GREAT GATSBY COSTUMES

No matter what genre of entertainment, costumes play a role. Movies, included.  It’s always interesting to see how the designers come up with the proprer clothing for the time and character, isn’t it?  It used to be more loose and free with the accuracy of the costumes, but over the past 20-30 years, movies are remarkably accurate in their portrayal of period costumes.  Once in a while, they err, but not often.

Brooks Brothers’ Costumes for The Great Gatsby: Your First Look …

“Now that we’ve reviewed the unbe-freakin’-lievable trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, we’re thrilled to share a first look at the menswear ensembles …www.luckymag.com/…/brooks-brothers-costumes-for-the-grea…”
http://www.luckymag.com/blogs/luckyrightnow/2012/06/brooks-brothers-costumes-for-the-great-gatsby-your-first-look

For more on costumes, visit us at http://costumescostumescostumes.net 

Charlize Theron’s Evil Queen Costume

Per the attached article, the costume designer of Charlize Therons Evil Queen costume, Colleen Atwood must have had a ball with this costume with all its unusual materials and intricasies.  In my former world, we tried to build costumes that looked great on stage (we didn’t do any movie work) and that the costumes(s)would be durable on a long term basis, but not so detailed as this.  

Theron’s evil queen role lets costume designer run wild

“By Sandy Cohen AP Charlize Theron’s evil queen costumes for “Snow White and the Huntsman” called for hundreds of hand-cut rooster feathers, thousands of iridescent beetle wings from Thailand and one particularly imposing crown.Washington Times”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/4/therons-evil-queen-role-lets-costume-designer-run-/

For more on costumes, visit us at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net 

Tinker Bell Costume Rejected at Disney

Hmmm…to paraphrase something I heard a long time ago: I wonder what Walt would have done?

Tinker Bell costume causes trouble at Disney

“(April Spielman) A Tampa bay area teen and her boyfriend are in shock after being forced to take off the costumes they were wearing at Walt Disney World. By Dalia Dangerfield, A Tampa bay area teen and her boyfriend are in shock after being forced to …Bay News 9”
http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/on-the-town/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2012/6/5/tinker_bell_costume_.html

For more on costumes, visit us at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net 

Costumes for Dogs Video

Came across this video and thought it was cute and funny.  It’s a little early to be thinking about Halloween (or is it?), especially for your pet, but here it is anyhow.

We will probably do great cat costumes in our next video, possibly next week.

For more information about costumes for humans, visit us at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net

Renaisssance History, Costumes and Clothing 

The history of renaissance clothing dates back to early 1940’s, where it started with a single nation and then spread throughout the world creating a big impact. However the renaissance costumes were in a stage of evolution during this period when the Germans made an improvement in the natural silhouette. They liked to put bulk of large puffs all over from their head, thighs, arms, back and chest. Also they used feathers to accessorize their whole costume. This stage was followed with more and more discoveries making the renaissance costume more and more creative. These costumes were generally available in dark colors, with the black velvet mostly used for the head dresses. White linen was used with gold and burgundy colored pirate shirt and with collar and wrist ruffles.

When there was an important event, the rich people used to wear an expensive sort of a garb and the ones who cannot afford such garbs wore a usual one.

Renaissance clothing for male included a variation between a low crowned brimmed cap which sometimes was one side turned up or turned up all around. The most usual hairstyle was bobbed. The length and style of the hair depended on their own tastes. During the 16th century men preferred hair similar to the men today in the 21st century.

The women medieval clothing for female had variation…More at About Renaissance Clothing – We Are The Geordies

Image by ExperienceLA via Flickr

The Renaissance movement as described in this article probably went back into the 30’s rather than the 40’s, and perhaps even earlier than that (as per a photo that I came across recently). The movement is well established now, and in fact, our area will be holding it’sr annual event shortly.  It’s great to see so many enthusiasts that do this type of thing.  For more information about costumes or costuming, please visit us at

http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net

Renaissance Costume Designer

Renaissance Costume Designer on TV…More at Julia Soares McCormick :Renaissance Costume Designer on TV …

Image by ExperienceLA via Flickr

This was an interesting interview with an interesting lady who makes Medieval, Renaissance, Tudor, and Elizabethian costumes.  I can’t see the quality of her sewing from the video, but I can tell she is exceptional as to design, pattern, precision as to staying historically accurate.  I would love to see some of her closeup.  

BTW, the dress in the photo above is not one of Julia Soares McCormick’s work.

For more on costumes, visit us at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.info

When displaying character with costume and Halloween makeup, people generally run into an issue like not making any impression. Mot making any impression can be caused by not applying the right costumes or make up. This is because dressing up as certain character can only make a great impression if wearing the right costume and putting up the proper make up. To apply Halloween make up ideas, you’ll require applying the proper make up techniques and costume. The right Halloween make up techniques requires the right combination of makeup product, and also shades for evil look. Additional important elements when displaying character with costume and Halloween makeup are prosthetics, and also make up base….More at Halloween Makeup tips and guide | Kate Beauty Tips

Image by laihiu via Flickr

As we have done the past post or two, we are sticking with what elements are essential for your costumes, including the costume itself (and all the things that need to be considered), the prosthetics, if any; and the makeup.  The type of makeup, the application of the makeup and the lighting and distance from where you will be observed are all key ingredients in the costume.  This article delves into some of these elements.

For more information on costumes and all their related parts, visit us at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net

You have to ask yourself, “what is a costume to me?” That is very open to interpretation and everyone has a different answer. Is your costume for self expression? For fun? Do you create costumes to showcase your artistic skill? Do you love the ohh’s and ahh’s as you stride through your chosen venue? Are there contests involved? It’s important to consider these things since your goal with a costume will influence many of your decisions about designing and making the costume, not just in what you choose to make but also in how it’s made as well. Let us begin.

