Hammerstrom: / kittycalash
Kaitlin Healy: / sassykaitlin
Ruth Hodges
Nastassia Parker: / tiger.lilys.threads
Gabriela Salvador: / pour_la_victoire
Jana Violante: / janaviolante
Hannah Wallace: / loomwovenrugs
The Betsy Ross House: / thebetsyrosshouse
Burnley & Trowbridge Workshops: burnleyandtrow...
Ball State University Dept of Theatre and Dance: www.bsu.edu/ac...
University of Nebraska-Lincoln TMFD: cehs.unl.edu/t...
Socials
Instagram: / silk_and_buckram
Tiktok: / cloche_call
Patreon: / nicolerudolph
🎶Music via Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicso...)
NEVER stop learning! I never got my bachelor's until I was 40 and my master's at 60. Now I'm 65 and looking at classes for the fall at the local state college. Love your videos & the back story.
Yes! I'm 50 and always taking new classes or trying to teach myself new things. Those new things don't always go well, but the knowledge that comes from failure is really valuable.
This is so encouraging! I'm 27 and only now about to get my Bachelor's after taking a bit of a mental health detour after school. It's good to know that, while I often feel like I'm late compared to my peers, older people than me made it happen.
@@sarahk8053 This is so encouraging and welcoming to hear. I am 33 and halfway through working on my Bachelors. I often feel like I am late into the field as well. But life happens and everyone has their own timeline, or at least that is what I remind myself.
While I understand what you’re saying, some of us have never been able to afford further education, however much we may have wanted to. However, classroom learning isn’t the only kind of learning. I’ve taught myself many things....RUclips is fantastic for learning new things. Libraries are also great free resources to teach yourself things. I don’t have a work income, so I can’t afford to spend money on anything but essentials in most cases. I don’t even have an internet connection where I live. Fortunately I’m not far from the library, and THEY have free internet, during weekdays during the day at least. I would truly love to be able to take classes in several of the areas I’m interested in, but it’s not an option atm. I thank the deities every day that the internet exists....I’m old enough to remember when information on just about any subject wasn’t at everyone’s fingertips thanks to the World Wide Web. Sure it would be nice to be able to access it from home.....but I can do the library lol.
Im 47 and working on my batchelors
I, for one, am really glad that your path has led you to share the cool things you've learned with us on RUclips. I was one of those teenagers who wandered away from history when it became all names and dates and memorizing things for exams, and am so glad to have been drawn back in. I love how much realer the history feels when you get to zoom in and look at the details and find the stories of ordinary people.
I can understand what you mean entirely. While I think that the dates are important for understanding context, it is really individuals stories and perceptions of those stories that really highlights the beauty of history.
Honestly this!!!
Yes!
I'm in year 12 in Australia, and we could probably bullsh1t our way through the Modern History exam without learning any content tbh, because the point of it is to learn how to analyse sources and understand perspectives.
Obviously it's important to have context, but I'd feel really sad if we were just learning meaningless numbers. The perspectives are what make history important!
A snoring puppy on a cushion beside you while you stitch seems the perfect historically accurate touch for any scene ❤️
Yes, I melted when I saw it! It also made me think about my buddy Breintje, I miss that little bun so much... He used to lay against me on the sofa for hours as I was knitting or embroidering. Bunnies become very sociable at night, so I relished those long winter nights. Sometimes I'd hear the birds starting to chirp and realised that it was almost dawn!
Breintje became a real cuddlebug as he aged, and he had very long naps for a rabbit. I managed to film a 3 minute dream, which is ages by rabbit standards. He was 9 at the time, but still an active senior. ruclips.net/video/4X5UJGxF9VQ/видео.html
I am so excited for this, I'm 14 years old and my dream is to be a fashion historian. :D
Like your thumbnail,I was watching Picnic last evening. You could start getting into fashion historian mindset now,then when people ask you what you want to do tell them"my hobby is fashion history,but I want to take it further,and make a career out of it"!
@@pheart2381 thank you for the advice!! And Picnic At Hanging Rock is a great movie, it's one of my favorites
Absolutely! I was really interested in fashion history at that age and even started sewing then (which is one of my personal interests) but didn't know it could be a career, or that there were other people who were interested in it. I really wish I had stuck with it and kept learning and trying new things; I would know so much more by now! Try things out, keep learning and talking to people about it (you might even find some good friends that way :) ). Even Nicole mentioned in this video that sometimes you don't know how much you love something until you try it (for her it was shoemaking, and look where she's gone with it!). Everything is a journey, but don't feel like you can't pursue it because of your age. Don't feel like you have to delay learning or trying projects because you aren't college age yet or maybe don't know people who are into it. If you're interested in sewing, even using some thrifted bedsheets can be a great place to start! Even a little bit goes a long way :D
@@lindsey7276 thank you for the advice, i appreciate it :D
Lovely!! Starting early! 😄😄😄
The gentle puppy snore is very soothing. It’s always interesting to see how people got where they are. Thanks for sharing!
