Annie's Dress

Annie's dress started with the pink dress, in the upper left corner.  Wanting to add some detail, the shear layer from the blue dress, in the upper right corner, was applied over the pink.  Stock black lace was added to the bottom of the pink skirt, as was black pleating, to the hem line.

The black with pink dress, on the bottom, was utilized for its skirt.  Once the bodice was removed, the skirt was cut open, up the center back seam, and used backwards as the over skirt and lower bustle.  Pink trim was added to the front and stock black lace was added to cover the pink.







For the bustle attachment, remnant pink fabric was used as the base with left over lace from Rosalinda's dress used on the edge.  Stock black ribbon was used to create bows as embellishment.  

Finally, pink and black lace was used in conjunction to create an attached shawl...

Missi's Dress

Missi's dress started with the cream dress on the left.  Blue beading was added to the tone on tone embroidery on the skirt to help it pop out.  The same blue beading was added to the bust line, as well.

The vintage sequence dress had its sleeves removed and was added as an over vest piece that was, also, incorporated into the bustle.  Gold ruching trim was added to add dimension and color.  

Stock fabric was used as the train and a vintage shirt was used as the bustle mid layer.  The gold dress on the right was cut up and turned into a giant bow.  Stock ribbon and flowers finished off the bustle...

Autumn's Dress

Autumn's dress started with the brown 2-piece, pictured left (skirt & shawl not pictured).  The bodice needed more color, so salmon colored beading was added across the bust line.  Cream colored lace with chocolate edging was also beaded and added on as shoulder straps.

The skirt from the salmon dress was removed and used as the under skirt.  The brown skirt was cut open and used as the over skirt, wit the addition with the same cream lace and stock salmon ribbon.

For the bustle, the brown shawl--trimmed in the same salmon ribbon was utilized.  The front bow adornment from the salmon dress was also used.  More stock ribbon, fabric, and flowers finished the bustle design.  Two lace panels were hung on the sides to had a third color and movement...

Kaitlyn's Dress

 

Kaitlyn's dress is a combination of these 2 dresses.  The light green dress became the bodice and under skirt.  For the bodice, we highlighted the tone on tone embroidery by sewing on beading and added blue embroidery.  To mask the halter strap and add softness, stock blue fabric was added to the bust line and as cap sleeves.

The skirt of the periwinkle dress was split open and added over the base skirt to create a layered effect.  Stock trim was added to both layers with pleated green fabric added to the periwinkle layer.  The shawl from the periwinkle dress was added as a front swag, with the addition of beading.

The bustle was created out of the shawl of the green dress and flowers were sewn on to add volume and a softness...

Kelly as 'Ida'

For Kelly's dress, we started with this black & white concoction.  The white was removed and copper and gold beads were added the length of the bodice and right side of the skirt.

The under skirt was built with sock fabric, as was the bustle.  The highlight of the bustle, is the gathered brocade fabric on the sides...

Katherine's Dress

With Katherine's gown, the 2-piece dress, on the left, served as our starting point.  The bodice just needed straps, so we took a bit of the detailed layer from the party dress, on the right.  After adding some simple buttons and some bling to anchor the straps, the bodice was ready to role.

For the skirt, we started with the under layer from the cream 2-piece, 2nd in from the right.  Stock trim was added to the bottom.  Then we used the taupe skirt, that matched the bodice, to act as the over skirt.  It was gathered to create a swag and black fringe was added to create movement and drama.

For the bustle, the rest of the beaded layer from the party dress was utilized over an iridescent cream fabric.  More black fringe was added, as was a giant black bow, created from remnant black fabric. Finally, the cream brocade dress, 2nd from the left, was cut up and utilized as the train... 

Cory's Dress

For Cory's dress, we once again, started with the wonderful fashion statement that is the 1980s wedding dress.  Once the sleeves were popped off, the beauty began to shine through.

Like Molly's, we dyed the dress--first with yellow, then with a light brown.  SO much better with color on it!!  What is so great about this process, is that the satin picks up the dye differently than the lace, due to the different fibers used, o the detail really stands out.

From there, stock fabric was added as trim and the bustle and darker beads were applied to the bodice to add depth...

Abby as 'Adele'

For Adele's gown, we started with the dress on the left.  Rhinestones were added to the bodice to make it sparkle under the lights.  Lace trim was added to the straps to form cap sleeves.

The skirt just needed some white lace trim around the bottom.

