Glendale has an historical society. I have gone on a number of their house tours. I always enjoy the variety of houses this region has to offer.
The Jewel in Glendale is Forrest Lawn Park, yes it is a cemetery, but there is so much more there. A few months ago it was just a walk in the park, this time with the Historical society it was a chance to see some of the mosaics as well as the glass workshop.
We met in the Church of the Flowers, the first structure that Dr. Eaton built here. It is based on an old Church in England.
Inside is this beautiful stain glass based on one that is in another church in England. It’s called Tree of Life and is about as traditional as one can get.
I don’t know what the elephant represents, but I do like him.
Erin and Sandy from Atlas Obscura were there, which was fun to see fellow explorers I hadn’t seen in a while.
Fergus came in especially on Saturday to explain to us how stained glass is restored after 100 years.
Here is the restored panel in progress. These nails are horse-shoe nails, because they are flat they hold the glass in place without cracking it.
Scoring and cutting the glass.
Love this sign.
Then it was on to the Great Mausoleum. One thing I have to commend Dr. Eaton for, he wanted to bring art to LA back in the early 20th century. His idea of art was often replicas of the great art of Europe, so there are copies of Michaelangelo’s statues such as Moses and the Pieta. Not the same scale, not the same, but at a time when few people could travel and images weren’t prolific like they are today, it was a nice endeavor.
I just got a book about Gladding McBean and their decorative pottery. I don’t know if they made these or the local firm Tropico – that was latter acquired by them. I love the little details, which tells me this is ceramic and not carved into stone or concrete.
Like all museums, a lot of objects are in storage. This was brought out to share with the group. This is The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven. Made by a German Company, it part of a church in Buffalo NY which no longer stands.
The gold robes are beautiful, really look like gold, although I think it was just yellow glass and paint.
There is an actual museum up at the top of the hill. Next month they are hosting an exhibit of FIFA, yes soccer-related items. Go figure, or better yet, just go visit, it’s free.
Leah
I am sharing only a few images of the full garments, I’m finding that it’s the details I love. Sure on a big screen this is what pops out at you.
But this is what pops out at me, the details. The materials used, the subtlety, the effect that light has.
The amazingness of silk. Just using different silks, slight changes in the shades of color. A little fabric manipultion, and we are ready to go!
The fantasy films are where the mens’ costumes thrive. Really what can you do with a business suit? But create a fantasy warrior and go to town on the textures! Yes, that is a red cape, which highlights all of the wonderful braid, fabric and leather.
Leather, coarsely woven fabric, andmetallicc embroidery! As well as some fur. Who says men can’t have fun?
A closer look, metal work and some bright purple silk. I’m sorry the focus isn’t great. I can’t use my flash. But I think you get the idea.
The robe is made of those ball chains. For some reason I adore those chains. So to see a full length garment made out of them! Swoon! Really I need to see the movie to see how it moves, but I forgot which on it is.
I don’t know if this is Alice, what I do know is the colors and the Chinese influences are wonderful.
I love when a designer references the source but does her own thing. In this case it is 
Love the shoes!!! The eel is too high for me, but oh my, these are gorgeous.
Alongside the movie costumes there is always a smaller exhibit. In this case costumes and clothes from the 1920s. This dress was used in the Orient Express. I would wear it today! A knit dress with embroidery and insets. 
The detail! The color! I want this dress!
Much smaller of course, but the same themes, like how to make menswear exciting for the runway.
Or, computer generated desgin on printed fabric.
In the accesory catagory, it’s all about the tie, really the only place a businessman can hope to express himself.
Then there is the banyan, or house coat, for lounging around the house. He still looks overdressed, Fez and all.
At least the embroidery is delightful. Looks hand embroidered in the good sense of homemade. Good quality but a certain freedom of design.
Unlike 18th Century formal wear that was exquisitly embroidered, also by hand, but by people working in an atelier. About as close as machine perfection that you could find in those days.
So did this caftan come west? Was it worn by a man of liesure in Europe? Or was it saved from some nomads tent and cherished as a beautiful example of central Asian textile and not as a garment to be worn?
A fabulous example of the Smoking Jacket, made from Cigar silks. There ae many jackets and quilts that took advantage of these thin strips of silk.
Even with the company names stamped right in the middle. Lovely hand embroidery was used to attach one ribbon to the next. Using silk thread in matching colors, the gold and red.
And finally, a little humor. How riske are this boxer shorts. A true fantasy for any man.
I’ll start with Outlander. No, I haven’t seen the show, I hated the first book and left it at that. But this isn’t about the show itself, it’s about the costumes. I was with my friend Ruth who taught costume design, she thought she was boring me with the details. I loved it. She said the 18th-century silhouette is here and is captured beautifully. As for the embroidery – that is a modern embellishment.
