Category: Period Costume

Newsies Halloween Costume Ideas

Post author By Christine
Post date February 23, 2015
No Comments on Newsies Halloween Costume Ideas

Tonight I watched the Disney movie musical, “Newsies” with my girls. Not sure why I had not seen it until now.

It was made in 1992! 1992 people!!

I have no idea why we didn’t go see it when we were in NYC a few years ago. It was all the rage. Maybe it was sold out, although I didn’t even try to get tickets. I guess a bunch of boys in a show didn’t seem appealing.

I was wrong.

I liked Newsies for 3 reasons.

1. The songs are memorable, even the beautiful ballad, Santa Fe.

2. My theater-performer-teen mentioned

Tags Disney, period, theater

General Girl costumes Halloween Costumes for Teens Halloween Costumes for Women Period Costume

10 Easy DIY Halloween Costumes for Teen Girls

Post author By Christine
Post date September 29, 2014
No Comments on 10 Easy DIY Halloween Costumes for Teen Girls

Teenagers can be hard. I have a teen, a tween, and one waiting in the wings.

When it comes to Halloween costumes, teens can be especially challenging. Direct quote from my teenage daughter: “Well it’s hard to decide on a Halloween costume. You want to dress up, but not look like you tried too hard, and you want to be cute still. And comfy. It has to be comfy.”

So there you go. Cute and comfy is the key to a teen girl Halloween costume.

Here are 10 easy DIY teen Halloween costume ideas that fit “cute and comfy”:

1. 80s Chick: crimped hair or high side ponytail, leggings, leather jacket, neon anything, leg warmers, oversized sweatshirt, high tops, bangle bracelets.

2. Nerd: Center part with ponytails or braids, glasses with tape around the center (3D glasses are cheap and easy just pop the lenses out if you want), button up shirt with top button buttoned, cardigan mis-buttoned, high waisted pants with shirt tucked in or a pleated skirt, penny loafers with knee high socks.

3. Audrey Hepburn: Get out that LBD (Little. Black. Dress.), a strand of pearls, 60s style coif.

4. Minion from “Despicable Me“: Denim mini-jumper, yellow shirt, yellow tights, black boots, yellow beanie, homemade goggles.

5. Rosie the Riveter: Bandana to tie around your hair, falsies (false eyelashes), red lipstick, denim shirt with leggings.

6. Hippie: Floral maxi dress, long wavy hair, floral headband, John Lennon glasses, peace sign earrings.

7. Beauty Queen: Short formal dress, heels, glamour hair and make up, dangling rhinestone earrings, a tiara. Don’t forget the sash and give yourself a title.

8. Rodeo Queen: Colored Jeans, a western style shirt, dangling rhinestone earrings, huge Texas style curly-frizzy hair, a cowboy hat with large tiara, a big belt buckle, cowboy boots, a sash that proclaims yourself “Rodeo Queen.”

9. Olympia/Greek Goddess: long white, cream, or gold dress or formal, gold cord belt from Christmas decorations or curtains, a braided or ivy hair wreath, gold jewelry, long wavy hair or loose braid.

10. Wednesday Addams: Black dress or black sweater with black skirt, must have the white collar on the outside, black opaque or striped tights, funky fun black shoes, center part with two hair braids, pale face, black lips.

Many of these items can be found in your closets, at a thrift store, or online if you want it shipped to your door. For more tips on how to create and design a Halloween costume, buy my Amazon ebook here. Follow me on Facebook for tons more ideas!

Cosplay General Halloween Costumes for Women Period Costume

How to Create a Steampunk Costume for Women

Post author By Christine
Post date August 27, 2014
No Comments on How to Create a Steampunk Costume for Women

10144713295_2c9fc5bb05_b — Photo Credit LuftFlotte Steampunk…

Steampunk costumes fascinate me.

Maybe it’s because steampunk reminds me of those old fashioned photo booths in theme parks where you are instantly transformed a hundred years back… The photo is printed in sepia on tin type. I loved pausing to watch the transformations, but didn’t want to shell out the cash for that experience.

