costume couture

i know that i've talked about the fashion of broadway before but i just have to share this video with you. the details and the intricate work on a single garment. makes me love the world of theatre even more.

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the best and the worst: week 10

wow, it's been ten weeks already? i really find it a little hard to accept that The Online Edition has gone on for over two months now. as always, i would like to take this time to thank you for all your support. i may never know who you are and shake your hand but i deeply appreciate your regular readership and input.

before, i go in depth to this week's post, i would also like to make a quick announcement: i have a hater! *pops confetti* not exactly a hater perhaps, but someone who finally has an issue with my material. if you want to read her comment, it's posted on my facebook page. it's basically a response to this post. friends of mine who saw what cindy wrote had a few 'interesting' remarks for her but i shall reserve those for coffee talk.

okay, back to this week. i selected the fashion of broadway and musicals as the source of inspiration for my material. big mistake? i think so. not only was readership hit (pretty badly too, i must say.), even the writing of it was a tedious process. many of the dresses look amazing on stage and dazzle audiences but there is often not much information available about them. halfway through the week, i learnt that as a fashion blog, people can get overwhelmed by looking at dress after dress without any guidance. i would loved to evaluate the various outfits and trends showcased by the musicals but there was a huge limitation of resources available. nevertheless, i hope you enjoyed looking at the array of broadway costumes.

so, (channeling my inner tyra banks) i have fourteen posts in my hands. the first post i call will be best post of the week and it goes to...

best: viva la evita

i think the page views on this post were high not for the fashion but the personality who was involved. i mean, seriously, any post about madonna would garner some (if not a ton of) attention. the funniest part  is the fact that madonna was not even in the broadway musical. guess that's how the world of blogging works. until i have an actual following, i would have to depend on names and labels to carry my blog numbers.

(reviving the inner tyra) two posts stand before me... the post i call is worst post of the week and will eternally be shamed. worst post of the week is...

worst: the broadway princesses

*wails* i like the princesses! it was a bit disappointing that my love for the disney princesses was not shared by everyone else. what's not to love about fantastic lives and fabulous gowns? on one hand, it was good to break the friday curse of worst post being the afternoon post (it's now the friday morning post!) but to see a post that i had fun putting together was a weird feeling. oh wells, the show goes on.

with that, we bid farewell to the stages of broadway and return to reality where the weekend awaits. have fun! like i tell my team mates: fall in love, get married, make babies... in whatever sequence you prefer.

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king of broadway

nothing gets me more excited than talking about money. yes, there are times when i wished the money that i discussed would magically be transferred into my account but at that moment, the alarm goes off and i wake up to reality. i am still not on the forbes 100 but there is no harm in trying to get there. maybe this is my lucky post to garner inter-galactical attention and i catapult to the stars! poof! top of the forbes list... (guess the alarm was not working well today, still dreaming!)

The Lion King

anyway, it's all about the money today so while we all know that the phantom of the opera is the top earner worldwide, on broadway, the ruler of the broadway box office is the lion king. this musical is an adaptation of the animation from the 1994 disney animated film of the same name with music by elton john and lyrics by tim rice along with the musical score created by hans zimmer with choral arrangements by lebo m. directed by julie taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. the show is produced by disney theatrical.

as of april 2012, it is the highest grossing broadway show of all time, having grossed $853.8 million. time for us to take a look at the fabulous fashion of the lion king. do pay attention to the intricate details of the headgears and the blending of human with puppets.

in closing, the circle of life!

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your friendly neighbourhood hero

from fundraiser to fund-raiser. earlier today, i featured about a musical / theatre production that raises money but this afternoon, i'm going to feature the costumes of the most expensive musical on broadway. yup, this title goes to your friendly neighbourhood superhero: spiderman. 

Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark

spider-man: turn off the dark is a rock musical with music and lyrics by u2's bono and the edge and a book by julie taymor, glen berger and roberto aguirre-sacasa. the musical is based on the spider-man comics created by stan lee and steve ditko, published by marvel comics, as well as the 2002 film about the character and the greek myth of arachne. it tells the story of the origin of the character, his romance with mary jane and his battles with the evil green goblin. the show includes highly technical stunts, such as actors swinging from 'webs' and several aerial combat scenes. at the first preview performance, these technical challenges caused several lengthy interruptions. several actors were injured during rehearsals and previews.

