"Hands on" is our primary method of teaching at Costume College. We offer an extensive selection of lectures, workshops, and demonstrations targeting every level of costumer (i.e., beginner, amateur, semiprofessional, professional, and just people who like to dress-up). We offer over 100 classes presented by more than 65 teachers and cover every imaginable topic!

Here's an overview of our subject range:

• Corsetry
  
• Lectures on a wide variety of subjects regarding historical clothing
  
• Mask making
  
• Millinery
  
• Needlework and embellishment skills
  
• Theatrical costuming subjects (for stage, film, museum, and re-enactor)
  
• Museum techniques and topics
  
• Basic sewing classes
  
• Pattern drafting and draping techniques
  
• Theatrical and historical make-up and hair styling courses
  
• Fitting and tailoring methods
  
• Ethnic clothing topics
  
• And much, MUCH more

We have something for everyone. To give you a taste of what's coming, click on Classes to find out what we offered last year.

When you consider everything we offer at Costume College, the price of a membership is one of the best bargains around. There is nothing like Costume College anywhere in the world, and if you compare the price of other conferences you'll find they can run as much as 10 times the cost of one of our memberships. Click on Tickets to get more information about our prices.

Each year we will offer a special bonus track. This is a series of classes that focus on a particular subject. The bonus track insures that there is always something new and fresh each year. However, this bonus track is only a small fraction of our total classes. The bonus track for 2008 is "The Crinoline Era: 1840's-1860's."

In addition to a fabulous and extensive selection of costuming courses, the CGW provides a series of fun events during the three-day run of College. Friday we have an orientation for our attendees. Saturday night, we host the Time Traveler's Gala, a fancy dress dinner dance showcasing attendees' costumes and fashions of all types. Music at the Gala features something for everyone, from waltzes to rock and roll. Sunday afternoon we host the Fantasy Tea, another costume-encouraged event, as well as our Sunday evening "School's Out" party in the Hospitality Suite. Want to know more? Click on Events.

Additionally, our teachers are from a wide cross-section within the costuming, museum, and theatrical community. Many are professionals, many highly respected self-educated costume enthusiasts, and even a few are curators at world-class museums. Several have won awards for costuming within the masquerade world and other areas of competition. Some have written books and published articles, or do consultation/construction for films and historical reenactment. Our teachers come from all over the U.S. Most have been costuming for a minimum of 15 years, and all are very knowledgeable in their particular field. Click on Teachers to learn more.