This man’s waistcoat is a sight to behold.
From the embroidered images I’m thinking bad guy? The Designer certainly knows her illuminated manuscripts very well. Both the bird and the bat are straight from medieval European manuscriptsNo one ever saw those teeth on TV, which is why these shows are so wonderful, getting such a close-up view of very well made costumes.
Since Cumberbatch wasn’t part of the show, the only thing we care about is the Deer Stalker hat – that wasn’t in any of the books.
I think this was mid to late 19th century. Of course, for me, it’s about the details.
20’s style dress, great use of bias tape.
Ruth complained about this set, it will look flat on camera she said. She is right, here is my image from my camera and the dresses have no depth, even though they have great detail in real life.
Fantasy shows are always fun (I think this is from Defiance) take the Scottish Highland outfit, kilt and all, but knock it up about ten notches. 
Wool, leather, snakeskin, an amulet from the Himalayas (or a facsimile of one). Once again, a pleasure to see up close.
The joy of Sci-fi is as much in the costumes as in the story.
Someone had a lot of fun working this leather.
Someone else had a blast distressing all of these items of clothing. This I do know is from the Walking Dead. But was it worn by a zombie or someone trying desperately to stay alive?
Killer nails, fake of course but part of the hand, not the glove, the glove has holes at the tips of the nails.
Men’s costumes rarely get the love the ladies receive. So I’m always looking at the details. I’m thinking this would fly off the shelves given half a chance.
I always learn something new. In the late 18th century wealthy young Englishmen went to Italy for the Grand Tour. Before they left home they would have looked like the model on the left – everything changed when they came back. Bright colors, tighter pants, shorter jackets, bigger wigs and all kinds of extra finery, from feathers, cocades, and tassles. They were then called: Macaroni.
I wasn’t paying attention to the names of the designers, but I’ve always liked Viviane Westwood. The accuracy of matching the plaids is incredible. And the shoes, love the shoes. I would love to wear this outfit myself.
Another take on plaid, or actually houndstooth. What grabbed me here isn’t so much the deconstruction but rather the antlers on the deer stalker hat. 
The original Hawaiian shirt was made from the brightest Japanese silk. I can’t get over the deep, deep purple. 
There was a lot of fine detailed embroidery, mostly on court garments. There clearly have been those periods in history when men were just as decked out in finery as the women.
They even had the same kind of undergarments and dressing needs as women. Of course making fun of the Dandy in the 19th century was no different than today. Most of the clothes in this show are very very expensive, but none more so then these
Shoes made from money.
My favorite part of the exhibit was being able to share it with my son and son in law.
For the royal men – bright capes.
For the women, only feathered crowns on their heads.
I don’t know much about this tradition. What I do know is that in tropical climates, with bright feathered birds, humans will use those feathers for decoration. The feathers may be delicate, but the color doesn’t fade.
The isn’t exactly on the tourist maps of Los Angeles, but I always say, every place has something worth seeing.
My destination was the Banning Museum.
He started the city of Wilmington, named for his birthplace and built his own home there in 1864. An expansive, expensive Greek Revival mansion. Three generations of the Banning family lived here until 1925. In 1927 it was donated to the city of LA and years later, another Banning descendent spearheaded the restoration of the building.
If you look at a map of Los Angeles you will see a very narrow strip from the south part of the city that goes down to the ocean. By 1909 Los Angeles annexed Wilmington and other small communities along the route to the harbor. Yes, they wanted not only to own the harbor but to be connected to it. One of these days I will write a whole post on how Los Angeles became so big and so interesting in it’s shape.
Greek revival homes are symmetrical, through the years changes were made, notice the extra window on the ground floor? This window as well as the second window on the front of the building used to be on either side of the front door. So they match perfectly but they do disturb the symmetry.
A sunken courtyard was added to the east side of the building, along with this marvelous cast iron fence. This is called the cornstalk fence. Made in Philledelphia and installed at the Banning Mansion in 1894.
In researching this I’ve just discovered that the matching fence surrounds the Cornstalk Hotel in New Orleans, I will be there, staying at that hotel in a few weeks! WooHoo! You bet I’ll be mentioning this to the owners!!
The downtown is a different story. I’m sure Wilmington has nicer areas to hang out in, the downtown is emblematic of many old downtowns, a little sad and rundown. A handful of beautiful old buildings with for lease signs.
This large neon sign tops the Don Hotel built in 1929. Of course the sign would be seen from ships entering the harbor.
Today like many such hotels, this is a senior apartment building. I do love the palm and the shadows they cast.
Other attempts at decorating the buildings, a little lighthouse.
Civic pride exists in every city, someone put a holiday ribbon on this utility box.
