Many people tell me "they could never make that." But I want to encourage you to try, even if it seems a bit intimidating at first. Costuming is a skill, and one that can be learned if you keep at it. Take pictures of all your efforts, and you´ll soon see how far you progress in just a short time.
I´m also the publisher of two additional related sites you may want to visit:
Serious Sewing
How To History
Finally, I hope you´ll sign up for our newsletter and spend some time in the forum. It´s a great place to pick up tips and tricks and get help with any tricky spots you run into. Welcome!
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Why Costumes?
Ever since I can remember I´ve loved costumes. It didn´t matter if I was onstage in a tutu and tights or wrapped in a bedsheet mini-skirt pretending to be a character on Star Trek. Costumes took me out of the everyday, away from the ordinary, and put me into a world where I made the rules. (I´m sure a psychologist would have a field day with that, but it is what it is.)
Modern clothing has never made me feel beautiful or playful or anything other than drab and "just like everybody else". So that´s why I create costumes and costume-inspired fashion. Because it´s different. Because I can make myself look and feel anyway I want to--sexy, scary, secretive. I´m in charge. I make the rules.
I tend to pick genres or worlds and create my own original costumes rather than modeling them after fictional characters. I´d rather make my own hobbit costume than recreate "Bilbo Baggins." But I greatly admire people who can see a photo and recreate the character down to the last detail.
The hardest part of costuming for me is the fear.
When a design is in your head, it´s perfect and it´s yours. But when you bring it to life, questions pop into your head from out of nowhere:
What if I can´t make it as good as it is in my head?
What if I spend a lot of money on materials and then mess it up?
What if other people don´t like it?
What if I make it and it looks horrible on me?
What if .......blah, blah, blah
What I´ve come to realize is fear is present in any creative endeavor. Whether you´re creating music or a painting or a play or a costume, there´s a risk. But for me, creating costumes makes me happy. And wearing costumes makes me happy. So, the risk is worth it.
The only way to make good costumes is to make lots and lots of bad costumes. Give yourself permission to mess up a bit, and the fear goes away.
I´m so excited to be editing the costuming site here at BellaOnline because I know there are lots of people out there who feel like I do. Maybe you´re one of them. Are you a little nervous about trying a new technique? Do you wish you knew how to sew, but never learned? Have you always wanted your very own fairy wings?
This site is a place of learning. It´s safe and comfortable. You can learn here. You can teach here. You can ask questions here. Join in the forum. Sign up for the newsletter. Send me an email. Let´s have some fun!
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