Making your own costume is not obligatory. Whether you are taking part in a drama society production or attending a fancy dress party there is always the option of buying a burlesque costume online.

To get that additional SWISH and SWAGGER that is so much part of burlesque, pay attention to your fringes. When you have fringe circling your hips or framing your bra even the simplest of walks takes on a whole new meaning. A fringe will accentuate all that is good about burlesque, namely, bumps and shimmies.
You can use almost any frabic as a fringe as long as it swings but the most commonly used fabric is chainette. The most important point to bear in mind when selecting a fringe is how it swings. try to get smaller cuts of the fabrics you are interested in and give them a try at home.

Fringe can be attached toalmost any part of any garment or if you really want to lay it on thick you can cover a whole garment in fringe. Remember the one golden rule of burlesque, THERE ARE NO RULES.

Many burlesque performers have shimmy belts. This is a piece of ribbon or trim, often with some kind of additional
fabric to give it more stability, to which two or more layers of fringe are sewn. It usually fits between the smallest part
of the waist and the hips.

Remember also that burlesque costumes are often “layered” can are not just one piece garments. If you are adding fringe then you need to make sure you consider how it will impact on the other parts of the costume and whether or not it will affect a performance.

Anyone who has been involved with an amateur dramatic society or  in a fancy dress party as either a host or a guest will know that not all costumes are cheap as chips. Invariably the one you want is the expensive one and if you have more than one actor to dress then the expense can soon mount up. That is where the DIY option comes in handy. It does not even have to be a decision driven by cost. In a lot of cases people like making something for themselves and been a little different from the rest who have purchased standard burlesque costumes.

When it comes to making a burlesque costume or transforming a garment into s burlesque masterpiece. there are three main things to remember FRINGE , FEATHER and SPARKLE. They should be at the centre of any burlesque costume design.

Before delving into the basics of costume design it is worth taking time to consider the core or essence of burlesque. It is all about been challenging and different. If an audience turns up to see the actors dressed in something off the high street then you can see it just dosn’t quite fit into the burlesque ethos.

From our many years of working in the party and costume business we have heard directors / producers , on many ocassions bemoan the fact that the “players” are not engaged with the production. Getting individual actors to make alterations to costumes and props will certainly engage them. It literally brings the production home to them.

Equally as satisfying is the compliments you receive when you put in the extra effort and attend a fancy dress  party in something truely unique. it maybe just a couple of extra sequences ot a feather in a cap. The DIY option can be more than a money saving excerise.

Burlesque costumes are often the first thing that people notice. Whether it is a full burlesque show or just part of a stage production costumes are key. Feathers, sparkle and  fringe is what it is all about. In the next few posts we will be dealing with construction techniques to help you customise your burlesque costume. The information will mainly be of use to dramatic societies who are incorporating an element of burlesque into their show.

Before you start the hard work of altering a costume or building one from scratch you should keep in mind that the costume should be treated as a puzzle that is to be taken apart and put together as part of the on stage act. The costume is intergral to the choreography and should also be regarded as part of the props. Gloves with wings attached, light up hoop skirts and anything with glitter are all examples of what can be used as part of a  burlesque performance.

If you have experience of making burklesque costumes please feel free to post a comment. Our customers would love
to hear of how others have got on when constructing costumes. Also don’t forget that not only do we supply  burlesque costumes but we also have a great selection of moulin rouge fancy dress.

As we said in an earlier post, for most of us attending a fancy dress party the range of wigs and accessories available in online party shops is perfectly adaquete. There should be no reason to have to look any further. However when it comes to preparing for a stage production there are additional factors to consider. Indeed the advice in the paragraphs below does not just apply to burlesque style performances but to any stage production. From our experience suppling costumes to theatre companies, they are looking to achieve a sharpe effect at minimal cost.  In the paragraphs below we will have a look at some of the factors to consider when it comes to the selection and preparation of hair styles and wigs for moulin rouge style performances

1. Lighting
Just as flat black costumes can get lost under stage lights, so can neutral hair colour. When selecting a hair colour or wig it is important to think bright red, light blond and dark brown or black. These are the shades that work best with lights. Certain shades such as orange and green can appear “washed out” or dull under the full glare of stage lighting.

2. Layering
If you need a wig with a bit more body then don’t be afraid to experiment. Most theatre companies have a member that can produce costumes and
wigs out of nothing. For a moulin rouge performance you will need to blend the wigs in such a manner that the end result looks stylish and exaggerated rather than haphazard. Blending wigs takes a bit of practice but once you get one right the technique is easy to replicate.

3. Styling
If you do decide to customise a wig by styling make sure you are careful when applying heat. The last thing you want to do is melt the wig. Also when combing the hairpiece start at the ends first, by using this technique you will avoid pulling the roots out of the wig cap.

When preparing a costume for either a party or a theatre production it is the finer points that will make you stand out from the crowd. Anyone can go online and get a costume. The standard is really good these days when compared to only a few years ago. Spend a few extra minutes  on make up and hair styling. Whether you are wonder woman or a moulin rouge dancer there will be a style and it is up to you to make that style come to life.

Because burlesque “fashion” is influnenced by so many other styles, including most recently rockabilly and swing, it is fair to say that there is a place for all hair styles. The one thing that is important  to remember, no matter what style you choose, is that it should be fun, exaggerated and over the top.

If you are attending a burlesque or moulin rouge fancy dress party then purchasing a wig online is probably the best option. Most party goers are quite prepared to revert back to normal come Monday morning and going into work with a hair style fit for a moulin rouge party is probably not ideal. Anything loud and bright will do and you should not have to spend over £10, and why not get some false eyelashes as well. Go for bold, striking colours, the shape of the wig is not as important as it’s colour.

For amateur theatre groups trying to replicate a moulin rouge style there are some additional considerations. For example the  effect of stage lighting. This can change the appearance of a wig and if the right colour is not choosen then it’s dramatic effect will be  lost.

In the next couple of posts we will write in a little more detail about the things to consider when choosing a wig for a burlesque style theatre performance.