Costuming Essentials

I love Simplicity patterns… or at least the pictures on the pattern envelopes. Almost every time I have made one of their patterns it has been a size or two to large making the size my measurements have dictated. I have heard this is because the bust measurement they use is actually above the bust but some patterns have the size issue and some don’t. Generally I’ve found more fitted things like belly dance costumes and corsets will fit but I’ve also heard of some adding ease (extra material for comfort) to these as well. A corset in particular should not really have ease.

Simplicity has the very best selection of costume patterns on the market so certainly use them but always make a rough version in cheap fabric first. You can also measure the pattern but that’s a bit tricky. However you do it, making some attempt to assure a garment will fit before you cut expensive fabric is always recommended and especially so with simplicity patterns. It is extra time and effort but without it you may end up with a garment you’ll never wear.

I picked this simplicity pattern (8587) figuring being a pauper would be a good but cheap renaissance outfit. Sadly, I found myself swimming in the finished garment particularly the vest. I’d describe the result as having the fit of a Halloween store costume. If I’m going to take the time to make something I expect more than that. For this reason, I’ve been studying fitting and pattern making which may be the only way to get a proper fit in this stretchy t-shirt world.

One of my favorite costumes I ever put together was for a Victorian themed ball. I started with a evening gown from a thrift store. It was a strapless slightly corset like top and a long skirt. To create a bustle effect I pinned an underskirt just in the back of the skirt. Next I took some fabric I had bought to make a titanic-like gown. I still was hoping to make the gown so I could not sew the fabric to the dress or cut it much. I cut off as little as possible to make some off the shoulder sleeves to give the proper upper body silhouette. I folded under the raw edge and used safety pins to carefully attach the sleeves to the  dress. I tied the rest of the fabric around my waist and then used ribbon and a couple more safety pins to shape the ends into a bustle. Simple but effective… I felt like I stepped out of La Mode Illustre

40's hair

Proper hair and makeup are essential to really creating a character or costume and having it be effective. I love playing with hair in particular as it can have a dramatic effect on a costume. In this photo I am sporting a 40′s doo known as Victory rolls. Also I have tried to achieve a 40′s look to my makeup.  A surprising and wonderful resource I used to find out about both of these is YouTube.

Here are a few videos I found helpful

Victory Rolls

40′s Makeup