I wouldn’t be a writer if I didn’t want to escape into other personas. By writing historical novels I’m admitting I feel at home in other eras and yearn to go there. So it’s natural that I’d enjoy wearing clothes from the long ago and faraway. It’s just acting out in real life what I do on the page.
Naturally ancient history is a prime source for costume fun, and I’ve dressed as Cleopatra and Helen of Troy at book launch parties, a gladiator at the Gruppo Storico Romano gladiator training school in Rome, and Greek racer at the Nemean Games in Greece.
A medieval gown was just the thing for a castle in France where the Abroad Writers Conference was held, and for the fashion parade at the Historical Novel Society Conference.
Moving into more modern times, I’ve collected reproductions of the costumes from the film “Titanic” and have worn them to formal events.
In Japan, there are special costume establishments that will attire you in authentic geisha wear. I was in Kyoto during cherry blossom time when scores of Japanese are out in borrowed finery, and joining them was a lot of fun.
