| The first professional theater company I
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| | A Typical Atypical Job
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| designed for taught me one of the primary
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| | I once was asked to design a white and
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| skills that made my career in the world
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| | red polka dot dress like the one that
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| of theatrical wardrobe and costuming the
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| | Shirley Temple wore in the film, Captain
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| success it has been: Shortcuts. Learning
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| | January. Our costume was for a show
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| that the outside appearance of a costume
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| | finale, so it had to look good, and be
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| is much more important than the inside
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| | sturdy enough to last the whole run. I
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| being steeped in perfection has allowed
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| | purchased white seersucker fabric and
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| me to put the effort when building a
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| | picked up blocks of red felt, then, with
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| costume into the actual, measurable
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| | a liberal amount of the costumer's best
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| effect that it should be for the
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| | friend ― Wonder Under ―
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| audience.
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| | attached the Wonder to the red felt using
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| Before my first show, I was overly, and
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| | an iron. I then proceeded to cut out
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| as I would soon learn, unnecessarily
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| | three-inch circles with my scissors, laid
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| concerned about every little thread and
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| | out the seersucker and ironed each
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| seam no matter where it landed on the
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| | individual circle on the fabric.
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| piece. But I quickly learned that the
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| | I designed a high-waist empire dress with
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| inside of a costume was nothing to be
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| | four yards of seersucker for the lower
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| concerned about. There would be no time
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| | part of the dress, then took eight yards
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| to finish each seam, and there would
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| | of netting (the least expensive kind that
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| never be enough time to hand stitch every
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| | is extremely stiff) and gathered it under
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| little sequin in place. More to the
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| | the empire waist. Each gather was
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| point, I learned that none of that was
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| | assembled by hand and I eyeballed the
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| expected. Instead I found out that all I
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| | measurements. The motion for this part of
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| had been taught in my college years, like
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| | the process was to gather, pinch, and
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| so much of what is taught in the world of
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| | pin. It gave the dress a little more
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| academia versus what is true in the real
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| | "fluff" without meticulously having to
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| world, was destined to head out the
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| | watch every gather. I then performed a
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| window once I was in the thick of the
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| | quick run of the machine across the
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| theater.
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| | gathers. (I used red felt for the dots
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| My second paying job taught me even more.
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| | instead of a typical fabric because of
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| I was in charge this time. I was shocked
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| | the vibrancy of color.) Even though this
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| to learn that I was not going to be
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| | costume was a throw away (meaning that it
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| designing costumes from the ground up.
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| | wouldn't be put into the Company's
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| This theater company didn't have the
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| | permanent wardrobe inventory), it
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| funds for new costumes for each
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| | nevertheless had to appear like any
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| production, so I was instructed to take
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| | permanent costume would. The dress was a
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| over fifty costumes, pull them apart,
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| | hit and it won numerous industry awards
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| redesign them and tailor them for a whole
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| | due to the unconventional usage of the
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| new set of actors, and then put them back
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| | different materials, and the vibrancy.
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| together in a completely new form. I cut,
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| | More Tips!
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| pleated, and altered all different
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| | Don't be afraid to experiment. Nothing is
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| velvets and brocades; moreover, I
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| | off limits for costuming. (Also, I
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| survived and learned even more techniques
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| | wouldn't do anything without my pinking
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| that help me to this day.
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| | shears close at hand. They take care of
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| I worked for a children's theater as well
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| | stringy seams that will keep you from
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| where I have made more skunks, lions, and
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| | having to sew a seam a second time.
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| flamingos than a zookeeper would care to
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| | Pinking shears can be used to cut out
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| dream about. Again, the experience
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| | fabric and you won't have to worry about
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| increased my knowledge in my chosen
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| | the fabric unraveling. They also make a
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| profession.
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| | great hem if you don't want to (or have
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| Costuming Tips
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| | the time to) sew one. I have built many
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| The simpler, the better. When you have a
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| | clown outfits with fabric glue and
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| simpler line in a gown and then doll it
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| | pinking shears.
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| up with embellishments, the costume
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| | Don't worry if every little measurement
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| appears stylish. For example, if you or
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| | doesn't work out. You can nip and tuck a
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| your little one is going as a princess
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| | costume, and they sometimes turn out
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| this Halloween, either sew a simple long
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| | better than the costumes that are
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| gown from whole cloth, or better still,
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| | measured to a "T".
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| find one at a second hand store like the
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| | Permanent markers of all colors are a
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| Salvation Army or Goodwill. Make it any
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| | must. These markers make great drawings
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| color, but keep even the color simple.
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| | of any kind on fabric and it stays. Just
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| Then visit your local discount store and
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| | be aware that it will not come out. I
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| purchase the embellishments that will
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| | used a permanent marker for Charlie
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| create the princess look. Here's where
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| | Brown's costume (for the black zigzag on
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| the fun and imagination kicks into gear.
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| | the lower part of his yellow shirt) and
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| You can find yards of beads and baubles
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| | it worked wonderfully. Make sure to line
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| for very little in cost, but big in
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| | up the marker with a ruler if you are
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| beauty.
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| | creating lines.
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| Glue is Your Time Savor
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| | Fleece is a wonderful warm fabric that
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| If you are not a natural seamstress, or
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| | you can cut and leave. It doesn't even
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| you just don't have the time to sew, try
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| | require hemming if you don't have the
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| the various glues that "stitch" like
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| | time. It is also available in so many
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| sewing. They have several in the fabric
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| | colors that you can just about do
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| stores, and your local discount stores.
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| | anything with it for a costume. It works
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| And while they do work just as well as
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| | well with the fabric glues as well. Just
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| sewing a seam with a machine, consider
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| | make sure that once you put the glue on
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| that they will take 24 hours to dry. The
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| | the fleece seams, to immediately stick
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| upside is that you can glue a whole
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| | together. Fleece can soak up glue very
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| costume together without ever having to
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| | quickly. Another great product is foam
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| sew a stitch.
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| | rubber sheets. These come in an array of
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| Varying Fabrics
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| | colors and they are easy to apply. They
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| Use fabrics that you wouldn't normally
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| | come with our without sticky backs, and
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| put together. This is a Halloween costume
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| | they cut easily. These sheets especially
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| remember ― not a dress that is
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| | work well when creating robot buttons or
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| going to be passed down for generations
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| | clown polka dots when you are in a hurry.
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| to come. On more than one occasion I have
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| | These are just a few tricks that I use in
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| acquired tapestries and quilting
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| | costuming and will make your costume
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| materials for use in a costume. Yes,
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| | project happen a little easier and
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| these fabrics were intended for use in
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| | quicker. But most of all enjoy the
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| couches and blankets, but they have some
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| | process. Creating something out of
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| beautiful textures and colors that you
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| | nothing is the ultimate art, and it's so
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| just can't find in a regular broad cloth.
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| | much more fun if you enjoy yourself.
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