My lucky day came at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri years ago when my parents footed the bill for the extended family to get all dressed up. Maybe if I get enough requests in the comments, I’d be brave enough to post that picture…:)

Maybe it’s also because of all the cool hats from that time period for both men and women. Hats look so proper. A hat is the finishing touch on a costume from this time period.

I think I also like steampunk for the multitude of textures including the mix up of leather, metal, lace, net, velvet, and taffeta. Often there are some unexpected twists in the costume. The goggles, a little French Moulin Rouge mixed in, uneven hems, the funky revolvers…Tons of room for creativity.

Steampunk even mixes time periods. While steampunk is heavily influenced by the Victorian Era (mid 1840s-1900s), it is often mixed in with modern or militaristic styles.

Key elements in steampunk costumes for women may include:

-Bustles

-Corsets

-Gowns

-Petticoats

-Hats

-Belts

-Ruffles,

-Lace up boots

Steampunk costumes are often accessorized with technological and period pieces including parasols, flying/driving goggles, ray guns, canes, and time pieces. “Modern accessories like cell phones or music players can be found in steampunk outfits, after being modified to give them the appearance of Victorian-made objects.” (Wikipedia)

The color palette in steampunk is predominantly dark rich tones of deep reds, burgundy, navy, dark teal, deep purple, gold, mustard, hunter green, olive green, copper, brown, gunmetal grey, silver, bronze, and PLENTY of black.

If you do not want to make a costume, there are plenty of interesting steampunk costumes for women available. Click on the pictures below for more information. When I costume, I like to purchase one or two important aspects of the costume like the hat or an accessory that seems like a beast to make (like those corsets or petticoat), but then I source the rest from thrift stores finds that I refashion or simple sewing and crafty projects. Just depends on what’s already in my costume closet and how much time/money I have.

If I happen to already have a dress that would work with a little draping and some ruffles and lace added, then I would find an inexpensive hat, deck it out with fabric or trim, and then splurge on the boots that I know I can’t make. Watch for more posts on steampunk accessory ideas and other ideas for making your own steampunk costume.

Here’s a few ideas to get your steampunk costume started…

Tags Comic Con, Steampunk, Victorian

Halloween Costumes Halloween Costumes for Women Hats Period Costume Refashioning

White Witch Halloween Costume Idea

Post author By Christine
Post date August 23, 2014
1 Comment on White Witch Halloween Costume Idea

My friend at Archive Costumes of Orem, Utah posted this picture on their Facebook page of a white witch costume that is available for rental and I fell in love with it!

First, it’s a great photo in a beautiful local park.

Second, I love the hat. I am a sucker for hats. I haven’t made tons of original hats, but I love to refashion and embellish existing hats. The broom is pretty cool too.

Third, I love the idea of a witch dressed in white. It seems so updated. So fresh. So youthful and kind. Black is so normal. So predictable. Pink is too Glinda. White (it might be off white) is just right. Romantic even. White may be on my mind because

General Period Costume Resources Theater

Costume Design Process: Bullets Over Broadway

Post author By Christine
Post date January 29, 2014
No Comments on Costume Design Process: Bullets Over Broadway

A Facebook friend from my college days at Brigham Young University is the associate producer of a new Broadway musical opening in March called “Bullets Over Broadway.” He shared this clip of Bullets’ costume designer William Ivey Long who designed costumes for more than 60 Broadway shows over the last 30+ years including The Producers, Hairspray, Nine, Crazy for You, Guys and Dolls, Cinderella, and Young Frankenstein.

Mr. Long shares a glimpse of the theater costume design process in under 3 minutes:

Here’s a summary of his words and some basic steps for the costume designer:

1. Get a copy of the script

2. Meet with the director and ask lots of questions:

Continue reading “Costume Design Process: Bullets Over Broadway”

Tags Bullets Over Broadway, Costume Designers, Costume Designs, William Ivey Long

General Period Costume Theater

Costume ideas for Oklahoma! the Musical

Post author By Christine
Post date January 24, 2014
No Comments on Costume ideas for Oklahoma! the Musical

My daughters are in their school play which is the shortened and adapted version of Oklahoma! by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The costume design along with hair and makeup ideas are getting underway. In my research on this Edwardian time period, I ran across a fascinating retail catalog from 1906. This 432 page peek into history is for the T. Eaton Company Spring and Summer 1906 Catalogue. The Fall and Winter 1906 Catalogue begins at page 221.

