historical costuming

Getting ready for Spring! (and beyond!)

So for now, I am going to keep this update relatively short, because A LOT is going on. But I know that with the way I am, if I kept waiting to write a proper post, then it would have taken me forever to get that done. So here are the cliff notes as to what has been going on:

1-I am booked for a speaking engagement next month in Harlem to discuss historical costuming, the roles and contributions of Black dressmakers (particularly Elizabeth Keckley) in historical fashion, and showcasing some of my ensembles! When I say that my flabbers were gasted when I received the call about it! I am so excited for this!!! And of course, VERY very nervous. I hope I don’t curse or babble on stage! When I have the official promotional material and such, I will share.

2-THIS upcoming weekend, I will be heading to Albany, NY to attend the Crown Tournament of Ryouko’jin and Indrakshi (who are AWESOME people, and this will be their second reign in the SCA), but I will also be officially taken on as an apprentice to my longtime friend, Duchess Isabella, who has reigned as Queen of the East Kingdom twice thus far. I have admired and respected her since I first joined the SCA, which was something like 13 years ago. She has always encouraged me and pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and expand my skills when it comes to costuming and service to the Kingdom. I will readily admit that I was speechless when she presented this opportunity to me. She has not taken on an apprentice in upwards of 20-something years, so this is a BIG DEAL for me, and I hope that I do her and my apprentice-siblings proud.

Over the next couple of days, I will be working on finishing my ensemble (16th c. Persian-which my persona is based on), and I cannot wait to share the process and the final look with you.

3-Since coming back from France and with the new opportunities and events that are unfolding in my lap, I had quite a few friends convince me to start another GoFundMe to help contribute and offset the costs that go along with my historical costuming journey. Things such as travel/accommodations for events, fabrics & materials, and the tools/equipment to document and share my projects and research will benefit from this new GoFundMe.

Support my GoFundMe here!

As some of you know, although I am a professional photographer who has had my business for 16 years – Marisa Taylor Photography, I am also disabled due to multiple chronic illnesses. So I have had to scale back how much physical work I do when it comes to photography (weddings being the main aspect), because I just can’t physically hold up to doing them longer than 2-4 hours. And then the recovery time after has gotten days longer compared to how it was before. For me, being down for the count for so long doesn’t do anyone any good, especially my family. It is a really hard thing to grow your business and watch it blossom, while knowing that you’ve already reached your peak and have to withdraw from it little by little. But that does not mean I am giving up photography forever, NOR does it mean I am giving it up at all. I am focusing my business on smaller, intimate weddings & elopements, along with my normal portrait photography, as well as my fine art print site!

You can check my site out here: https://www.marisataylorphotography.com/PrintSite/

I do think that that is all for now, or until I remember that I need to come back and update this with something else!

OH WAIT! (see, my brain loves to do the “OH SQUIRREL!” thing). Although I have had my youtube channel for YEARS now, I only recently started uploading more content to it, and try to do so on a consistent basis. If you are a Youtube user, I would greatly appreciate it if you could give my page a follow! Youtube – TheMarisaZimmerman

Until next time my friends!

Inspiration Board: Romantic Era Gown

I have said for the longest that the late 1820s-1840s era of fashion didn’t really appeal to me. But knowing how the universe likes to make me put my foot in my mouth, it really said HA! HOLD MY BEER!

My friend Robin of SewLoud is hosting her annual dinner, and it is themed after Young Victoria. It’s at the Joseph Ambler Inn in North Wales, PA. I’ve been to the last two, and have had such an amazing time. And the room accommodations and continental breakfast? chefs kiss

So with me not having ANYTHING other than a corset for that time period (that I actually found last night and surprised myself!) that a friend gave to me, I of course needed to make a new gown!
Since I received so many compliments on the 18th century Aidah gown that my friend Spencer (ThimbleRaven) made and gave to me, I decided to stick with jewel towns and go with emerald green. I mean admittedly, I look DAMN GOOD! PLUS! I’ve been dying to get me a pair of the Flora boots from American Duchess since they first came out, but could not settle on a color. So I believe I made the right choice. Plus, it matches my hair color!!!