Re: university of Nebraska. Snob appeal often draws people to the big name universities. Many of the others offer fabulous programs. In smaller, less expensive places. And as for taking it over three years instead of two - less pressure, a real life, more time to concentrate on your thesis.
I didn't notice the puppy snore till you put the camera on him
Hi From Bundaberg Australia. I hated history during my high school years, marring young and raising two children on my own I found reading was fun. During my 40's I went to college to learn computer technology and later was employed by that college. I became a tutor for the disabled students wanting to learn computer technology, retiring I kept learning and lately I found you, Abby and other history fashion channels on You Tube.Hearing about your background and what you do now is a real pleasure to watch and learn. Thank you for going out there and doing what you love.
I learned to sew at 25 y o when my son was a newborn and I was living in the frozen north of the province of Quebec without family or friends. We had pbs and there was a show about quilt in a day. My interest in historical clothing is a Covid side effect 😉
😲 OMG Quebec! Sorry, got excited! I'm from Montreal ☺️
Same here about the Covid side effect! Haha. I love the Costube community and the creators I've found so far - and I'm learning so much! 🤓🧠
I watched that same quilt show with a newborn.
That is so cold!
I honestly wish you were going around speaking at high schools--both in a historical interpretation role, or even in a sort of "guidance counseling" role. Because your career path both highlights how messy the real world is, but also how it's okay to feel like you're off-script or off the beaten path, and how just living life and connecting with people can guide you in a way all the planning in the world cannot. This adds a whole new dimension to the already-incredible and entertaining videos you make. Stay amazing!!!
Is it wrong that I squeed when you said you’d link your thesis? There is a part of me that wishes I had discovered this love and obsession for historical clothing when I was younger...but I wouldn’t be who I am now, and wouldn’t have appreciated it in the same way. Your experience is incredibly interesting! Someday I’d love to hear the story of Lt. Threadopus. I love hearing people’s fun/silly/you had to be there stories! Thank you for letting us get to know you a little better.
Bailey is so CUTE!! Bailey and my Max would get along famously...they’re both adorable, snoring, pup-a-lumps.
Can say how much I agree about high school history. How they take such a fascinating topic and turn it into a dull boring recital of dates. With a single viewpoint of a single person depicting them as a one sided undeveloped character!!!
That's why Terry Deary wrote the Horrible Histories books which led to a fantastic five seasons of the TV show, because he wanted to help kids see that History was interesting (and gory).
@@Hair8Metal8Karen those books were amazing and the only one I could get my reluctant reader to read for years!
@@robintheparttimesewer6798 You can see BBC TV episodes based on the books, here on RUclips!
@@evelynsaungikar3553 that’s great to know! My reluctant reader had a son I’m trying to get him interested in reading. This means I’m back to watching for silly and strange books at thrift stores. Horrible History and Captain Underpants are my top priority.
@@robintheparttimesewer6798 Amazon has them.
I didn’t hear the snoring dogs in the video because I am surrounded by my own snoring dogs.
Awww! 🥰
Out of all the historical costubers I personally find that I learn the most from you in regards to how to actually *do* things and the information behind fabrics and theory of construction 😊
Also you must have fingers of steel because I never see you wearing a thimble!
Yes! This! I’ve heard Abby just -go off- about thimbles and NEVER see her best friend use one. I find it absolutely hilarious.
I suspect that Nicole grips the needle tightly and pulls it through, rather than pushing it through, whatever she's sewing. She also probably pierces the holes with an awl before putting the needle in. I've been known to use a sailor's palm (it is a "thimble" held in the palm of the hand) to sew leather. Some people grip the needle with pliers (I was taught that was heresy, since it damages/roughens the needle's shank) and other people wrap a well waxed piece of sinew or thread around the needle to give them a handle on it. Where there's a will, there's a way - it just may seem unconventional to others!
I'm definitely not over here being exactly crazy enough to want to go read your thesis and trying to figure out when I'll have time... But I do have the day off 🤓
I'm definitely not over here (having just finished reading it) encouraging you to go for it.
