CHANTAL FILSON costume design
WELCOME TO COSTUME ON!
Chantal Filson: Founder, Dean, Teacher
Kristen Mrozek: Promotions
Costume On is an international online conference for historical costuming created during the 2020 Quarantine. Students attended from all across the US and the globe, including Canada, Australia, Panama the UK & the Netherlands.
Instructors from across the US use video conferencing to teach fashion history and technique, covering several eras from the 18th century to early 20th. Classes include both lectures and hands-on workshops, where they interact with the teacher in real-time.
The response was immediate and so overwhelming, a second weekend had to be added. Costume On 2 was held in September, a series of Master Classes is planned for this winter. Costume On 3 coming spring, 2021.
Costume on may 2-3/may 16-17
Screenshots of Costume On classes (May 2-3 & May 16-17)
The conference took place in real-time on May 2-3, a second weekend was added due to overwhelming demand (May 16-17). Students attended 4 separate channels of lectures where the live teacher screenshared presentations and answered questions, workshops where closeups of both hands sewing and examples were shown on camera, and a General Lounge meeting room where they chatted in between classes and held a picnic. Students were able to hold up their own pieces to camera both as examples in lectures and to have the teacher check their work in workshops, regardless of time zone/country.
Students registered through the website, paid, received a welcome packet and attended orientation- all online. Teachers submitted proposals, outlines and video clips and attended their own orientation for this new format. Chantal created/organized/scheduled/ran the event and curated the content, both in terms of subject and format, to create a balanced curriculum of time periods, lectures and workshops.
Costume on 2: Tailored September 19-20
Screenshots of Costume On 2: Tailored (Sept 19-20)
The second conference had several new additions: curators from two museums who featured items not currently on display, historical crochet, period hairstyling, living history presentations, discussion panels on inclusivity, menswear tailoring classes and the start of a body-positive series on plus-size period costuming. The General Lounge chat room was open on both days, rather than just one, and classes covered more eras (17th century through early 1900s).
Costume On 2: Tailored focused not only on tailoring techniques, but tailoring costumes to every body, every skill level, every person. All classes were original content created specifically for Costume On by the teachers.
More info:
Other work
during quarantine:
Volume 2 will include additional styles modeled after original 18th century fashion plates
Volume 3 will feature Victorian & Edwardian styles
-Self-published a millinery book & tutorials
The 80-page manual includes step-by-step instructions on working with buckram and wire, including draping, patterning, mulling and covering.
E-book is available for instant download, has sold 30+ copies during quarantine.
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-Started a pattern line
Patterns are all hand-drafted, either from antiques or with pen and paper to create original designs
Designs are unique, not found elsewhere
E-patterns are all downloadable, can be printed at home with regular letter-size paper
More hat patterns drafted and added to shop weekly
Patterns are original designs of historically-accurate styles
These patterns were used in hat workshops for Costume On
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