Spiderman and Bono

spider-man is the most expensive broadway production and had the longest preview period (182 preview performances) in history. although the musical began performances in november 2010, the official opening was postponed several times. after receiving feedback from preview audiences and scathing reviews from critics, previews were suspended in april 2011. director julie taymor left the production, as co-director philip william mckinley was brought in to redirect portions of the show. the musical's book was revised, and new previews began may 12, with the official opening on June 14, 2011. critical reception of the opening was better than for the earlier version, but mixed at best, with praise for the visual effects but little enthusiasm for the book and score. as of the opening, the cost was reported as $75 million, compared to the typical $5 to $15 million for a broadway musical.

Spiderman costumes featured in Vogue

budget aside, here are a couple of clips that you'll see designer eiko ishioka discussing how she put together the costumes for spiderman.

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barely there...

for those who are familiar with broadway, you would have heard about broadway bares. nope, not my opening post. anyway, broadway bares is the 'inspiration' for this week's theme actually. i know, it's ironic that for a fashion blog, the idea to feature the clothes of musical theatre came from a production that hardly has any clothes on. therefore yes, not every theatre production creates grandeur through costumes and fashion, some are memorable from the lack of clothes.

Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS

well, broadway bares is part of a greater movement called broadway cares / equity fights aids. broadway cares / equity fights aids is an american non-profit organization, headquartered in new york city, new york. it is the theatre community's response to the aids crisis. by drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the theatre community, on broadway, off-broadway and across the country, the organization raises funds for aids-related causes across the united states. since its founding in 1988, it has raised over $175 million for critically needed services for people with aids, hiv or hiv-related illnesses.

broadway bares is an annual burlesque show fundraiser for the organization, founded by jerry mitchell in 1992. broadway dancers and actors perform striptease dances for the audience at the roseland ballroom in new york city for two shows only in June. it combines the naughtiness of burlesque and the razzle-dazzle of broadway. the broadway bares events had raised $5.5 million as of 2010.

before you go into the 'there he goes again, featuring naked bodies to get a couple more hits' again, i actually find a production like broadway bares highly interesting because it is a style of theatre, though raunchy, highly entertaining. after all, the theatre is a space for our imaginations to run free and let's all admit it: sexuality and sensuality sells!

so at the end of the post, i am going to leave you with a flood of g-strings, thongs, lingerie and body paint. (not posting videos here because they are a tad too 'interesting'... but you can find most of them online.)

broadway bares xxii: happy endings

Reed Kelly as Evil Queen

broadway bares xviii: wonderland

Matthew Morrison

broadway bares xx: strip-o-poly

Snooki: Boardwalk

Vanessa Williams

hope you enjoy the tongue-in-cheek costumes of broadway bares!

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hear the music of the night

the phantom of the opera opened in the west end in 1986 and on broadway in 1988. it won the 1986 olivier award and the 1988 tony award for best musical. michael crawford (in the title role) won the 1986 olivier and 1988 tony for best performance by an actor in a musical. it is the longest-running broadway show by a wide margin (celebrating its 10,000th performance on broadway on 11 February. 2012), the second longest-running west end musical and the third longest-running west end show overall. 

with total worldwide box office receipts of over $5.1 billion (£3.5 billion), including a record-setting broadway gross of $845 million, phantom is the highest-grossing entertainment event of all time and the most financially successful theatrical show in history. it had been seen by over 130 million people in 145 cities in 27 countries by 2011, the most successful entertainment project in history.

at the helm of the costumes is maria björnson. björnson worked for many theatres around the world, designing sets and costumes both for straight drama and for opera. some of her more notable commissions were for the royal shakespeare company, andrew lloyd webber's the phantom of the opera, which won her the tony award for best scenic design, the drama desk award for outstanding set design, and the drama desk award for outstanding costume design, and the trevor nunn production of aspects of love.

the show has, of course, been remade into film with slightly more elaborate costumes. like what i mentioned, i like the idea that stage costumes are often hand-sewn and each piece is unique in its own way. for the phantom of the opera, i will just compare a few of christine's looks. if you want the full comparison, do click here.