These are from in front of the Louvre while I was in France for my art residency!

Back from France!

And oh my god, I don’t even have the words other than “freaking amazing!” I’ve been back a week now, and today is the first day where I feel that I have enough energy to dive back into my normal routine, in addition to cleaning and organizing the chaos that was caused during the reconstruction process, when a second pipe not only bursts when the heat was turned back on, 8 other cracks were found in the piping. PLUS, having to purchase a completely new furnace. It was A LOT. And thankfully my husband, who knows me so well, decided it was best not to tell me while I was away because I would have freaked out, my anxiety would be through the roof, so yeah…he was right!

There is so much to share about the trip, and about the project that I worked on while at the residency. Which means of course there are tons of pictures and videos that I need to edit and share. I’ve already started sharing some photo posts & reels over on my Instagram, if you want to take a look.

I am also getting back to doing the wax-sealed letters. I know that some of you have been expecting your packages, and believe me when I saw that between being overwhelmed and trying to prepare for the trip while living out of a suitcase in a hotel, coupled with executive dysfunction: it all kicked my ass, and I dropped the ball. So I deeply apologize for that. So some of you will be receiving letters and others, depending on your tier, a package or two with gifts along with the letters.

But check out this photo of me in front of the glass pyramids at The Louvre! A street photographer came up to me asking to take a couple of photos, and I was honored!!!

Countdown to France! It’s SO CLOSE!

I leave in just TWO DAYS! Two freaking days, and I still can’t believe it. So while getting things prepared, you may or may not have seen that we had two pipes burst in our back room /my husband’s office…AGAIN. The first time was 12/23, and we started the restoration process; in which they came and packed everything up and put it in a storage pod, and did a dry-out. Just to have another pipe crack in the ceiling on 1/10. Since then, we have been in a hotel the second time around, the plumber/HVAC company could not get the furnace to kick back in gear, along with a random pipe that’s not even connected along the floorboard (I seriously have no clue what that is about!). Thankfully, we are just down the road from our house, and I am so thankful that our homeowners’ insurance is covering everything.

This means that I have of course brought my sewing machine and such with me, and have been working on two ensembles, and a couple of accessories. I will be finishing the wearable mock-up for the Amalia Jacket here and cutting the pieces so that I can finish the full silk version while I am in France. Along with a petticoat, a mantle, two fur muffs, a pair of mitts, and a shift. At least, for now. Tomorrow, I swing by my house to gather the rest of the clothing and accessories that I plan to wear while away. Now this is kind of a big deal because I am doing my personal project: 28 Days of Historical Dress during February, which I have been doing for 3 years now (I think? it may be 2). So while it is easy to pick out what to wear each day while I am at home, I now have to deliberately plan my outfits ahead and pack them without going overboard with my packing (which I am prone to do, but since I am limited on bag space, I *need* to plan what I am packing thoroughly). I’m thinking of keeping things relatively simple, and just going with some classic vintage from the 1920’s through the 1950’s. So a couple of different dresses, wide leg trousers, kimono sleeved cardigans, and the like. And of course, my historical stuff. 18th century, a regency gown or two, and an Edwardian ensemble. The Edwardian ensemble is for this years #BGGL (Black Gibson Girl Legacy), created by the amazing Jasmine Le Fleur, the creative genius behind Black Fae Day.

So with two more days left, I am still raising extra funds to help offset the cost of this trip (since I am on disability, and am not doing photography as much as I used to), and have extra for things like admission to two exhibits that I am looking forward to seeing, travel (since I won’t have a rental car), and supplies while there.

