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An event needed to dress 10 staff as Saloon Bar girls. Two designs had been created and I was commissioned to make them up, 5 of each design in a size 10.
After going through the options and we settled on a budget.
Then I drove around town sourcing materials, matching the best colours and collecting samples to best match the illustrations, dropping into their office to get approval on materials before purchasing the lot in full.
Sometimes you can’t find the best fabric combinations in the same place, looking at different fabric places can give you a better result.
Clients will often source the materials for themselves if they are after only one costume, it can save time and budget if they know what they are after.
Sometimes the materials we discuss are not available in the exact hues or textures they are after, and it takes a bit of creative “re alignment” to get an artfully balanced design.
Initial costumes can be redesigned based on the materials available.
If the client is out there sourcing they can decide on the spot “Hmm, the green I wanted isn’t here, but I’m happy to go with this blue instead!” or “The purple I want isn’t here in the fabric i want it, but this other piece will do!” Sometimes you have to compromise, the fabric you REALLY want may be more expensive than you realised, do you go with that or a lesser option, these are all choices the client needs to make.
I’ve learnt the hard way that it is much easier to have the client do the choosing or give their approval, rather than to think you understand, and start making it only to find out later that they prefer to go in a different direction.
Saloon Bar Girl costume 1 on a dress mannequin
Dress 1 is made of a stretch material (to save time – and consequently budget – on fittings and fastenings – no zip!), and the caribou ostrich feather boa is hand stitched along the neckline and hem.
The basque, or torsolette (half corset) is made of a heavy duty slight stretch satin layered with a slight stretch black lace, and laced up in the back through eyelets with black ribbon. It is very firm, fully lined and boned and adds body and structure to the dress.
Saloon Bar Girl costume 2 on dress mannequin
Dress 2 was also made out of stretch – to save costs on time- with gathered layers of satin and organza skirt, trimmed in red lace. The eyelets and lace up with black ribbon at the back enables a greater variation of fit, as none of the girls were able to come in for a fitting.
All dresses came with a black beaded choker that was tied on with a black ribbon, and a feathered headband with a mix of black and red feathers and some beads added for good measure and a dash of decadence.
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