1) hannibal slave girl

the first time we see christine she is wearing a slave girl costume. both versions of this costume are revealing but in different ways. in the stage show it has a plunging neckline and rope skirt. velvet panels make up the bodice and gold cording cover the seams. there is a lot of beaded elements around the neckline and around the shoulders. she also wears a crown. in the movie the costume has an expose midriff. It has a floral print on the bodice. the neckline and waistband appear to be made out of leather with some metal details. the skirt is a lightweight fabric.

2) white dressing gown

after christine's triumphant debut she wears a white dressing gown with ruffles. this dressing is wore during the show's most memorable moments; going through the mirror, the phantom of the opera, music of the night and the first unmasking. in the stage show christine wears a long white robe with long sleeves. it has lots of ruffles at the neckline, cuffs, hem and along the opening. the hannibal corset underneath the gown adds a pop of color. in the movie christine 'dressing gown' is more like lingerie. it consists of a sheer dress with high slit, a white corset, and white robe with ruffles and pink sequins.

3) wedding

the wedding dress is a gown that phantom forces christine to wear. both dress features diagonal elements. in the stage show it's the ruffles on the skirt and an overlay draped at an angel in the movie. however beyond that the dresses are different.

the stage show has a lots of lace and ruffle details, a wide waistband, a sweetheart neckline neckline, 3/4 sleeves, buttons and a bustle. it's a very opulent dress and a great dress to end the show. the movie dress has the same spirit. the dress features an off shoulder neckline with short sleeves. the bodice is identical to an earlier dress in the movie ('think of me'). it has a asymmetrical overlay on the front and drapes around the side and covers the skirt which has ruffles much like the stage show. it's not as opulent as the stage version.

if you read the review, the stage costumes are chosen over the movie dresses. in theatre, with the constraint of time, costume changes have to be swift. the stage fashion is practically part of the cast, contributing to the narrative of the production. love the musical and adore the fashion.

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shriek for shrek!

Shrek the Musical

it's always a feat to make a musical out of a movie. things get even more complicated when it's from an animation but the people behind shrek, the musical made movie magic on stage. before i end up doing a review of the musical, here are a comparison of the costumes in the musical against the characters from the animated movie.

1) shrek

i would say the resemblance is uncanny. it's always impressive when print makes it to screen. it's astonishing when screen makes it to stage. for those who are curious to see the transformation, here's a clip of brian d'arcy james going through make-up.

2) princess fiona

 

this is definitely a simpler costume to replicate since fiona is a human character and truly it just takes great makeup artistry with the right wig. anyway, the picture features kimberly walsh as princess fiona.

3) donkey

 

this is my personal favourite character. it's almost expected that the musical version will not have a donkey moving around on fours that sings and dances. guess where the 'fashion' fails, the character makes it up in staging.

the creation of a fantastic world is never easy and clothes play a pivotal role in convincing the audience on the authenticity of the musical's world. while in shrek the musical, there are a couple of characters that look nothing like their movie counterparts, it is still rather entertaining (at least it seems that way from the clips online). here's one for you to enjoy!

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no rest for the wicked

Wicked

since 2003, the musical wicked has delighted audiences all around the world. this production, which is based on the novel wicked: the life and times of the wicked witch of the west written by gregory maguire, is the 'untold story' of the witches of oz. wicked is well known for its music and lyrics by renowned composer stephen schwartz and for its colorful and innovative costume designs by award-winning costume designer susan hilferty. 

Elphaba

elphaba wears several costumes in the musical and they expertly portray her transformation from a humble schoolgirl to the misunderstood, not-truly 'wicked witch of the west.' early in act one, elphaba wears a plain navy uniform while attending shiz university but eventually elphaba’s schoolgirl outfit is exchanged for the more familiar witch motif — a black victorian-type dress and a pointed black hat. 

Elphaba and Glinda

Glinda's closet

Glinda

glinda’s costume for her period of schooling is cream in color, which hints at her later title of the 'good witch of the north.' glinda’s appreciation for color really shines through in her pink ballgown and the yellow outfit she wears while visiting the emerald city later in the musical. later, her silver and green politician’s outfit and white dress worn as the good witch help to conceal from the citizens of Oz the fact that glinda may not be as kind and selfless as she seems.

residents of Emerald City

the residents of emerald city wear a lot of green, of course. most of these costumes are haute couture, designed with expensive fabrics exclusively for the characters that wear them. regular motifs include billowing skirts and a fantastical appearance that suits the residents of the capital city of the fantasy land of oz.

