ball

The ball was lovely!  I had such a good time.  Plenty of figure dances and not too much waltzing.  Plus they decided to skip the formal sit-down dinner with wait service and instead had a lovely buffet spread that one could take a plate from at leisure.  I like that much better.  A long dull dinner is not my style.  I'd rather be dancing!

Photos are as expected; it's candlelit and dark and my camera sucks in low light, plus I am usually not very good at remembering to take photos if I am having fun.  I didn't get ANY of anyone else, but there were many lovely dresses to be seen.  The ball's theme was 1860s at Balmoral Castle, so many ladies were in hoops and there was a lovely couple portraying Victoria and Albert.

Anyway, here's one our babysitter took at home before we left and one taken by an obliging ballgoer.





These are our wedding clothes, which are starting to show signs of wear but still have a few good years left in them.  I originally wore this dress over my Truly Victorian bustle, but last night I wore it over my lobster bustle.  I always meant to make an evening bodice to go with this - in fact I have one made but for sleeves, sitting in the closet - but never really got around to it and I like the day bodice quite enough, even if not perfectly appropriate.  HB wears his day suit as well, because he doesn't like the look of the evening suit.

My hair is done very simply: a half-up wound into a bun, the lower part braided and wrapped around the bun.  I've heard this called a 'cameo bun.'  I would love to learn how to do real ball hair sometime, but this felt secure and looked nice enough.  It also felt good to use just my own hair.  Yes, I am vain about my hair.

I think the newly (re)formed Society is a success and I am eager to do more events with them!