I'm going to go back to marveling at the shoe construction process and the amount of detailed work there (it's the making of the silk braid that's currently blowing my mind)
I’m 22 & I started sewing fairly recently. I’ve been interested in history for a while now & always wanted to learn to sew bit didn’t know how to go about it. At some point while I was attending a community college I decided on a whim to take a beginning sewing class just cuz & it gave me enough of the basic knowledge to do my own thing. The semester finished during the early stages of plague so we had to switch to online & ever since one just used RUclips videos & trial & error to learn. I’ve gotten rather decent at it. I mostly machine sew stuff made of bedsheets then finish raw edges & hems by hand. Using cheap thrift store bedsheets is a great way to eliminate the pressure & risk factor. If you mess up a $3 piece of fabric it’s no big deal.
That’s basically how I started, hope this might be helpful to someone interested in starting. Idk
The old sheets is definitely the way to go. I'm sewing sporadically for 50 years now and still find them the most convenient for trying out new patterns for fitting.
Yes, it's helpful! I need to get back into sewing and learn more, and just found a thrift store with a great supply of "inexpensive fabric."
I love hearing people’s stories! They’re so fascinating!
Also cute sleepy pup!
Same here, and also look behind them and see the Treasures hahahhaa
Thank you for posting the link to your thesis. I enjoyed reading it and it did give me a lot of new information. My professiomal background as an othopaedic surgeon with the emphasis on "P&O" (Prosthetics and Orthotics) has provided me with a lot of clinical experience with deformed feet up to the sad and tragic cases of amputations, especially when diabetic feet meet ill fitting footwear. The desire to have small feet is still very strong (here in Germany), a lot of women simply deny that they should wear anything above size 39 (= US size 8). My solution would be to create a brand called "Size Eight" so even if a lady buys her correct size 9, 10 (or whatever) she can always truthfully claim it is a "Size Eight" shoe. Again: Thank you for the link and all the work you put into that thesis!
Ok, that is so clever ! If you get the chance, you should absolutely start that company. I didn’t realize a desire for small feet was so prevalent and so DANGEROUS.
As a US size 11 (+/- depending on the company) women’s shoe, I can’t even IMAGINE trying to stuff my big ol’ boats into a size eight. I’ve pretty much given up on women’s shoes entirely given the length and breadth is my feet. It’s almost impossible to find anything in-store that fits and I’m not a fan of blind-buying shoes online without the chance to try them on.
A company dedicated to larger sizes in fashionable styles would be really great to see. The naming convention is just the icing on the cake.
LOVED this, Nicole! Great life advice--that could be a great journal brainstorming sesh. I spotted Abby at the 12:41 mark and thought, "I wonder if she'll talk about how they met." I love those kind of friendship stories. Also, your snoozing dog makes the cutest pillow. :-)
I began collecting Victorian clothes in the 1970s in Newport RI. I never knew why. I just loved them and the time period. I then got into quilts decorative sewing and making costumes. Got an associates degree in Art. Became a single mom and have done crazy jobs all my life. From displays at Macy’s to a quilt store to decorating with sheets to teaching seniors jewelry making... all because I fell in love with Victorian clothes....
I am a 66 yr old woman and love all the chanel with this type of content... I crochet and needlepoint and many more needle work.... many years ogo I chose to teach classes on the needle art .... to see young women like yourself teaching so many people at once is great .... you blew my mind with the shoe makeing... thank you for sharing
I used to sit with my mom as she sewing when I was a kid. I also did some basic projects of sewing while in High School and in Home eca I did some sewing as well. Because my mom was once a Home Eca teacher once and she talked to the teacher at the school, so the teacher knew I knew some of the basics of sewing and knew because also talked about what I need to work on as well. When it came to embroidering I got fed up with the embroidering chalk and brought some tailor's chalk from my house and used that to lay out what I need to embroider. I haven't done much sewing in a long time, but I have crochet a lot, but I did buy some fabric and some easy sewing patterns to sew myself a skirt and top along with some cloaks because I really want to make myself a couple of Viking dresses and aprons and to get back into sewing.
Thank you so much for sharing this story! I'm an opera singer, not a fashion historian, but I think anyone in a creative, artsy field driven by passion and nerdery can really relate. 💖There's not a lot of well-paid, consistent work in opera, either, but when you're open to every path and excited about what you do, I think the process of finding your thing can be almost as fun as DOING your thing itself! (Of course, it can also be stressful and scary. But the things we do for art! 😂)
Nerdery! Love it!
I got a book from Scholastic when I was 10 “ How To Sew “ so I learned a backstitch and the over and over stitch . I already knew the buttonhole from a 1st grade project where we sewed a bookmark over a square mesh . So when I started making doll clothes for dolls that id made out of embroidery thread it was sorta became easy to do basic embroidery but I really loved making quilts . The history of clothing is fascinating
Thank you so much for sharing this. I have been dying to hear how you and Abby ended up in No. Nevada together. Having spent my teen years in Sparks, I don't recall it being the epicenter of cool historical costuming people, so I knew there had to be a great story (and if you and Abby were involved, I'll bet there is a yet-untold element of fun eccentricity to the story too!)