Now with all of that said, if you do have extra to help support this art residency, it will be greatly appreciated. After all, if it wasn’t for all of your support from the beginning, the first GoFundMe goal to get me to the residency wouldn’t have ever happened! So a big thank you to all of you! Here are the ways that you can help!

You can donate directly to my cashapp/venmo/paypal:

I also have my Print site, in which you can purchase prints and wall art of my photography. Even while in France, I will be able to place orders within 24 hours of receiving them.
https://www.marisataylorphotography.com/art-prints-for-sale/

And the original GoFundMe campaign, with the goal amount increased: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-get-marisa-to-france-for-art

And my Patreon, in which there are different tiers that you can subscribe to monthly, or just one time. I will be sending out the wax-sealed letters & packages for my current Patrons either tomorrow or Tuesday 1/28, which is when I leave: https://patreon.com/TheMarisaZimmerman1

I also have some digital portrait illustrations that I plan to offer while I am gone, and because they are digital-once purchased you will receive a link to download them immediately! So stay stuned for that!

Lastly, I know that there are so many different platforms for social media. I recently created a new public FB page that will basically mirror my TikTok account. So if you could give me a follow there, it would be so very much appreciated! Follow me at: The Marisa Zimmerman

And with that, I think that is a pretty good update if I do say so myself! Now back to sewing and packing!!!

Just 7 days until FRANCE!

Oh my GOSH! Today has been one heck of a day. Mental AND Emotionally. But your girl held it together and will keep on pushing. Especially when there is no other option, but to take every day one step at a time, and finish prepping for my trip to France. (Cue screaming!!!).

Thanks to my friend @thimbleraven who gifted me a gorgeous green taffeta gown, it was the #aidahgown by @scrooppatterns . (of course I will take some pictures!). I still have one full ensemble that I want to make for myself, which will be the #Amalia Jacket, a petticoat, and a couple of minor things like a new shift and such. I cannot tell you how excited I am. And when I say that I absolutely NEED this. I mean it!!! |

I still have my GoFundMe, and ways to donate up. As well as my print store and #patreon. I also (well I FINALLY! 🙃) created a FB page for my costuming/shenanigans. If you could give me a follow there (I understand if you don’t, with the whole meta thing), all the virtual hugs to you! Just look up: The Marisa Zimmerman on FB, and it should come up. Along with the sites to donate/purchase my art to help me offset the costs of this trip and have extra money while there. Being a disabled photographer is not as lucrative as some folks make it out to be 😅

CashApp | Venmo | PayPal

Purchase prints & wall art of my photography! They ship out between 1-3 days after the order is placed, and will get to you in about 3 days.

You can also subscribe to one of the tiers on my Patreon! This is where you can get semi-monthly wax-sealed letters & small gifts! As well as a wax-sealed thank you note card. I promise, promise, PROMISE to properly keep that updated, as well as my blog!

And of course, the original GoFundMe set up by my husband, who believed in me and this trip more than I ever did!

As always, thank you so so so much for your support!

It’s time for an update!!!

(Cross-posting from my GoFundMe update)

Hello hello everyone! (Marisa here!) It has been quite an interesting time since I last updated, which was FOUR MONTHS AGO! Yikes!!! That means the last time that I updated was just before school ended. And while I definitely could not believe that summer rolled up on me super fast, I am more baffled that my trip to France is coming up AT THE END OF JANUARY! cue internal and external screaming

This summer was filled with picnics, trips to the park, Pennsic (of course), birthday parties (my daughter officially became a teenager!), lots and LOTS of sewing, photography, and so much more. I am trying hard to fall back into a daily routine because, without it, I am wrecked! There is still so much to do to prepare for this trip, and to be honest, I am freaking out about it all! And I promise that I will do a much better job of keeping everyone updated! So here we go!

