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