I am returning to historic preservation (architectural history) after a few years away. I got burned out on writing back-to-back technical documents and needed a break. I now realize what was missing was the creative side of history that drew me in at the beginning, and I am going to try my hand at some proper historical garments, and more living history work to balance out the technical reports that pay the bills. Watching you succeed at this work has been a HUGE encouragement, leading me back to my first love. I appreciate you taking the time to share this part of yourself. Thank you for showing us all how to follow our dreams. It means a lot.
Every time, EVERY TIME I really love an online creator, I later discover that they did theatre at some point in their life.
As someone doing a degree in Conservation of Cultural Heritage, this is so reassuring to watch. I began when the museum sector in the UK was really beginning to pick up again after the 2008 crash, aaaaand then the Pandemic hit and people are being made redundant right and left which is a pretty scary environment to be going into. The bit about not getting too caught up in a 'dream job' really resonated. So thank you 💕
This is the video that we’ve all been waiting for!!
Right after graduating with my Fashion Design degree, I looked hard at some Historical Fashion programs. I'm glad I didn't go forward because I 1. Already had way WAY too much loan debt, 2. had undiagnosed/treated ADHD, and 3. generally dislike academic activities vs creating with my own hands, which is part of why I ended up abandoning my fashion design asperations. I still am very passionate about fashion but it didn't need to be my career.
Well done on completing your degree without adhd diagnosis.
I live about 30 minutes from historical Williamsburg and I absolutely LOVE it. I am just starting. My sewing experience, due to forced retirements from an illnes/birth defect I can no longer work with. I was a welder and welding inspector for turbines for nuclear power plants. When bored to death in forced quarantine in 2015 due to treatments, I bought some antique singer machines that needed a little work to get running again. So I restored quite a few of them. They multipied up to about 18 assorted machines, so I figured I'd learn to sew. I sew handbags, do leather handbags, and now I will no longer buy off the rack clothing. It will either be handmade or upcycled, and possibly both. So, this is my new hobby, and by happenstance, my daughter for some reason loves home made clothes over store bought. She can articulate to me what she wants and I make it for her. So, we both are history bounding in our daily lives now thank you for all of your knowledge, I will pay attention AND USE IT! Second to love, knowledge is one of the most valuable gifts you can give in life.
Thanks for the fireside chat. :D I was stitching on my Bayeux Tapestry project while you sewed your flag and shared your story. It was lovely!
I was super excited to see the link to the UNL digital commons...I myself just finished my undergraduate thesis that is also on the platform. Lo and behold, we share a thesis advisor. What a small world!
I'm so glad you decided to persue RUclips. I really like the way your videos are so focussed on the education side of things and appreciate you sharing all the things you've learned 💚
These days I start every conversation with, "You will hear my dog snoring in the background. I would wake her up except for she's already awake."
She snores whether she's asleep or awake.
When my own snoring wakes me up, I have a clear understanding that I need to shift so that I can breathe better. My dog has not cottoned on to that logic yet.
On the other hand, I swear sometimes that she's just running commentary on my conversations.
She's judging me.
I always wondered how museums made recreations for their displays
I just wanted to say that I absolutely ADORE your videos. It makes my Historian heart sing when you get into detail about some of the history and talk about your research behind projects. And sewing. It's all combined with sewing! Love it! Love you!
Beginners of sewing! My #1 suggestion is to start with something you love, and the equipment you have! There are many "beginner friendly" projects, but if they aren't something you would be excited to have and use, don't make them. My first project was 80% glue and 20% hand-stitched, but it made me excited to continue learning and making more projects. Even those little travel sewing kits are enough to start with (well, you might need to buy some thread). Within a year I was tackling a very challenging project that was 100% hand-stitched (I didn't have working sewing machine), and when I was confident enough that I would continue to sew then I finally got a sewing machine!
Loving the sew along storytime! I keep hoping that you and Abby will start making and selling patterns from your historical clothing collection. Really enjoying your RUclips content too though, the fabric basics series is informative even for someone who has been sewing for decades and also did costume design in college.
Not really related to this Q&A, which was fascinating btw, but I *adore* that blouse.
Yes! And from the inside of the collar it looks like it has a gorgeous red lining.
