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Costuming on a Shoestring
Money Saving Stratagies
Tightening financial times have forced many dancers to reconsider
their costuming budgets. But while the economy has slowed to
a crawl, the desire for beautiful new costumes, pieces and accessories
has not diminished. During tough economic times, designers need
to implement new strategies for continuing to design, build and
embellish the costumes they crave. But even when the budget becomes
tight, there are ways to make costumes happen. Dancers can approach
this crisis from three major angles. The first is to squeeze
the budget and raise some cash to continue their costuming. Finding
alternate resources for low cost materials and supplies will
reduce the need for a big budget. And finally, choosing less
expensive styles will allow the designer to lower their costs.
Squeeze the Budget and Raise Some Cash
Oh, I know, you've practically squeezed every drop of extra
money from your budget by now, but really, it doesn't take much
cash to create interesting, beautiful and unique costume pieces.
Before you decide to use any of the other strategies in the list
below, you must find out where you stand in the budget department.
Knowing what you have available to spend is essential before
going out and buying any materials or supplies. Here are a few
strategies for finding or making extra cash:
Keep a Jar - In your sewing area, tucked away in a
secret place, keep a jar or an envelope designated for sewing
projects. Drop in spare change whenever your pockets are heavy.
It may just be a quarter here or a dollar there but it will add
up over time. Letting the stockpile grow can be challenging,
remember a dollar a week only adds up to $52 - but that can be
a new skirt, a hip wrap or even a bra and belt set if you invest
in the time and work yourself.
Clean Your Closets - Sell Your Stuff - One way to raise
cash is to sell off old costume pieces. eBay offers dancers a
wonderful opportunity to participate in the great global rummage
sale and sell gently used costumes to fellow bargain hunting
dancers. Converting old costumes to cash not only puts them back
onto the dance floor, but it brings in some extra income to put
towards new projects. Also make sure to post to mailing lists,
bulletin boards and many dancers have swap meet sections on their
websites. Before you sell items, take a little time to 'freshen'
them up. Make any obvious repairs, and clean your pieces. Loose
beads will detract from the sale price, so going in and doing
some simple repairs will increase the resale value.
Hold a Hafla /Rummage Sale- One of the best ways to buy,
sell or trade used costume pieces is to hold a swap meet/party
at your home. Contact all of the dancers in your area. Invite
teachers and especially students looking for starter pieces.
With other folks bringing their costumes to buy, sell and trade,
people attending will be in a mood to buy. Make sure to make
your guests and other vendors welcome. Put music on and set aside
an area for folks to perform. Folks will come for a chance to
dance, shop and socialize.
Sell Your Skills - If you are a costumer with a reputation,
you can sell your skills by drumming up some seamstress work.
There might be dancers in your area who need a hand in creating
new costumes, renovations or remodeling older costumes. Create
a flyer and circulate it among dance classes, distribute at local
haflas and festivals. Put up a website and link it to local dancers
and instructors in your area. If you are an accomplished seamstress,
don't forget to leave your business cards at fabric stores.
Finding Alternate Resources
Once you have your budget worked out, it's time to get planning.
Costuming on a shoestring can be more challenging, but it can
improve your techniques as a seamstress. Challenges such as limited
budgets, fabric choices and materials can actually make you a
better costume designer. Why? Well, being challenged with limits
makes a designer take more creative approaches. While materials
and supplies are in limited supplies, a designer turns to their
own box of skills, tricks and techniques turning to their creativity
to build beautiful costume pieces.
Shop You Closet First. Many costumers have a stash
of fabrics bought on speculation and waiting to be transformed
into a beautiful costume. These lengths of cloth are often forgotten
in a box stored in some forgotten closet. Haul out all of your
boxes of fabric stashed here and there and pull it all out. Conduct
an inventory and really see what you've got. I once knew a dancer
who, for many years, kept buying fabric, beads, lace, sequins
and appliques for her 'green costume.' She stashed, she saved,
and when she finally pulled out all over her boxes, she realized
she had enough stuff for THREE entire costumes. So before you
do anything, see what you already have on hand.
Become a UFO Hunter. UFO? Those Un-Finished Objects can
pile up and become forgotten. UFO's happen when someone changes
their mind, looses interest or perhaps there is a size change,
a change in style direction or a million other little things.
Pull out these UFO's and take two good looks at them. First,
determine if they are worth finishing. If they aren't, then take
a second look and consider if the parts and pieces can be harvested
for raw materials in another costume?
Hint - You can exchange UFO's with other dancers - One person's
UFO is another's next great costume!
Reconstruct, Reuse and Recycle. Dig deep, to the back
of the costume closet and pull out your old pieces and take a
look at them. Can you breathe these old pieces to life again?
When times are tough, using an old costume as a basis for creative
exploration can be a money saving alternative to start from strength.
Many dancers have a collection of costumes that they used to
love, but grew tired of in the past. These costumes can either
be reworked into totally new garments or freshened up. Also remember
that Egyptian beads can be harvested from old garments. Beaded
garments such as formal evening gowns, beaded blouses and even
wedding dresses can be recycled and turned into lovely costumes.
Unleash your creativity and put it to work for you. When you
look at old garments envision the possibilities for transformation.
Hint - Prom gowns go dirt cheap at thrift stores and many can
yield enough yardage for a bra, belt and straight skirt.
Choose A Less Expensive Costuming Style
A third major strategy is simply to choose a less expensive
style. While the high-glamour of beads and sequins can be tantalizing,
there are some very popular alternatives that use less expensive
fabric and embellishments. Techniques such as applique and embroidery
can form eye-catching focal points that rely more on skill than
on expensive supplies. There are many stylish costuming alternatives
that cost less for the material outlays. Here's a brief list
of some of popular but less expensive costume options.
Gypsy/Fantasy Rom - Tired skirts, peasant blouses and
scooped and fitted under the bust vests are just some of the
features of this popular style. These costume pieces can be created
using inexpensive cotton blend fabrics in great volume. The beauty
of many of this style is that it can be very mix and match.
Tribal/Fusion Style - Another style that lends itself
to mix and matching and the use of inexpensive fabric is the
Tribal Style. Although most dancers immediately think of the
complex displays of jewelry that is one of the hallmarks of this
style. But the cholis, skirts and turbans can be constructed
from reasonably priced fabrics.
Vintage Style/1940's-1950's - Those full skirts and simple
bra and belt sets with limited appliques and beads are easy to
create on a shoestring. With simple satin and chiffon, these
costumes require the same kind of workmanship of a more heavily
beaded cousin, but the fabrics are less expensive than the high-glam
beaded fabrics.
Vintage Style/1970's - A return to the chain and coins
layered over rayon chainette fringe costumes so popular in the
70's can be a fun and funky costuming alternative. These old-style
bra and belt sets covered with real or faux coins stitched directly
on, or suspended from chains can be paired with all sorts of
different skirt styles, from slinky stretch straight numbers
to fluffy tiered Gypsy styles or the classic three panel chiffon
skirts.
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