Where you are going to be wearing your costume can have a huge impact on its design. If your planning on attending a spacious indoor event with access to a hotel room, your options are much broader than if your costume is to be worn outside in the hot sun or driving rain. Weather, temperature, access to dressing areas, size of the venue, and your personal plans while in costume all will put different demands on your design.

These considerations are also dependent on how long you plan on being in costume. A very complicated cumbersome costume may be great for about 15 minutes to enter a contest and then rush back to your hotel room for something more comfortable. But if you are looking to maintain your alter ego for 3-5 days 24 hours a day, you are not going to want to be wearing the equivalent of a parade float.

The weather can be your best friend or your worst foe. At an outdoor event you are going to be at its mercy….More at The Art of Costuming: Where to Wear? | Faerieworlds 2012 …

Clever word usage in the title, isn’t it?  Wear…where.

This is a really interesting article about designing your costumes and accessories and some of the elements (including weather) that need to taken into consideration.  In my former profession, theatrical and masquerade costuming, we were very cognizant of these many elements.  Each time we built a brand new costume, either a mascot costumes for a business or school; or a King Lear costume for a high school production, we took into cosideration the appearance from the viewer as well as the comfort to the wearer.  For more information on costumes, visit us at

http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net 

Costumes are an essential part of any stage production. Unless you’re planning to put on Paradise Lost or a nudist version of a popular play, you pretty much have to get your actors some clothes.

When designing costumes, there are four main things to consider. First, the costumes need to fall in with the general look and feel of the play. Nothing is worse than an outfit that sticks out like a sore thumb. Second, a costume must help the actor create the character. In many ways our clothes define who we are and on stage they are meant to give the audience visual cues as to what to expect. Third, when creating costumes, comfort has to be taken into account. Actors need to be comfortable to move about, breathe and speak freely. And last, but not least, there is the budget to consider.

Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play is set in a fictional pseudo-Victorian London. That was fortunate since this setting allowed us to take a lot of liberties with costumes….More at Dressing the Stage: Costumes of Chemical Imbalance « Thespians …

Don’t you love the title of this post?  Clever wordplay, wouldn’t you say?

There is so much involved in the costuming of a play.  The costume design must fit the character being portrayed.  The fabric needs to historically reflect the period and character, along with the colors.  This article explains some of what goes into the thinking and planning of the costuming for a period play.  For more information about costumes, visit us at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net

Celastic!  

Сеlаѕtіc, you ѕау!  What іѕ Сеlаѕtіc?

Fоr me, Сеlаѕtіc (а trademarked nаmе) аnd it’s vаrіаtіоnѕ (Fоrm Fast fоr оnе) have bееn gоdѕеndѕ to mу buѕіnеѕѕ.  Whеn Ι was а mеrе lad іn mу first fеw mоnthѕ in thе cоѕtumіng business, Ι lеаrnеd some оf thе old pаpеr mаchе techniquess tо buіld cartoon chаrаctеr hеаdѕ for оur ѕhоp.  Υоu knоw…а much lеѕѕ ѕоphіѕtіcаtеd version оf thе type оf cаrtооn characters уоu ѕее might  ѕее at а Dіѕnеуlаnd or Κіngѕ Dоmіnіоn.

Ιn layman’s tеrmѕ, Сеlаѕtіc is а ѕоrt of plаѕtіcіzеd lіghtwеіght canvas оr hеаvуwеіght fabric, whіch whеn softened іn Αcеtоnе or ΜΕΚ cаn be ѕhаpеd іntо any  numbеr of оbjеctѕ (uѕіng a mоld).    Ιt comes іn vаrіоuѕ thicknesses аnd ѕіzеѕ. 

Cut іntо ѕtrіpѕ and/or ѕеctіоnѕ, іt is lаіd оvеr a fоrm оr mold аnd аѕѕumеѕ the еxаct ѕhаpе and dіmеnѕіоnѕ оf the fоrm.  After іt drіеѕ and іѕ cut off, іt hаѕ become а clоnе of thе fоrm, except mіnіmаllу lаrgеr.

Ιn the mаѕquеаdе, thеаtrіcаl, performing аrtѕ аrеnаѕ, it’s uѕеd fоr puppets, ѕcеnеrу, prоpѕ, armor,  аѕ well аѕ mаѕcоt and cаrtооn cоѕtumеѕ; but іt mау even hаvе prаctіcаl applications аѕ іn taxidermy аnd ѕеttіng of brоkеn bоnеѕ.  

Whаt Ι especially lіkе аbоut Celastic іѕ thаt is іmpеrvіоuѕ tо the еlеmеntѕ (wаtеrprооf), is lіghtwеіght еnоugh to bе аblе to bе ѕuppоrtеd on thе hеаd/ѕhоuldеrѕ, and whеn dеntеd, can еаѕіlу bе snapped bаck іntо place.  Ρаpеr mache, аlthоugh lіghtwеіght, could еаѕіlу bеcоmе misshapen durіng а rainstorm; аnd dеntѕ required rеpаіrѕ.

Τоmоrrоw, Ι start wаlkіng уоu through thе vіdео process оf buіldіng a cаrtооn chаrаctеr head.  Juѕt click оn Соѕtumеѕ! Costumes! Соѕtumеѕ! (to the left) аbоvе іf you dоn’t ѕее the vіdеоѕ оn this pаgе.

ΝΟΤΕ:  For mоrе іnfоrmаtіоn about Сеlаѕtіc, plеаѕе contact uѕ аt russkampmann@gmail.com оr cоѕtumеѕ3@gmаіl.cоm