Costumes
Shopping
The week after holidays will bring you treasures at half price at retail stores. Hit drug stores, department stores and party shops. Used clothing stores not only have the obvious weird and wonderful clothes. Tuxedo shirts give you ruffles for collars and cuffs. Transform tulle pettycoats into wings with wire clothes hangers and a glue gun.
Swap meets are full of the most wonderful things -- including complete costumes and masks. Fabric stores always have bins of fabric scraps, ribbons and buttons. Dance supply shops have tons of stuff, but tend to be expensive. Again, best time to shop is after holidays. This is where to get dance sandles, though, which are a good investment. Acrobatic slippers and celtic dance shoes are also terrific. Get tap shoes and ballet slippers at garage sales. It’s much cheaper.
Costume shopping list:
- choir robes
- ribbon
- prom and party dresses
- crowns, hats, headbands and wigs
- feathers, beads, sequins, and shells
- fake and dried flowers and leaves
- masks and makeup
- tutus
- vests
- tights
- bloomers
- boustiers
- acrylic paint, sparkle, brushes, stencils
- furs (fake and real)
- leather (ditto)
- interesting belts, especially metal chains
- feather boas, shawls, scarves
- hoop underskirts
- pettycoats
- ruffled tuxedo shirts (ruffles to be used as cuffs and collar on Renaissance period costumes)
- jewelry, especially chains and long ropes of beads
- weird shoes, boots and mocassins
- fabric: satin, acetate, velvet, crepe, silk, tulle, faux fur, anything else that looks interesting
- curtains, especially lace. These can be gathered through the rod fold, and made into fabulous skirts. They also take dye well.
- And don’t forget animals -- toy owls, wolves, and cats make terrific accessories
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