Yes! me too. It’s gorgeous. I wonder if she made it....probably did because it’s amazing
Holy Cats! I am so excited to hear a UNL connection! Thanks for the Mid-west education shoutout :)
I figured out quite awhile back that if history was taught in an interesting way, with more factual information and dare I say? peppered liberally with cool trivia, it would be a lot more fun to learn it! I am recent to historical clothing but it's the stories and factual (well researched) information you share as you go along that keeps me fascinated with all you do. I love Abby as well & when you two get together it is very entertaining! I will keep watching your channel as long as you are making content. I've binge watched many past videos, in fact this one is just over a year past. Time jumping, it's what I do. lol
This was such a great video, and it's great to see how you gained your extensive knowledge of historical costuming! I always watch these videos with a project in my hands, so it was fun to see you crafting along too 🙂 I'm a costume designer for LARPs and Ren faires, and my specialty is detailed hand-stitched embroidery. Just like you I could wield a needle before I could ride a bicycle. That's also what I tell people who learn crafts from me: I've been doing this for 37 years. Learn, discover, and ENJOY!
It's true that not many people learn to sew at home anymore, and it's such a loss! My mum learned how to sew at home and at school, but during my mum's youth crafts rapidly went out of style in the Netherlands. People associated crafts with bored pensioners and compulsory crafts lessons at school. It had a distinct "waft of Brussels sprouts", as we say in the Netherlands. Older people remembered the times when sewing and knitting at home was a necessity, and they associated home-made clothing with poverty, itchy sweaters and poorly fitting socks.
My mum was the only one in her large family who still sewed or embroidered things occasionally. I learned the basics from her, and started to pick apart every dusty instruction book that my grandma had. During high school my interests switched to clothing: first it was the grunge era and then we got some hippie revival trends in the later nineties. At uni I met a group of people from a board games club and a theatre club. There were no LARP clubs in our part of the country, so we joined forces and started one. I had no experience with (semi-)historical clothing, so I really had to study! Over the years I always kept it as a hobby beside my engineering career. When I got a severe disability I was allowed to do this as a form of occupational therapy, and I was allowed to use it as a small addition to my disability payments.
On good days I embroider, knit, crochet and sew, and I teach people about these crafts. I'm seeing a lot of new interest in crafts, because people are more conscious of where their things come from. We value authenticity and heritage crafts again. It may seem really difficult to start out and learn how to sew, but we have the internet now. RUclips is a real treasure trove for people who want to learn. If only I had that while growing up... Don't be afraid, just start with beginner tutorials that pique your interests! It'll take a while to learn things and develop muscle memory, but you'll get there as long as you enjoy what you're doing.
In 1976, my 6th grade teacher created a fantastic music and dance play about America. I got the chance to play Betsy Ross because my dad donated material for the Betsy Ross flag. It was so much fun. It actually started my love for sewing and American history. I really enjoy all your videos. This one is fun bc I put down my crochet to type this.
Love, love, love the blouse!!! What an exquisite print
I just noticed you past 45k. You’ve grown so much! Congratulations!
This is a wonderful video, and helped with my anxiety over "starting over," which I plan to do once I get my second vax shot. I've been a teaching for 18 years, but I'm not happy where I am nor where the profession is moving. So, my knitting needles and I are moving to another city, where I plan to go back to school for degree in Educational/Child Psychology. I've been trying to figure out what kind of job to get in the meantime, which makes me nervous, but as you've illustrated... any job can provide new lessons, opportunities, and experiences! I just need to breathe and see where it all takes me.
Much luck 🍀 Enjoy your journey.
I just wanted to write another comment to tell you how much I admire you, your journey and how passionate you are about historical clothing.
I'm someone who has always been deeply connected with storytelling in all forms: I love reading books, watching movies, reading manga, drawing... And what got me into historical sewing in the first place was precisely the storytelling potential of a piece of clothing. Of breaking it apart into shapes cut from fabric that got sewn together in a variety of ways to create something beautiful.
For now, I don't have enough knowledge or practice to really dive into many historical sewing types of projects, but I do love following costube videos and you've become one of the youtubers I watch the most. Sorry for binging your channel out of the blue. xD
Thanks so much for sharing your journey, Nicole. I love fashion & am especially fascinated by the meticulous hand sewing prior to industrialization of textile & apparel production. When I watch the close ups of your hand sewing with bonus of complementary music, I feel transported to another time. Your sewing is so beautiful & the teaching you provide is so interesting & wonderfully presented. (Am I gushing?🤣) Thank you, thank you!😃
Ok I'm only 7 minutes in so I haven't listened to the whole story yet but almost the exact same situation happened to me this year. I am an arts and humanities major with minors in dance and arts management, and I originally planned on going into performing arts administration in some capacity. However, that industry is hurting a lot right now and I lost any chance at an internship last year because of COVID. However, I've gotten really passionate about sewing and historical fashion and I also randomly looked up colonial Williamsburg because I went there as a kid and loved it. Now I'm planning on going into historical reenactment and education after I graduate in December (also due to covid) and I owe a lot of that to the CosTube community and the online sewing community in general for showing me a field of study I never knew existed and have fallen in love with.
