Costuming Essentials

Sometimes the big costume just isn’t necessary. Especially when dealing with a tight budget, its important to consider the effect you are going for and how to simply but clearly get it across. Often accessories are extremely helpful in conveying an idea. A pair of dark glasses and a scarf can transform you into an incognito celebrity. The scarf pictured here I have used for everything from dance prop to belt to head piece. In this photo it and my attitude are the entire costume.

Even elaborate costumes are lent greater realism by the right accessories. A costume is a complete thing where all of it works together to give a message. The wrong or missing accessory can completely spoil a look. A ball gown combined with tennis shoes will throw off perceptions.

Choose your accessories with as much care as any costume and perhaps even more. If an accessory can be used for multiple costumes or even better in your everyday life, it is quite the find. If it can’t, even if it’s perfect, consider how much use you will get out of it and if it’s really needed. Also consider if it’s a usuable item or something that just fits the costume. I’ve bought hand bags to go with costumes before but 90% of the time the bag is immediately put down somewhere because it interferes with interaction. This goes for cloaks and outerwear too. There are reasons for things like that such as scripted props or photoshoots but without a specific reason if it’s going to be an encumberance to your costume think twice.

Unlike vintage shopping where things are already weeded down for you thrift shopping is inevitably hit or miss. I’ve gone and shopped for hours to find nothing I wanted for costuming or otherwise. The prices, variety of things and tested quality always keep me coming back. (by tested quality I mean the things have been washed and materials that are poor and look old after a few washings are already looking scuzzy). When I find something the effort is worth it. A few amazing finds that come to mind are a burburry designer skirt, a green velvet cloak that is entirely custom made and of extremely nice quality and finishing and… a cat suit. I tried the cat suit on for laughs but it actually looked so nice at $3 that I bought it. I’ve used it for sci fish costuming or if I really needed a jaw dropping costume.

I’ve been sketching ideas for out there cyber punk looks. I want to incorporate unexpected materials. Could screws and circuits replace diamonds? Could light sockets and black plastic tubing combine into a truly couture and high fashion look? Can I convince my dad to let me raid his workshop for supplies? Only time will tell what I’ll make and only imagination and budget are limitations.

This year I made an awesome costume for a good friend of mine (hopefully there will be pictures later) rather than focusing on what I was going to wear. I’ve thrown together something for myself (which there may be be pictures of later) but it doesn’t compare to the last costume I made just for Halloween, a few years ago.

I had the idea of going as a slightly Grecian tribal priestess. The costume  was actually my first experiment in draping. I basically just worked out how to make it with knots and laying it over myself. What really makes the look are the furs, feathers, shells and thorns.

This sort of costume is very easy and frugal. Most of it was items I just had sitting around like shell necklaces from Hawaii. The fabric was just scraps that couldn’t have cost more then $5. The fur pieces were things I had gotten at Renaissance fairs and probably the most expensive part at $15. However, they are reusable for many costume ideas. My favorite bit is a necklace I had made stringing thorns off a rose bush. It was too painful to wear as a necklace but I wore it dangling off the top. Additionally, I wore a shell and straw necklace I picked up at a swap meet for $3 which was the only thing I actually bought specifically for the costume.

I love designing costumes for others. It pushes me to think in new ways and explore new techniques. I would never have even considered making something like the above photo for myself but it looks lovely blowing in the wind across the playa at burning man.

The entire coat is crazy quilted from pieces of old Hawaiian shirts. Up close you can see the zigzag stitching and extreme clash of colors and values. His goal was for it to be as gaudy and jarring as possible. The top is a copy of a Hawaiian shirt that I made a pattern from and then used flat patterning and pattern drafting techniques to turn into a voluminous coat. Copying a readymade garment and using it as what is known as a block or sloper from which to make style changes without losing the old garments fit is one of my favorite techniques. It is extremely effective and easier then starting totally from scratch.

Some holidays aren’t obvious choices for costuming. In mid June this year when I found this flag fabric for $1.50 a yard I was immediately inspired to make a dress to wear for the 4th of July. A fun and bold outfit for only about $5 was an irresitable prospect.

I decided to drape the dress right on my dress form in the fabric (ala Project Runway). I’ve had my dress form about a year but haven’t had the time to use it much. However, at $5 what did I have to lose? The end result is just lovely especially given it was a first try at making such a thing without a pattern.