#WhatsUpToday May

May was a colorful and crazy month for us in the Studio: we brought in some new over hires to help us get through prom and bridal season, and to assist on our two really big projects: Sight & Sound's "Moses," for which we are contracted to built over 200 costume pieces, and Chesapeake Shakespeare Company's "Antony & Cleopatra," which Marilyn is costume designing.   "Moses" will open in March of 2014 to run all year, and "Antony & Cleopatra" opened June 7 to run all summer.  As always, we've been detailing our adventures in picture form all month, and without much further ado, a retrospective in one-a-day photos.

C-WEBB

Recently, we had a client email us a drawing of a superhero costume he wanted us to create.  We were immediately intrigued and excited by his character but had no idea of the importance of this project.

Curtis Mozie is a former police officer living in Washington, DC who has dedicated his life to ending gun violence on the streets of DC.  Over twenty years ago, he began his mission and created the Tale of the Tape Foundation.  He produces documentaries charting the lives and deaths of friends and gang members alike.  He has become a mentor for at risk youths by opening his house, the "Safe House", to anyone who needs help or guidance.  With the publishing of his book "Beyond the Yellow Tape: Life & Death on the Streets of DC" last summer, his influence has expanded.  (You can find his book on Amazon here.)  He was invited to hold a book release event at the Kennedy Recreation Center and this is where our costume comes in.  After City Council members, the Assistant DC Police Chief, and many others spoke highly of Mozie's efforts, C-Webb was introduced.  Mozie's idea behind C-Webb is that he can become an icon, a superhero of sorts, for the cessation of gun violence.

Like everything we make, C-Webb started as a pile of fabric.  But after some hard work, we had a unitard, a cape, boot covers, thigh covers, a belt with pockets, and logos!

THE BIG REVEAL!!

Curtis, we loved working with you and we are ready to see you and C-Webb change the world! 

If you want more information on Curtis Mozie and his mission, visit his Facebook page, Twitter page, and watch his book Trailer.

The Ghosts of Costumes Past

Hello again! So sorry for the radio silence; we've been neck deep in 1812 for the past few weeks, but we're back now, and better than ever!  We also have so many updates to fill you in on, but an important holiday must first be recognized.

IT'S HALLOWEEN, Y'ALL!

We thought we would celebrate by reminiscing on some of our first and favorite costumes from our pasts, in order of years...


 In 1988 I wasn't finding and pulling my own Halloween costumes yet, but this pictures shows I clearly got my quirky sense of costume humor from my parents.  My dad, who had a sprained arm at the time, went as a one-armed jack, and my mom, who was extremely pregnant with my brother at the time, went as a bowling ball.




In 1998 Meghan's mom made her and her and brother into the cutest little candies on the block. And then ten years later, the exact costumes were worn my Meghan's mother herself and a friend. Impressive!

1998

2008

In 2007 Sara costume designed her first show, Ragtime, in which she was also an actor. She never seemed to have the time to make costumes for *herself,* but here are her first costumes she made for others!

Sara with her towheaded show family

In 2012, Marilyn made costumes for her granddaughter's Batman themed birthday party, in which her granddaughter was Batgirl and her baby brother was The Boy Wonder.

Na-na-na-na Na-na-na-na Batgirl!

Marilyn and The Boy Wonder

What were your favorite costumes?  Do you make, rent or buy your Halloween costume from year to year?

Flashback Friday: World War II Navy Nurse Re-Enactor

This Flashback Friday comes from an article Marilyn wrote for The Bride Guide in the Prince George's County Women's Journal in 2009:

Reference: Couture Allure Vintage Fashion Blog

The next project to deliver this summer was a World War II Navy Nurse uniform for a re-enactor. Working from period photos, my assistant developed a pattern that was an exact replica complete with the very extended lapel and notching.

My client ordered fabric from the very company that made those uniforms (yes, they're still in business! and still making uniforms from what I understand).  Lots of detail work went into re-creating this uniform and the results were spectacular! At the final fitting my client arrived in jeans and t-shirt.  She went into the dressing room to change into her new uniform and stepped out transformed. It was like a momentary time warp. Needless to say, we were both very happy with the uniform!