Obi .....when?

I am often asked to help with costume pieces... or even entire wardrobes!  So when Joanne asked for help with Savannah's costume for MIKADO I said "Sure, you just want a sash."

Here is the kimono that was bought in Japan for her.

Lovely, but the director wants the principle actors to "Pop"... so she needs an awesome Obi...
this one was lent as a possibility...

photo by Joanne

It fit Savannah, but it really clashed with the lavender and blue of her kimono.

OK, I can recreate that in another color.... I have all month to do it ... right??

Wrong..... I made one too many assumptions.... it is Monday and the Obi is needed on Thursday... of THIS week!  It is a good thing I did not have a Tuesday morning sewing student!

This is the result...

I heard that she wore a gold flower in her hair! 

I hope to post photos of Savannah after the production.

and here she is!



photo by Joanne

edited to add photo of Savannah in her costume

Finished costume

The deadline was fast approaching!  This garment must be ready for the dress rehearsal, no more time for photography of each step along the way!
see the beginning here

see the process up to this point here


A black satin underskirt and a borrowed, white chemise complete the costume.

The back of the billowing coat has been reduced to conform to the shape of our actress.

The hem has been raised in the front only; to prevent trips on stage yet leave a little bit of a train in back.

And here she is.....

along with two handsome gents who were also clothed with my help.

De-construction of the coat

Once the decision was made to go with restructuring  the coat into a dress...
I tore into my work with gusto!

 

 Off with that ugly, floppy collar!

Off with the sleeves - but gently, they will be needed later.

Off with those clownish, ruffled cuffs; open up that sleeve!

Much better!

With a new lining and a new angle this sleeve will be just right!

But it is still too big all around.

Princess seams! With a transition from seam to pleat, this is the perfect place to take in the bodice with out reducing the skirt.

And we need a "Shakespearean" neck line.

And a little boning so we can lace up the front.











I think this is going to work out after all!

Costume challenge

Last year, about this time, my friend Joanne asked for help with Jennie's costume for her role in Taming of the Shrew. The dress provided by the director did not fit well, and the dress I borrowed for her did not fit at all.

 The one resource available was this Opera Coat, purchased at a thrift store!

Stunning, stage-worthy fabric... but it looked like a clown-coat.

The only thing Jennie liked about it was the fact that it was long enough to drag on the floor behind her.

So what can we do with this in only about a week??