I read your thesis! It was very enjoyable and informative. The shoemakers of the time engaged in some clever witchcraft and the description of the age had new information for me. Didn't think I'd get so invested in the life of and a pair of shoes of one woman from so long ago, but I did. It must have been incredible putting on the reconstructed pair for the first time. Heartily recommend it to anyone curious!
I love your story. It’s fascinating and it’s so cool that you and others exist on RUclips to connect people in this community. I know I love historical sewing and I wouldn’t have much community without you guys. Thank you for being here and for putting forth so much passion. It’s so exciting for me too! 💜💜💜
Okay, I know this is two years in but it popped up on my must see (I watch a lot of both you and Abby). First, I grew up 20ish miles east of Omaha - was born at UNO. Even though I grew up there, I never knew UNL had such a great program. I love watching and learning from you both. Thank you for sharing. ❤
Thanks, Nicole! This was so interesting! I worked at Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site in central Illinois in the late 70s when the site director was beginning the living history program. It was great fun; one of my all time favorite jobs! I've had a long-time love of historical clothing and fabric crafts so hand sewing an 1840's everyday dress was a great challenge. We didn't go for all-out historical accuracy; as I said, they were just dipping their toes in the water!
The word "inspiring" barely describes your story; I love learning, and currently find myself feeling stagnant. Your story of changing locations and changing employment and constantly gaining new experience and knowledge gives me a sense of hope somehow. Thank you!
I'm working on my own projects whilst listening to this. It calms my anxiety and insecurity, so thank you.
How Nicole met Abby. This is what I needed to know. Love both of you lovely and skilled ladies!!!!
It really sounds like you had a very similar journey to me until just as I finished my BA in theater I got very sick and then I got married and then had two babies. Was a seamstress for years and did a lot of costumes for amateur theater. Now I have gotten into buying and repairing vintage sewing machines and am going to make costumes for myself using one of the treadle machines.
My goodness your hair, makeup, blouse are perfection in this! So dang stylish!!
Me constantly refreshing my subscription tab every Sunday morning waiting for a new video!!!!
I really enjoyed hearing your journey as a sewist. I was also weaned on a machine at my mother's side. lol! been sewing since my first little hand-sewn project. Sewing is just always there in my life. I too hope to grow in this field. I genuinely enjoy how you present your videos, you are very intelligent and I enjoy your presentation style. Cheers!
It’s been great to hear your journey to where you are today. I really enjoy and love watching you. 🇬🇧
Thank you! It's exciting to see in the comments that people my age (64) are also continuing their knowledge - as well as young women who are interested in sewing and fashion history! You are the next generation, we welcome you!!
I totally get you on the scenic painting and fear of heights! One of the plays we did, we did a storybook-design proscenium arch. Originally painted and assembled on the ground then put upright, and the director decided it needed more detail... I was on a 15-ft ladder in the middle of the stage painting blackletter calligraphy during a dress rehearsal, lights and all.
I hated being sent to Christian school in high school but I did love the history class which looked through the lenses of religion it really encompassed so much and gave context to the events. Gave me a life long love of history.
As someone who is currently getting their MS in conservation, I second this not being the easiest path. The big upside of the field is the people. Everyone is so talented and passionate and I love working along side of them.
I feel like in an alternate universe I would've ended going down that road with you. I went to school for music and realized no matter how much I enjoy singing, I just don't have the chops for the professional stage. I started learning about performance practice and musicology and found those really interesting, but ultimately got my BA in Arts Management and graduated straight into the recession. I remember going on interview after interview with theaters, museums, anything applicable and the whole time working retail jobs. Eventually, getting a job at an organization seemed like this pie in the sky thing and I resigned myself to working retail. Then I got pregnant and have been the kind of mom who makes stuff. I consider myself a fiber artist and I sew, knit, crochet, macramé, weave, embroider, and spin. Hopefully when my kids go to living history museums, they won't be asking the presenters why they're doing things, but how.
Thanks so much for sharing all this backstory. I enjoy your videos so much. You are a wonderful teacher about the history of the garments, traditional sewing techniques, etc., plus you have such a good sense of humor about it all. I particularly enjoyed your shoemaking videos. That's something I never knew would interest me!