Not only is this a superb resource for Edwardian period costumes but it also shows hairstyles for men, women, and children of the time. The first 100+ pages of each season’s catalog are filled with apparel and accessories for men, women, and children including dresses, walking suits, petticoats and other underclothing, shoes, hats, & night clothing. It is unbelievable to me to see the hundreds of items available.

I can’t fathom a retailer from 100 years ago having such a huge selection of goods because the catalogue also offers fabric, notions, watches, linens, hair goods, silverware, knives… Looks like it was the Amazon.com of the Edwardian Period!

I picked out just a small handful of images to wet your appetite, but if you love this time period or need additional costume ideas for the 1900s, be sure to click through to the full catalog.

Click here for the full screen version of the catalog.

Take a look at these fabulous items for sale…Could we ever go back to these days of such fine fashion?

Halloween Costumes Halloween Costumes for Men Period Costume

The Roaring 20’s: Great Gatsby Costumes for Men

Post author By Christine
Post date November 20, 2013
No Comments on The Roaring 20’s: Great Gatsby Costumes for Men

The Roaring 20’s and The Great Gatsby seems to be a popular costume theme for parties, dances, and other special events. I wrote a previous post here on 1920’s costumes for women, but I neglected to write for the 1920’s men’s costume.

To me, men’s fashion overall isn’t as fun or dynamic as women’s fashion, but the 1920’s do have some pretty snazzy looks for men. And boy are they good lookin’.

Think 3 piece suits, light colored suit pieces, club shirts with white collars on a blue or khaki dress shirt, bold striped vests and jackets (as in Barbershop quartet-look), pinstripes, pocket kerchiefs, and bow ties.

Head to the thrift store, raid Grandpa’s closet, or splurge on a dapper suit. If you can track down a fitted pin stripe suit, add a blue shirt, and a bow tie. Or go with brown tweed pants, a club shirt which is pretty easy to find, pattern vest, and a necktie with thick bold stripes. Then there’s always a tuxedo, especially if your date is dressed to the nines. Wear it with a lay down collar shirt (not wing-tip), vest, and hand tied bow tie. Do not wear a cummerbund and pre-tied tie because you will be mistaken for the waiter. The two-toned loafer or oxford Spectator shoe is a standout accessory from 1920’s men’s fashion. It’s all in the details.

Check out this link to Brooks Brothers’ Great Gatsby Collection.

This link is a helpful guide to men’s suits in the 1920’s, this one for men’s shirts in the 1920’s, and this link for shoes from the era.

Here is a link with many pictures to inspire your costume based on incorporating more recent trends in fashion.

I just can’t get enough of spectator shoes.

Couples costume Dresses General Hair Halloween Costumes Halloween Costumes for Women Makeup Movies Period Costume Refashioning Shoes Tutorials

The Roaring 20’s: Great Gatsby Costumes and Flapper Costumes for Women

Post author By Christine
Post date November 5, 2013
1 Comment on The Roaring 20’s: Great Gatsby Costumes and Flapper Costumes for Women

This page is for all you who need a costume for a Great Gatsby, Flapper, or Roaring 20’s event. You will see a brief overview of 1920’s costume ideas along with links to 1920’s fashion images and tutorials for hair, makeup, and 1920’s clothing.

When assembling a costume, I always consider 6 magic ingredients to make sure you look put together:

Hair
Clothing
Makeup
Shoes
Accessories
Props

Here’s the breakdown for each of these 6 magic ingredients in a women’s 1920’s costume:

Hair: Bobbed or cropped to fit under the close fitting cloche hats, waved

Link to 1920’s hair styles

20’s Inspired Fashion

Clothing: Straight-line chemise style, sleeveless, dropped waist or no waist at all, hemlines near the knee to make dancing the new dances like the Charleston easier, straight bodices with flattened chests. Sashes, bows, lace, beads, artificial flowers, feathers, and fringe adorned the dresses. If you would like a bit more coverage, wear a cap sleeve layering tee or wide-strap tank camisole and bike shorts, spankies, or leggings underneath the dress, although that will alter the look some.

blue flapper dress — Click image to view in Amazon