Costumes are extremely important parts of all performing arts. The costumes must be prepapred with extra care and in perfect quality to support the artist in his/her great performance. The costume is the very first impression when the artist (the singer, the dancer, etc.) enters the stage. The audience must be mesmerised in the first seconds by the appearence, the stunning costume and the femininity. However the costume should not be overwhelming or arty, because it can ruin the performance.
The Costume Design Plan and the Reality – as Kristina shows you
The costume is an investment for the show. We – the CDP Costume Design Plans Team – design the costumes based on our wide stage experience, discussing all the details, and moreover, the plans can be sewn. (Kristina Eötvös, Member of the Costume Design Plan Team)
Nowadays sexy costumes are the part of our everyday performances and experience. But we definitely suggest to be careful with widely opened dresses… A good stage costume shows SOMETHING, but covers enough… A sexy costume is not a colourful underwear! That’s why we put emphasis on the feedback of our Psychiatrist team member when we put together a costume design plan.
Costume design – reflection of the personality
A good costume is an investment for the performance. The character of the costume should reflect the personality of the performer, her stlye, her beauty, her sexuality. In costume design the designer should grab the personality and based on that, the costume should support the type of the performance – must be easy to wear and to move within.
The costume design has an important role in showing the nice part of the performer’s body while it hides or corrects other parts. A perfectly designed stage costume do this job properly, therefore the performer feels herself perfect on the stage – and this feeling ‘comes down’ for the audience.
Costume design for singers
The most important point in costume design for singers is the stage performance. The costume design must reflect the style of the song or songs, but mainly should be in line with the personality of the singer.
Costume design for dancers
The perfect costume design for dancers takes into account that the dancer must feel free in the dress and move in it comfortably. What is important for dancers’ costumes?
- flexible for movements
- comfortable to wear
- sexy to the perfect limit
The good dance costume is open in underarm, because sweating must be taken in consideration when the designer starts to design the costume.
[showbiz poduct_slider_costume_design]Fabrics for stage costumes
The stage costumes have to be nice for the audience, should support the act and practical for the performer.
How to choose a fabric for costume?
When a costume design is made we think about the fabrics as well.
Lightweight fabrics – like Silk – follow the movement quickly and flow around the body. Therefore the fabric itself can have a huge impact on the show, supporting the dance movements. At the same time the performer must get used to it how to wear it.
Stretchable fabrics – Jersey, Chiffon, Lycra, Georgette – are essential materials for dancers’ costumes as they don’t restrain even big movements.
Cotton and silk absorb dye well as they are natural fabrics.
Stiff fabrics create immobile, square look and make the performance stiff as well.
Colours and costumes
A nice costume design uses the colours well! Colours can support or ruin the view, and both colours and fabrics can improve the quality of the act. Some colours look premium and nice all the time, while others – for example brown – never! What are the roles of the colors in costume design?
- emphasize contrast with the stage, the lighting, the props
- express emotions of the act – for example red is considered to be sexy in Western culture. However performers must be aware of the differences! While white is a clean color for Western people, it is the colour of mourning in other parts of the world.
- shape and enhance the body and figure – dark colours shows the person slimmer
- prints and patterns using different colours – a printed fabric can change the optical shape of the performer
- some vivid and vibrant colours can make the eye tired
- vertical and horizontal lines in design and fabric colours, patterns
Sparkling costumes: rhinestones
While a costume design could require a sparkling tulle or velvet as fabric, rhinestones and spangles can improve the artistic impression especially when the stage lighting helps that. Rhinestones can be applied on the fabric in two ways:
- with sticking – these rhinestones shine nicer and could be the only solution for certain fabrics – however sticking is not enough strong sometimes
- with ironing – these rhinestones are fixed on the fabric by the heat