The bustle started with the skirt of the dress on the right.  Then some stock fabric was used to fill in.  To create the top layer, a short sleeved jacket from a Mother-of-the-Bride dress (not pictured) was refashioned with the addition of beaded fringe and fabric roses removed from a wedding dress.  A piece of cream stock fabric was added as the train. Finally, flowers were added to one side to give an A-symmetrical style... 

Laura's Dress

The teal dress had great details to begin with, so we didn't want to cover it up, too much.  First...you guessed it--we made it into a 2-piece. For the bodice, we just needed to add some simple lace as cap sleeves and some tassel trim to the bottom.

For the skirt, we removed the black skirt, from the dress on the right, and made it the base skirt.  Then, the shear layer, from the middle dress, was swagged across the front.

For the bustle, a piece was made with stock lace of pink and plack and then it was decked out with flowers!!

Jaime's Dress

For Jaime's dress, we started with a long sleeved wedding dress.  Dyed beige, it became very beautiful. Then, we removed the sleeves to make it more delicate.  Small rhinestones were applied to add some subtle bling.

For the skirt, we used a stock piece that was dyed beige to match.  Lace trim was added at the hem to add some subtle detail.

The skirt, on the right, came to us without a bodice.  Cut open at the back seam, it became a perfect base for the bustle and a splash of color.  As a mid-layer,  stock fabric was swagged across the front and gathered in back.  Finally, the sleeves from the wedding dress were utilized to create a light poof to bring the lace detail to the back...

Jordyn as 'Rosalinda'

Rosalinda's gown started with the the gown in the upper left corner.  It was, first, separated into a 2-piece.  Then, we removed the skirt from the black dress in the upper center.  We used the black skirt as the base and layered the burgundy skirt over it.  The black lace from the 1980s prom dress in the lower right corner was added as trim.  A final front swag was made from stock fabric.

The bustle started with the bodice of the gown in the upper right, then had the red shawl from the lower left added.  Trim from the lower middle was applied to the ends of the shawl.  The skirt from the upper middle was, also, used as the train.

To the bodice, we added shoulder straps and covered them in amaryllis petals that came from a super clearanced Christmas wreath. (you never know where you'll find your materials!)

Finally, rhinestones were applied all over the gown, straps, and bustle....

Megan H playing 'Ida'

Megan's dress started out as a black and white one piece dress.  First, we separated it at te waist line to make a bodice and skirt.  You may remember seeing this dress, earlier, when we demonstrated that we used a green fabric marker to color in the embroidery.  

Then, green fabric was used to cover the white band across the top of the bodice and the bottom of the bodice.  Luckily, there was a lot of green fabric left over from the Stepmother's dress from, last season's, Into the Woods.  The green fabric was built into the bustle, train, and shoulder straps.  Finally, beaded trim and rhinestones were added to finish the gown...

Molly's Dress

Take this wedding dress bodice--remove the sleeves.  Then take it and its corresponding skirt and train and dye them--first in green, then in blue.  Add a layer of stock fabric as a swag, then finish off with some flowers, and get....

Surging Forward

Does anyone else get extreme gratification from surging?  I do.  Seeing that unfinished edge get sniped off and replaced with a bound edge of thread.  Therapeutic?  Kinda!

Oh Christmas Tree....

Check this ugly tree skirt out...Yeah,
we're takin it and gonna make it pretty...
or something.

Of course, it is perfect, since we joke that, all we're doing is decorating Christmas trees...

Can't Do Much Without a Great Team

Below are pictures of some of the costume shop staff and students helping to get this show off the ground!  Thank you to the dedicated few who consistently do good work and have a smile on your faces while doing it!!  We, really do have a lot of fun, together!

Another Gown Comes to Life

 Take this purple gown, to the left.  It's pretty boring, but it's got good bones...get it?  Another period joke!?  Good bones...boning?  No?  Anyway...

The color was great and the beading across the top was perfect.  It matched, quite well, with another lavender dress that was dripping in lace, that was donated by the director of the opera's mother.  Unfortunately, we don't have a picture of it, before it got deconstructed.




















Below, Ellie hand stitches lace onto the bodice, so that it matches its new skirt.


Now, the gown below, was beautiful, until someone hacked off the front and replaced it with some metallic silver fabric.  Not sure for what, but it didn't work.  Fortunately, it had a detailed train, that we could use!!

 You can see, in these 2 pictures, the gown starting to take shape!