Costume Design

As Scarlett O’Hara stands at the top of the stairs in her deep red velvet nightgown, she is a picture of drama and intensity, just like the persona acted out. However, before a word is uttered, her appearance creates the mood and speaks to the audience. In large production shows and films, this is the work of the costume designer. The costume designer of stage or film is responsible for working with the Director, Lighting and Scenic Designers to create the right look for the actors, dancers and singers, according to the plot of the story or show to fit and blend with the lighting and backdrop.

The costume designer studies all elements of fashion design and make-up as well as stage and film, so they are fit to create anything from a vampire to a pop-star. Stage outfits are unspoken visual statements of a performer (actor, dancer, singer and musician) – the performer needs to forget who he or she is to become something unique in show clothing. For instance when mentioning Lady GaGa (oversized sunglasses), Amy Winehouse (bouffant hair), Gwen Stefani (bouffant hair, un-matching clothing statements), Lily Allen (dolly style dresses) and Madonna (cone bra, neon coloured socks, ripped t-shirts, heavy duty silver necklaces with Catholic style crosses), sometimes their appearances stand out in your head before their music does. These female singers are icons and visual statements that also influence fashion trends. The costume designer for Poker Face took the concept of hiding Lady GaGa behind a pair of flashy sunglasses to accentuate the title lyrics of the song so worldwide audiences would instantly make the association and want to be part of that movement by purchasing the same shades to be like her. Costume designers like this create brand concepts for superstars.

Fabrics used for stage is different from that of daily life clothing. Dancers and performers need costumes that have elasticity and are easy to move in, as well as have shimmer or statement affect for stage appearance. Materials such as nylon, polyester, chiffon, mesh, lace, net spandex, satin, velvet, lycras, and sequin fabrics are the best to create costumes with. Shoes are also designed with the same concept of glamour and comfort and specific materials, soft leathers, malleable rubbers and snug insoles are part of this creation.

When creating stage and film costumes, the designer is very clever when making each piece, it is an art-form with a dash of eye-trickery! When dancers wear their cabaret outfits, the affect created is that from afar it looks like the dancer is just wearing a bit of glued on sparkly bits in the necessary sections. However the base leotard is a sheer or nude colour with just the bust to crotch and buttocks areas covered with sewed on sequins, shimmering stones and materials, so from afar the undecorated parts make the dancers look as if their skin is bare. Professional dancers have such perfect bodies from the training and exercise that exposing themselves like this is almost classed as normal. Other styles are shimmery coloured leotards with chiffon flowing – still every line of the body is shown. Even when ballgowns, 50s flare skirts or line dancing outfits are worn, at some point the dancers hitch their skirt high, do a flip and turn or splits in the air exposing their dance knickers. Every part of their wardrobe is carefully designed to fit the image, choreography, lighting and plot.

If you are looking for music jobs as a female singer, start thinking about your stage wardrobe before you walk through the door for an audition. How you present yourself at an audition shows the music company who you are by what you wear. If you are serious about your career, be serious about spending sometime in your closet and at the tailor to create something no one has though of before. Think about what your music says, what eras of music it draws on – look at the fashion of this time, draw ideas from everything to create something special, eye-catching and distinct. Be an icon to remember!
Author Bio:Jordan martin is a article writer who writes the article about Musicians Wanted and Jobs for Musicians training etc. know more about Music Based Jobs Please visit http://www.el-live.com/

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