The Fencing Fashionista

Monday, April 11, 2016

Heads Up

Just got back from the Richmond NAC. Since it was so near home, I drove down and back again Saturday, leaving no time for fashion prowling. Today, though, while Allison tackled vet 40 WF, I made a few laps of the venue.

It quickly became clear the theme for this post would be head coverings. The examples on display encompassed fashionable bandeau to keep hair out of the eyes

Skull caps

Baseball caps (or are they de facto fencing caps?)

And, between bouts at least, cowboy hats

Even spectators and referees got into the act

(Also, April NAC award for best
dressed ref!)

Do competitors, spectators and officials at other kinds of sporting events look so cheerful, or are we fencers simply a naturally happy lot? We hug a lot, too. I like that.

I didn't have much time for shopping, but a new bag from Radical Fencing caught my eye for a couple of reasons:

1) I am so blessed tired of losing little pieces of black equipment against the black interior of bottomless bags. With a chartreuse lining, problem solved.

b) It has studs. #BadAss

And if that weren't enough, check out the built in (ok, sewn in) packing checklist.

(Missing from this list: "Ibuprofen," "heat pack" and "arm brace" but maybe it wasn't designed with Vet fencers in mind.)

Also, some random sightings that made me smile:

More awesome club patches for my growing collection.

Temporary tattoos! I'm surprised I haven't seen more of these. One person was cleverly using a temp tatt to cover up a nasty bruise.

Well, fellow fencing fashion fans, until next time, which would be...Nationals! Dallas! Wear your best bling, strut your stuff, and look forward to seeing you there.

Salute,

Badger

[Not only the flag, complete with fringe, but the whole 'freakin stand. Good job, tournament official.]

Monday, January 11, 2016

Fashion history: the fencing mask

For a change of pace, I'm offering up historic styles this week - fencing mask styles, to be specific. They've evolved over time, in my opinion for the better!

According to costume historian Jane Malcolm-Davies, masks were invented around 1750 but fencers resisted wearing them because it "indicated a fear of inartistic work by a opponent." By 1800 it appears these masks were in use, but were fairly spare wire things:

A rare fencing ensemble, French, late 18th century - first half 19th century, comprising padded natural linen jacket with chamois breast. Courtesy Kerry Taylor Auctions

Through the 19th century masks became bulkier and more protective (scroll down), but still offered indifferent throat protection.

Epee master, France, 1899. Found on Tumblr, further provenance unavailable

Chatham University PA, ca. 1908. Courtesy U. of Pittsburgh Library

Bibs don't seem to show up consistently until the 1930s:

L'escrimeuse, 1933 by Willy Kessels, courtesy Arcadja Auctions results

By the 1940s the mask is taking a more recognizable form:

U.S. Naval Academy ca. 1942, courtesy Library of Congress

Today's masks have a larger (safer!) bib, but for foil the lower half is now electric so it won't cover target. I'm sure many foilists remember having to retrofit our old masks a few years back:

How many old lames gave their lives for the new rules?

Mesh is now available in every color of the rainbow, though not seen terribly often:

And of course there are infinite possibilities for patterns:

How do you style your mask?

Reference:
Malcolm-Davies, Jane. "‘And at the Plastron Push’: The Historical Development of Fencing Kit." Costume 36.1 (2002): 100-111.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Highlights of 2015

Allison and I were so busy fencing (and traveling, and sewing) last year we didn't post much, but we thought we would start 2016 with a couple posts that might rev us up for the new year.

I browsed through my camera roll for highlights of 2015, and pulled out the following candidates. See what you think:

1. Most Comprehensively Color-coordinated Competition Gear.

September 27, Kickoff ROC, Fredericksburg, VA

2. Best Women's Foil Team Shoe Assemblage

September 27, Kickoff ROC, Fredericksburg, VA

3. Best Secret Fencing Identity

May 23, Battle of Spotsylvania
Fredericksburg, VA

4. Best Bad-ass Warm-up Jacket

June 30, Summer Nationals
San Jose, CA

5. Best Bad-ass Club Patch

May 23, Battle of Spotsylvania
Fredericksburg, VA

6. Messiest Home Base at a fencing tournament

June 30, Summer Nationals
San Jose, CA

7. Most Confusing Mixed Message on a fencing jacket

February 27, NAC
Reno, NV

8. Far and away the Best Dressed Referee (I mean, really--kilt, cowboy boots, man bun. What more can you ask for?)

September 27, Kickoff ROC, Fredericksburg, VA

Last but not least, one of my favorite fencing fashion pictures of myself from last year. (Badgers: also cute and fuzzy.)

Allison's up next with a brief history of the fencing mask. We look forward some fertile fencing fashion blogging in 2016. If you see us at a competition, please introduce yourself, and strut your best bling! We would love to photograph you.

Happy New Year,

Badger

Monday, February 16, 2015

Warm Up

It's seven degrees out.

And that is up from a low of 3 last night.

Many of my NE fencing peeps are enduring temperatures below zero.

With that in mind, here are a couple of creative ideas for staying warm, captured at the 2014 Dallas NAC

First we have Patriotic Warmth

And then there is the gentleman I have long thought of as "the bathrobe guy." This was the first event at which I actually got a picture of him.

Actually, a warm fuzzy bathrobe sounds about right, just now.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Noms de Grrrrrrr

Last week I wrote about the fashion flaunting of the Roller Derby set. This week I'm looking at their handles.

Of course the team members have awesome names.