As someone who is about to graduate with their BA and start their MSc in Experimental Archaeology & Material Culture this fall, this video is something I absolutely needed, so thank you! I will likely decide on my material of expertise during my master's, but I'm considering making it fabric. Seeing just how many options are out there, what opportunities I might run into etc, I can't help but be so excited for the future. It's often difficult to imagine what the future looks like in a field that has developed only so recently, so thank you so much, I will cherish this video and watch it many more times I'm sure
OHHH My god!!! You said "American Duchess" and my brain said, "WAIT, was that Nicole in Burnadette Banner's video about getting her own shoe made???? As I was feverishly typing the words into my search box, I thought, "noooo, it couldn't be. LO and Behold, there you were showing off the brand new and gorgeous "Burnadette". That video was the first time I ever saw you in a video and now I am binge watching all of your videos. You are amazing and have inspired me to continue with my dream of sewing historical costumes. Thank you!
Hearing you say how awful high school history is made me so sad. I too had the same experience you did I graduated high school in 1992. My mom did to in 1973. I am a history teacher for grades K -12 on a platform called Outschool. It is mostly homeschooled kids but we also have a lot of kids from public and private schools. I refuse to teach history like you described. Exact dates aren't important. As long as you know at least the decade or within a year or two I am happy with that. History is a story and that is how I teach it. I also am an adjunct history professor. I teach all my classes as though I am telling a story and I teach my K-12th graders rhe same way I do my college kids just at their level. Anyway I wanted you to know that there are teachers out there or saw what was happening and refuse to continue down that path. My son just completed his sophomore year in high school and his history teacher was ok but he could have been better. Love you. Love your videos. Love sewing and knitting. I love fashion history.
I'm so happy to hear someone talk about middle and high school history classes in the same way I always did!
I was trilled to come across your video, I've always had an interest in anything related to museums, musical theatre, textiles and fabrication. I also was raised my a mother who introduce me to sawing at a early stage in my life. Thank you for sharing your life's story and the journey that you've taken to be a success on your own terms and followed your unique dreams. You are indeed an inspiration and looking forward to seeing more videos. Keep up the great work.
Thank you, your journey was fascinating, we appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us!
I really loved this. My road has been a weird winding one when it comes to my creative career. From Disney to a globally viral meme to selling vintage… it all connects in a way. Makes me think about maybe doing a video like this on my channel.
I love your story. Never stop learning. I am 41 and hopefully going back to school next fall for my Master's and then Bachelors in History secondary Education.
Thank you for sharing your story. I'm 54 and a teacher for the blind. You have inspired me to pursue my creative side during my summers off from teaching. I have enjoyed all of your content and now will rewatch them all!
It’s really nice to see how you learned and got where you are but it’s also sweet to see how you and Abby came together
I have no idea how I wasn’t already subscribed to you, but I’ve fixed that now! Thank goodness for RUclips algorithms putting you at the top of my recommended list!
I remember these thesis shoes! The 20-minute mark really broadly covered these last 18 to 24 months. It's nice to know I'm part of your channel even though it is still reasonably recent.
Aaaand networking bites me in the arse again; networking is basically how most people get jobs in artistic industries nowadays, which makes sense: if someone has seen your work and liked it, they might hire you or recommend you. But at the same time, being a big introvert and having a hard time forging friendships because I'm terrible at keeping in touch in a long-time scenario, it really kills me and makes it ten times harder to get into my dream industry.
I've wanted to work in publishing houses for years, over a decade, I'd say, and I just. Can't. Find. A job. In it.
I proofread, one of the lowest paying positions in the publishing process (at least here, in Brazil), and to get hired by publishing companies either as freelance or full-time worker, you need people to put your name out there so people know about you, know about your work, and know there's someone trustworthy who can vouch for your professionalism.
It's just how the industry works. No network, no jobs.
I graduated in 2002 with a degree in History and a minor in Museum Studies. The best thing my school did was let me be on a search committee and I saw how many applications came in for a part time one year position. I love your channel, it scratches an old itch.
Thank you for inspiring me. I’ve recently bought a sewing machine and have been teaching myself to sew. And it’s because of you.
I waited until I was 37 to take the plunge into historic costuming mostly because people told me I was weird for wanting to do it. But I decided to hell with it, if I am weird I don’t GAF! It made me so dang happy to do it, and the research is half of the fun. And I strive for historically adequate not accurate, because what is accuracy? And I tell people now, I decided to make myself happy and you should do the same. Thanks for your story. I love the fact that you follow where you feel compelled to go and that is inspiring. 💜
I graduated with a degree in theatre in may of 2020, so, yeah… lack of jobs is something I can definitely understand. That’s why I am a sewist/costume designer and actress but I have an office job. I miss working on a costume shop, but I am glad that I don’t have to worry about over-working myself just trying to get by. It can be something that I love but without the stress of relying on it as a form of income.
