Costumes! Costumes! Costumes!

Belly Dancing Costume Fabrics

Going shopping for fabric for your belly dancing costume?  This video is like a going to a fabric store to see all the options, or flipping through the pages of a fabric sample book.

You will notice that we will be focusing on fabrics for your Hallween costume or theatrical costumes or for any other specific costume needs for the next week or so.  This series, hopefully, will correspond with the addition of our new affiliate, Hancock Fabrics.  We will try and keep you informed with updates as to specials on fabrics, coupons, discounts, etc.

The only drawback to this series on fabrics is that you need to have at least some minimal sewing skills or the ability to drape fabrics to acheive whatever you want to achieve.  Me?  Can’t sew a stitch.

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Latex Prosthetic Nose 2

And so we continue with the fake nose. There are nose available without the forehead piece and frankly, probably blend and look better. Her techniques, however, are accurate. BTW, she mentions ‘stipple’ in the latter part of this video. Sometimes you might find a bit of air conditioning filter which used be the same thing (and may still well be). It’s usually black, wafty and spongy in feel. Probably the best place to buy it is at your local (whatever that means) costume shop. For more on Stage Makeup and costumes, VISIT US HERE

Latex Prosthetic Nose 1

This is a basic way of making a form, however if I were doing this, I would sculpt a nose out of modeling clay and add the latex over it in layers so as to not have thick areas in one place and thinner areas in another. Also there are pre-molded noses on the market as well. This technique can be used for a myriad of other things, especially for you ‘monster makeup’ buffs at Halloween. For more on stage makeup and costumes, CLICK HERE  

Bootcamp for Mascots

Not quite as intense as the  bootcamp I attended many years ago.  

This is another in the brief series on schools for mascots and some of the rigors these mascots have to go through.  I failed to mention in a earlier post that this is a hot and physically demanding ‘occupation’ or ‘hobby’

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Masot Costume Crash Course

Much of the thinking and process of making a costume is contained in this less than 2 minute video.

More time could have been devoted to how the head is constructed, but I like that he speaks of the eyes, the expression and the colors and how critical they are to the overall personality of the mascot costume.  

I live in a college football town (unnamed) and the local university has the absolutely worst mascot I have ever seen. The eyes are spacey and the smile (if you want to call it that) is bland.  A few minor changes to the eyes and the mouth would at least give the hometown mascot some personality.  Right now, the only personality that it gets is from the guy/gal wearing the costume…and at least he or she is animated.

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Costume Mascots 2

Well acted out, and a nice costume, I might say.  Notice the fake fur has a tencdency to overlap and blend in with itself.  Almost seamless.

As to dressing, He did this correctly….from the bottom up.

On the costume, I saw the same engineering flaw in the head design that I saw with a costume head in an earlier video. Engineering plays a major part in the design of these costumes.  There must be adequate visibility and adequate ventilation.  

For instance, some designers set the eyes so as to see straight ahead, and unless there is an offsetting opening in the mouth  (so as to look downwards), the character will be percieved as looking downward or the wearer is looking to take a tumble.  Instructions need to be included as to how to walk, talk and play the part.  A mis-step on a staircase because of the oversized shoes/feet might cause a trip (literally and figuratively) to the local ER.

The head must be secure so as to not fall off, and the wearer must feel secure that it won’t fall off; otherwise he’ll be playing to the costume and not to his audience.

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Mascot School

Well, we’ve all got to start somewhere.  You don’t just put on a suit, shoes, gloves and a funny head and WOW your audience.

It involves much more than that.  You’ve got to excude personality.  Yo’ve got to play a role.  You have to stay in character.  You have to be animated.  Where do you go to learn all of this?  Mascot school.

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Caveat Emptor on Mascot Costumes

Hmm…I wonder if the Disney folks relaxed their policies on the sales of Mickey Mouse costumes?  I came across this video which prompted this comment.

  In the past (20-50 or more years ago), it was a huge copyright No-No to duplicate, rent, buy, sell or manufacture Disney characters, and most other copyrighted characters as well.

Disney and any other companies who have copyrighted characters want to maintain a certin integrity for those characters; and it would be really bad publicity if the public saw a drunken Goofy, or Donald Duck robbing a bank, wouldn’t it? That’s why they maintain an iron-fist when it comes to their characters.

Back in the olden days, I understand there were 20+ typewritten pages (remember typewriters?) with details as to how the costumes would be worn, how often gloves would be changed, etc.;  and especially never, never remove the head, and always, always keep in character.

Does this apply to those famous character costumes sold at Walmart or Target or your favorite grocery store?  I assume that the manufacturers of these costumes were licesnsed to manufacture and sell them, so you are likely OK.  You might check the labels to be certain though.

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Mascot Costumes 1

Now the fun begins.  The next 2-3 weeks will be devoted to everthing that relates to mascot costumes.

So wear do all these mascot costumes come from that you see at many sports events?  BTW, the misspelling of ‘wear’ was on purpose.  My mindless sense of humor, I guess.

Originally, these mascot heads were made from paper mache, followed by a number of plastic impregnated fabrics.  Foam seemed to be a late bloomer (historically wise), but seems to be the choice of many mascot builders now.  I preferred a product called Celastic because it held it shape better and was impervious to rain, sleet and snow.  Foam heads have one serious drawback and that is the cleaning of them.  Dry cleaning causes dry rot and washing, well actually the drying process, takes days.

And being a bit snobbish because I manufactured these for 50 years, there is a design flaw in this costume.  Overall, it’s pretty good, though.

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How to Make Your Own Costume 2

Several of these home made costumes were done cleverly and at not too great an expense.  As per an earlier video, some of the basics could be used for other events.  Imagination can go a long ways in costuming, especailly if you want to keep costs down.  And imagine the spinoffs on the costumes presented here. 

For more on theatrical and maquerade costumes, CLICK HERE