You will see that we updated the goal amount. The original goal was fully funded, and the way my heart will forever be appreciative is an understatement!!! So now, any additional donations will go straight to the travel costs, food (the residency provides a light lunch and dinner every day, but of course, you want to have your own food), money for incidentals, sewing supplies, print supplies, admission costs for attractions and exhibits, and things of that sort. Many of you know that I have NEVER traveled internationally, so this is a lot!!! Ahhhhh!!!! (sorry! Expect to read a lot of “screaming” and a ton of exclamation points over the next few months).

If you’ve been here from the beginning, or read the initial post, the main reason why my husband put this together is because he knows how I am about money and how I beat myself up for not being able to work as much thanks to having multiple chronic illnesses. He also knew that I would continuously kick myself if I didn’t at least try. So while this month has been my 16th year as a business owner of Marisa Taylor Photography, I have scaled back A LOT over the past year as to not over-exert myself and cause even MORE issues. And of course that bums me out, a lot actually, for multiple reasons…but I am going to keep on pushing on!

So, I have created a page on my website in which you can purchase some of my work as prints (printed on fine art luster-coated paper and mounted), or wall art (canvases, standout prints, metal /acrylic prints), and that site is: https://www.marisataylorphotography.com/art-prints-for-sale – It’s still under construction, but it will be finished VERY soon, and I of course will make another update here. I will also be working on wooden paint-dipped earrings, as well as pour art canvases to sell.

I still have my Patreon available, with different tiers that you can subscribe to. One of them even includes monthly and semi-monthly wax-sealed letters and gifts (which will be starting back up again for November): https://patreon.com/TheMarisaZimmerman1

As always, anything that you can give matters, but please do not feel forced to donate! Even if you share to spread the word around, that totally matters. Word of mouth is the best!

You can also donate directly using cashapp/venmo/paypal, which is pictured as well.

And I do believe that is about it! For now at least! I of course have like 100 things to tackle tonight, but this is one of the things that I have been pushing back for a while now.

As always, hugs and thank you!!!

Summer is almost over Pt. 1

I am so sorry that I have been horrible with updating. This summer has been…interesting, but still amazing. I think I took my doctor’s orders to slow down and relax a little bit too seriously (they’ve actually been telling me this for like 10 years, but I am stubborn). However, my body definitely needed it. Because, YAY CHRONIC ILLNESS! I am desperately trying to get back into somewhat of a routine for myself BEFORE my kids start school right after Labor Day.

So a lot of things are happening, and I am super excited for all of it. As you know, at the end of January, I will be going to France for my art residency. My husband had set up a GoFundMe, and the goal for the residency was met super fast. I was honestly shocked, but of course so thankful. I will be updating the goal in hopes that whatever extra funds come in, they will go straight toward travel costs and such.

But for now, I wanted to share MORE amazing images from my 1790’s portrait series shoot with my friend and fellow historical costumer/photographer, Michele Quigley!

So about two months ago I posted about my friend, Michele Quigley’s 1790s portrait series and shared the first two images that she edited and the fashion plate that I recreated, now there are more!

So for one, I was gifted this session, and even though I am a photographer myself, I am absolutely horrible at setting up scenery and photographing myself, even though I can make magic happen in almost any space I am in! Anywho! When I found out, I started scouring through Pinterest and Google for fashion plates of that era. I didn’t necessarily have a particular look I was going for, but I wanted something that screamed out to me. And then, I found it!

“La Belle Espangole” (‘La belle Espagnole, – ou – la doublure de Madame Tallien’) – this drawing is of Maria Garcia, a dancer and tightrope walker. It was drawn by James Killray, a caricaturist in 1796. This was the first time that I came across an actual fashion plate from that era that featured a model of color. So of course I wanted to recreate this look!

To begin with, the gown itself was very simple to make. It’s basically a rectangle (one piece in the front, and one piece for the back), with a channel sewn along the top of the back to gather it, and then the trim went from the gathering in the back, over the shoulders, and to attached to the front. Very similar to a bog dress that is commonly worn at an event I go to called The Pennsic War in the SCA. I really need to write a blog post about the construction.