I loved hearing your story! My grandmother and mother both worked in the trade shops in Colonial Williamsburg, and even though I live on the west coast now it's great to hear about how so many people are working to keep history alive in CW and elsewhere! I look forward to reading your thesis too :)
Thank you for including a link to your thesis, Nicole. I just read it and gained some insights into the interactions between women's choices, fashions, and interactions with "societal expectations." Very useful food for thought! Thank you.
I love hearing about how people get into their passions!
When I was about 5 I became obsessed with history and got deep into my ancient Egypt phase, and the sheath dress that I hand sewed cause of that was my first sewing project. I might’ve continued sewing after that if I hadn’t forgotten to add seam allowance and got discouraged by the poor fit, but luckily about a decade later in high school, my art teacher let me have a Butterick medieval pattern from his classroom since he knew I loved history, and that project is what got me back into historical sewing. Made a few skirts for a renaissance fair vendor but enjoyed it better as a hobby, so now I’m planning to go into a field where I can have enough time outside of it to keep historical sewing as a hobby. Been a few years since getting into it and I love it!
With fall upon us I’m particularly excited to wear my snuggly 1890s wrapper with giant pockets that I made last year out of this lovely minky fabric that looks like velvet. Wearing historically inspired clothes just feels so elegant :3
I have no ambitions in working in historical fashion, but I find it fascinating. Thanks to you, other youtube fashion historians, and kind people I have spoken with at living history museums I have so much more appreciation for the work that goes into clothes and how they were practically worn and used.
I have been messing around with sewing since I was a teen, but my best classes were in college. I wasn’t a fashion major, but was able to take a starter sewing class asan elective, after it being approved. Might be a good option for some students nowadays… even if you aren’t a fashion major.
If Ball State or Lincoln won’t happen for you, look at State schools, usually the Ag school, there’s usually a clothes program. May be under Home Ec or Fashion Technology. May have a historical program. There’s more around than people think. I got a BFA in painting, but if I’d known my school had the amazing textiles program hidden in farming I would have done that.
Thank you so much for this! I have been feeling a little lost recently and it great to hear your story! I was surprised to how similar it is to the path I've been taking. My BFA is also in the technical side of theater. Thanks Nicole 💜😊
I started at Ball State in 2007 and in 2008 the theater costuming department did a corsetry class which was perfect since I was a fashion major with a focus in historical undergarments. The costuming team was great and I learned so much more about pattern drafting from them than I did from my department 😂
You. Are. Amazing. I loved learning about your resume, perspective and education. Thanks!
I didn't know that this video was exactly what I needed today, but it was. I just started a job that is outside of my field because it will (through a traineeship) make me more employable in my dream job, and I've had a super super hard time with it. Mostly because I ended up in the top3 of my literal dream job just a week before being signed for this job. Thank you for making me feel like I'm not totally in the wrong place
I would love to know more about Lt. Threadapus
Same here! We're all ears 👂👂👂😁
I’m so glad you joined RUclips. I really love watching your videos and I’ve been watching since the beginning. I remember the first time I watched one of your videos and I looked at your subscriber count back when it was just a couple thousand and I was shocked at how rich the content was for being that new to the platform. I have been so happy to see your channel grow and I really hope it brings in the financial support you need to keep giving us your knowledge!
I love getting to learn everything you share with us. Sorry I don't comment more, I'm normally watching while I work on projects, but I appreciate what you do so much. I also love getting to see parts of your friendship with Abby!
I'm rather envious of you. The college that I went to had fashion as part of the Home Economics department. The next year that was entirely removed. For various reasons I lacked the confidence to transfer to another school to pursue my dream of tailoring and dress making. A few years later, I worked on learning and much of my skills are self-taught. Now in my 50s, I'm very highly skilled.
Everyone has a different style and approach and I learn from it even if I don't incorporate it into my work. I love costuming though my creations are largely retro clothing. The exception are Korean Hanboks. I look forward to another 50 years of sewing and learning 😁 .
Yay! Lincoln! I went to UNL as well, and I'm thrilled to hear about the other programs. The German Undergrad programs are lovely as well.
Thank you, Nicole, for this video! Recreation of historical garments is my hobby and some few bloggers inspire me. You are one of them.
I do not have any idea who push dislike button. I suppose, they did it by mistake.
Auntie Nicole’s pearls of wisdom! Thx, milady!!
As a modern sewist (not really into historical costumes) I have found your fibre 101 series and shoe size video so interesting. You're a great teacher. That made me wonder how you knew all this stuff and this video gave me some answers. Thanks for all the videos
This video coming across my suggestions this morning while waiting for my computer to update at my archival job just reinvigorated me to keep developing a proposal for a fun project at ANOTHER archival job. Independent contractor shenanigans for life.