Madame Morrible

madame morrible is the headmistress of the hall where glinda and elphaba live at shiz university. in the musical she tends to wear long flowing gowns that combine elegance with a look that implies a sinister mind.

Nessarose

nessarose, elphaba’s sister and eventual 'wicked witch of the east', transforms from a paralyzed schoolgirl to one who can walk with the aid of the ruby slippers over the course of the musical. as such, her initial schoolgirl outfit gives way to a black dress that, while not unlike Elphaba’s costume, helps distinguish her from her sister.

Fiyero Tiggular

fiyero tiggular, a prince who meets elphaba and glinda at shiz university, is eventually transformed into the famous scarecrow. his princely attire gives way to the more ragged scarecrow look as he concocts a plan to help save elphaba from death. this is portrayed appropriately in hilferty’s costume designs, with the scarecrow having a fitting, ragged appearance to match all the trauma he endures in the musical.

love the clothes? here's my favourite song from the musical.

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broadway bares

it's the start of a new week. the heart is heavy because on the day i celebrate my birthday, i had to say goodbye to my third aunt from my paternal side. it was such a weird day, much of it was an attempt to stay with status quo: working and enjoying a simple birthday dinner. however, the mind was confused and i am truly thankful for the support system that my friends created. i think most didn't know how to react as well but we all made it through. it just goes to show how important good friends are.

anyway, life will have to go on. there is a responsibility that i feel towards the ardent supporters of The Online Edition hence i made the decision to continue with the blogging and the posts. this week, we are going to explore the fashion of theatre. many times, we are wowed by the music, lyrics and the plot of a play or musical but rarely do we sit up and applaud the costumes. costumes within a theatrical performance are the 'fashion' of the make-believe world. through it, the audience is given a glimpse of the life in the world of the play.

throughout the week, we shall place the clothes worn on stage and their makers under scrutiny hence i hope that through this exploration, not only will we grow a deeper understanding of stage fashion but we will develop a greater appreciation of the art of theatre.

in conclusion, the signature pictures of the opening post of the week. once again, i ask myself what they have to do with the post. the answer: nothing. they are just here so that i have sufficient reason to use the labels and have better blog traffic.

Bodypaint Swimsuits (Sports Illustrated)

Jake (right) with friend

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furry's fit

do you recall the time when you saw a picture of someone's pet dressed not as a pet? what was your first reaction? did you gush and download or share the image? if you are a pet owner, what are some tips to take note of if you are going to dress your pet up? i managed to get an expert from the animal kingdom to help me on this...

image from whatthecool

pet retail experts estimate that americans will spend a record $370 million this year to dress up their pets for Halloween. according to the national retail federation, the sale of pet costumes is one of the single largest categories that contributes to making halloween such a big holiday from a retail perspective.

picture from i-mockery

no matter how cute you think boxer looks in his pirate costume, most pets don’t like the constraints of costumes. do experiment to see how your pet reacts to being in a costume. here are some things to consider before dressing your pet up and bringing them out for the day:

1) avoid costumes with accessories your pets can eat. costumes with a lot of buttons, buttons, or bits that easily be pulled off or get snagged could be dangerous for your pet. especially if your pet is going to get antsy and start attacking the costume they’re wearing.

picture from 103.7 Lite FM

2) make sure it’s a comfortable costume. you have your comfort and tolerance levels with your own fashion. so do your pets. they are less inclined to suffer an uncomfortable costume.

taken from venganza

3) ensure the costume doesn’t impede your pet’s ability to walk and/or see. this falls back into comfort. If you pet can’t walk or see, there’s a greater chance they will try to remove the offending costume. hence if you have problems walking in a straight line wearing a patch over your eye, chances are that your pet is not too happy going around as batman.

image from gatewaypets

4) go slow and be liberal with the treats. most pets are used to running around in the covering god gave them, so they might be resistant to the hotdog costume you’re trying to put on them. give them treats after getting a paw in a sleeve or the zipper up a little. treats will make costuming a happy experience for your pets.

graphic from zujava

5) do not cross-dress your pets. i find it distasteful when pets are made to cross-dress so that we humans can have a laugh. it is not funny. 

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