The challenge for me was making that neckline SUPER low, and to sew it so that it forms the natural swoop following the curve of the breasts, but also, NOT to have my girls fall out because I am wellllll endowed in that department. 😅

Even though I already had a pair of Regency era short stays, they didn’t create the silhouette that I wanted for a 1790s gown; and since I will be doing more 1790s projects, I bit the bullet and purchased a set of 1790s mid-length transitional stays (from The Paupers Modiste on Etsy, I HIGHLY recommend! ) – and they were perfect. The straps were also removable, which was ideal because the gold strap was thinner in width than the straps for the stays.

The gown itself is made out of a brown cotton Swiss dot fabric that I scored on Etsy. I made a simple yellow satin petticoat to wear under it. The waistband, arm bands, wristband, and the trim along the neckline and the straps were made out of various gold trims, some layered on a solid piece of gold trim. The necklace was a bib/collared neck piece that I got off of Etsy, but I do want to try to recreate the neck piece that she is wearing in the drawing. The shawl was too pashmina shawls sewn together (and I still need to add the gold trim along the edge as well). I found the PERFECT red shoes for this on Amazon (actually, if you search women’s mules on Amazon, there are A LOT that are passable for historic footwear for quite a few fashion eras). And while I did not have gold hoops (forgot to pack them), I wore my pearl drop earrings by Dames a la Mode.

So for the pictures, the first one is my absolute favorite, and this is the one that’s going to be printed and framed for the gallery exhibition that Michele is hosting.

If you’ve stuck around to read all of this, thank you!!!

My 1790s Portrait Series Shoot

My 1790s portrait session ensemble!

One of my friends who is a fellow historical costumer and photographer like myself has been doing a portrait series based on the fashions of the 1790s: Michele Quigley 1790s Series. I was lucky enough to be gifted a session, and was super excited about it. As soon as I found out, I began scouring fashion plates from the 1790s. When I came across this one, La Belle Espagnole, I was in LOVE! For one, I just love her gown in general, but for me finding a fashion plate that has a woman of color was like hitting a gold mine.

So I set to work recreating the gown for my photoshoot. I used a brown Swiss dot cotton for the gown, the petticoat was a yellow satin, the shoes were red mules from Amazon (I need to go back and stitch on the gold trim to them). The straps and my arm cuffs were made from different widths and types of gold trim and gold patent leather.
Now it is RARE that I am on the other side of the camera as the subject, but when I saw the edited images that she posted while I was at a camping event for my birthday last week, I screamed. Full on OMFG I CANT BELIEVE THIS IS ME!

Other than adding the gold trim to the shoes like in the fashion plate, I really want to try to nail down the neckpiece/collar that she has on too!

6K Follower Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I know I haven’t updated in a while, but I’m still here, and there has been SO MUCH happening! Mostly good though! But first things first, those on my $10 tier, I hope you liked February’s package! I hope to get to work on the letters for March this weekend or over next week.

But in BIGGER NEWS… I am super close to having 6K followers on Instagram! And since I like nice round numbers, I decided to do a giveaway to mark the occasion. Up for grabs? A gorgeous pair of lilac crystal earrings by Dames a La Mode!

Here is the link to the post to enter!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marisa Zimmerman (@loveshutterbug)

Been busy sewing, dealing with back to back home repair issues, and more! But I am still doing the #GeorgianJanuary2024 challenge on Instagram, and apparently you can turn the story highlights into a video reel! So here’s the prompts and my photos from Day 1 up to today!

Check me out on Instagram! @LoveShutterBug

In other news, next month kicks off my challenge #28DaysOfHistoricalDress, well 29 since it’s a leap year! So with this challenge, I dress in my historical and vintage ensembles for the entire month. I usually break it down to doing one era each week. So for example, one week I will do vintage, 1920s-1959s, another week with be 18th century, another will be Regency or Edwardian, and so on!

So keep a lookout for that!