ARTICLE # 21 - Creative Costuming-October
2005
Halloween is just around the corner and I
am beginning to receive requests for items
to wear as costume. Common requests are 1920s
dresses or Victorian pieces. Customers are
are often dismayed at the high prices, tiny
sizes and lack of availability when it comes
to these early vintage pieces. The good news
is that with a bit of ingenuity you can achieve
the look you want with retro-look garments and accessories.
For a great Victorian look find a good 1970s
or 80s white lace blouse with high lace collar.
Can't find a lace blouse? Just wear a fitted
white blouse and wrap a lace triangle around
the neck. Tie a black velvet ribbon at the
throat or over the lace and pin with a cameo
or filigree brooch. A long A-line black or
brown skirt to the floor will work well.
You can create a cummerbund by wrapping a
length of satin or taffeta around the waist
and pin in place. Hats are easy to mimic
from the Victorian era. Find a wide brim
straw hat (there were lots done in the 1970s)
and add feather plumes and flowers. A wide
gathered sash around the crown in satin,
faille or taffeta is a must. Remember more
is better when it comes to embellishing a
"Victorian hat". Genuine high top,
laced boots from this time are very costly
and often tiny in size. During the 1980s
they copied this look and you
might find them in thrift stores or online
auctions. Add lace to the edge of an old
umbrella for a parasol. Create a shawl from
a torn lace table cloth by cutting it into
a triangle and sewing on a lace edge. If
you have decent sewing skills create a drawstring
bag out of lace or brocade fabric and hang
a curtain tassel from the bottom. Dangling
filigree earring will complete the look!
The 20s Flapper is another popular costume
favorite. Genuine Twenties dresses are rare
and fragile. The silks often were weighted
with mercury to give them drape and luster.
Over the years the mercury caused the fabric
to weaken and deteriorate. These dresses
belong in collections and are not really
suitable for costume. Fortunately the dropped
waist 20s look has been duplicated a lot
especially in the 1980s. The trick here is
to find a dropped waist dress with very little
detail. If there are shoulder pads remove
them. Create a hip wrap out of a long narrow
piece of satin or chiffon fabric. Tie it
off to the side and pin it at the hips so
it does not fall down. Let the ends of the
hip wrap trail past the hem of the dress.
You can pin a rose or large broach for embellishment.
You can also take a simple, sleeveless sheath
dress and sew or hot glue fringe around the
bottom half starting
below the hip. There are two good choices
for head wear. You can simply tie a ribbon
around the forehead. In the center front
pin a few feathers to stand up straight and
cover with something sparkly. A rhinestone
brooch works well here. 1920s cloche hats
are expensive but there are tons of cloche
style hats out there from the 60s and 70s,
much more affordable. Lots of 60s hats were
made to perch up high on the head but if
you remove the sizing ribbon inside, steam
the hat and stretch it you can pull it down
on the face to look like a cloche. I have
a hat tips section on the website which tells
you how to stretch a hat at home. here is
the link HAT TIPS . Any kind of T-strap shoe that is not overly
chunky will do just great as footwear. A
long strand of beads and a few "spit
curls" and you are ready to Charleston
the night
away!
The slinky bias dresses of the 1930s evoke
Americas love of the silver screen during
those hard years. You can still find 30s
bias dresses which are wearable but costly.
There was a fling during the 80s and again
in the 90s with the glamorous bias look.
These copy cat dresses are occasionally in
thrift stores and online auctions. They may
have shoulder pads which will need to be
removed. Another trick is to find a long,
silky bias cut night gown and add maribou
trim around the neck and hem. Victorias Secret
has been making them for years and they often
look just like the real thing. These you
can find second hand, fairly easily or see
what they have new (although they may be
expensive just for costume). Add satin pumps
and a long strand of pearls. Pancake makeup
with penciled eyebrows and pouty red lips
will add just the right finishing
touch.
The 1940s war years look can be VERY easily
achieved with more contemporary clothing.
The key here is padded shoulders, nipped
waist and A-line skirt just a few inches
below the knee. This is a look that was copied
all through the later 70s. I would steer
clear of the over exaggerated shoulder look
of the 80s. The 40s look was more tailored
and used less fabric. Once you have the silhouette
(dress OR suit) the accessories will really
make the outfit. Hats and gloves were extremely
important. You do not have to use genuine
40s hats. The small pill box hats done in
the 50s and 60s and also in the 80s can be
worn if you position them right. Add a bow,
brooch or feather to the hat, they loved
embellishment. The key here is to position
the hat at a jaunty angle low on the forehead.
You will need to bobby pin in place. Seamed
stockings were a staple but can be hard to
find and fussy to wear.
Here is a great trick. Draw a thin line up
the back of the leg (in washable marker)
to simulate the seam and wear regular nude
stockings. Ankle strap, peep toe shoes are
perfect for the 40s look. Today they are
making wonderful retro-40s shoes so you should
have no trouble finding a pair. Big chunky
clip on earrings and matching multistrand,
bead necklace were popular jewelry items
as well as large brooches.
Finally the most popular request I get is
for the 1950s sock hop look. You know, poodle
skirt and saddle shoes. There are a ton of
reproduction poodle skirts available and
they are not expensive. The problem is the
felt they use is cheap and hangs limply.
You really need a sturdy crinoline to get
it to look right. You can make a great circle
skirt very easily out of heavier felt and
it will look more authentic. Find a circle
skirt pattern (any good fabric store should
have one) and ask them for a good quality
felt, not craft felt. You can make the poodle
applique out felt as well and glue a few
rhinestones around the collar. You will also
want to have the poodles leash swoop up and
over to the opposite side of the skirt. This
can be done by gluing cord or even drawn
with fabric marker. If you are lucky enough
to find a plain swing skirt just trim with
a hand made felt cutout poodle,
add a petticoat and you will be fine.Can't
find saddle shoes? The look will be just
as authentic if you wear old fashioned tennis
shoes instead (in white of course) and little
bobby socks. Wear a sweater set, plain color
camp shirt or knit shell for the top and
either tie a kerchief around the neck or
around a high ponytail.
Happy Halloween to all!