Costume Project # 2

My initial goal was to create all of my Maleficent costume but due to time constraints and hurting my wrist, I realized borrowing from the shop would be the best. Ingrid and Yoshi helped in locating the items through foraging through racks when I couldn't anymore or pulling down boxes where my strength lacked. I was able with help to realize I wanted a purple statement piece somewhere on the costume that payed homage to her original style but also reminiscent of the dragon she becomes. I didn't know what i wanted the purple piece to be until I spotted it on a rack. The shoes I chose were from my own collection, I wanted to make sure when I enter the room as Maleficent all eyes would be on me like they would be on her. With horns stacked on my head and 6 inch stilettos strapped to my feet I felt that it would help bring the stature I envisioned for Maleficent. Almost a high fashion style. This was my initial inspiration. I loved the black leather and boots but definitely wanted the more feminine  appeal Maleficent carried in the new movie. Her more romantic look with bright red lips and dramatic cheek bones.

 This helped me start and brought me to the idea of incorporating a cape or some form of dragging skirt to combine into the look. I will probably need help finding some of the pieces since the closet is much to large for me to remember where everything is... I feel that if i were to make anything it would be the cape and that may take me a week or a day if I took the time to spend one day on just that. With the horns ill probably be working on them until the last minute if I don't order them which I am considering. I am also wanting a neck piece or collar of sorts to add more of the impressive factor.

Costume Project # 1

The production I have chosen is Sleeping Beauty. My goal is to recreate my own take on Maleficent. Her elegant stature, her presence when she enters a room. In the original 1959 Sleeping Beauty film Maleficent is an evil fairy that seems to be jealous over not having been invited to the party for the birth of the new princess. This leads to us seeing her in a black and purple ensemble. Throughout the film we see her in pale greenish light and when she uses her magic staff her green skin is even more enhanced. This led me to believe opposite that her skin was just pale and only reflected green when she had her staff. Maleficent has very sharp yet beautiful features. Her cheek bones are well defined and her horns are wrapped or at least thats what it looks like to me now. Before I thought that was her head and it wasn't strange at all. Her entrance into the celebration of Princess Auroa's birth is almost mesmerizing and dominating. I wanted to keep those features present for her costume to convey power and authority. However I loved the makeup for this Maleficent particularly her eyes. The lighter purple followed by the darker purple made me want to keep to that traditional style.

Lab Post # 7

In the final moments of the lab hours I learned a lot about finishing touches. I worked mainly on inspecting the costumes making sure they were steamed and polished for the opening night. It was hard to steam so many layers! The Queens dress gave me so much trouble! I couldn't keep it where I wanted without getting steam in my face and water on the floor. Putting the costumes and labeling the lockers in the dressing rooms was actually fun. Seeing it all come together. Everyone of us worked so hard. But this lab was probably the simplest. Pressing clothes and organizing the costumes to be ready. I need to come a better photographer in the future...

Production Wrap Up

Working on the costumes for the play was unique. I learned how to problem solve with arts and crafts, how to use my imagination a whole lot better, and to step out of my crafting comfort zone. Being part of the play was a huge learning experience. My mind went straight to what does this character need for this part for their costume to fit right. If something went wrong it was more about finding the solution and moving forward. Every problem had a fix. When Emelia's butt bumper needed to be changed out for different straps a moment of crisis then a solution found quickly. The things that went well were the wigs, i was so worried that they wouldn't stay put right or their tiaras would fall off or something with their hair would just go caput. Turns out they were the least of the worries backstage. Going backstage showed me that Ingrid needed help seeing her feet when going down the stairs because she couldn't tell where the steps where. The men needed their capes and in the right positions or they would look tacky from offstage. Cecil's shoes were bright orange in the stage light until sharpied into black beauties that blended with the rest of the group. Sadly I wasn't keen on taking pictures but appreciated the opportunity I had to sit in the audience and watch through a costuming perspective. That I have learned is my new favorite hobby.

Lab Report 6

  In lab I was able to sew on her Majesty's wings to the wiring that is being used to support the wings. It was time consuming but very exciting. It was cool to see how it came together and flowed well enough to keep me going. I worked on the shape of the wings to make it more of a halo that trails behind her. My initial goal was to make them look like butterfly wings but I felt it would have been too heavy and would get in the way of the flow of movement. I forgot to take pictures but my original inspiration came from Queen Elizabeth: Golden Age. In one scene where she enters the church she has these two looped soft tulle "wings" reminiscent of her butterfly queen nickname. I found some tulle that had gold specks on it and was long enough to make her entrance a little more grand. I loved working with the wire and trying to put it together. Resolving to not glue the tulle but sew it made a huge difference. In the version I worked on it was draped so it almost looked like a hood but I had trouble getting the length right. It was hard but worth it. Talking to Sis. Dooley she suggested making the train drag no more than a foot or so behind her so she could move about without too much trouble.

Costume Critique # 8

In the movie Mockingjay which is part of the Hunger Games franchise,  costume designer Judianna Makovsky, Bart Mueller, and Kurt Swanson are the three used to create the wardrobe of the movies. Bart and Kurt take over in the later films but the first film was done by Judianna. They allow us to see the dynamic of Katniss Everdeens character take on a more militant role as a symbol for all those wanting to stand up against The Capitol and President Snow. We see Katniss have her clothes become tailored for battle, dark leather, with black and more armor. This to ensure her image as a leader that will intimidate the enemies in the Capitol. The movie intentionally puts her ins situations where she will have the background of war and destruction. We witness her transition from her taking her little sisters place in the hunger games to becoming a recognized symbol of hope. I personally love how they changed Katniss's look while keeping her iconic bow and arrow and braided hair. They keep who the world fell in love with and made her into someone they would still identify as a representative of their cause.

Costume Critique # 7

The show Once Upon a Time is costumed by a man named Eduardo Castro. He has done in my opinion a great work in putting together very unique and distinct costumes for each character that tie into the personalities the characters have in the Enchanted Forest and once they enter Storybrooke.

Here we see the elaborate costumes from when they are in the Enchanted Forest. It definitely shows that they are regal and will be dressed in the most beautiful clothing. We see Snow Whites ball gown that has feather details all over the skirt. We then see Prince Charming's outfit very well detailed along the collar and hand cuffs with embroidery showcasing a king's attire. But my favorite outfit that Snow White wears is when she is going to fight her foes. In her "going out" clothes she has hr characteristic white and beautifully cut overcoat with a skirt almost like she were dressed but it is in strips and all over a smart pair of what look like riding pants. This  look  is perfect I feel because it keeps her elegance as a queen while also being practical from her time as a wanted criminal. She knows what she needs to be useful in a fight and wears it. Snow White is always shown as strong and on top of her things in the outfits she wears when she is going to protect her kingdom.

`When she enters Storybrooke she is a cute school teacher and goes by the name Mary Margaret. She is in very cute school teacher outfits that are very innocent and conservative in style. She wears simple everyday clothes that when you see her you think of someone kind and helpful. I feel her costume is very well done for her Storybrooke persona as she has no idea who she was before in the Enchanted Forest or that it even exists. All in all I feel the character is well portrayed in both worlds and does represent Snow White in the light of a warrior queen and a kind and loving personality.