Every Old is New Again
Creating Old from New Develop an understanding basic silhouettes and shapes & Think of them as geometric forms
Basic Geometric Shapes to Consider the Cylinder clothing that hangs straight down from the shoulders the early Greeks the 1920’s the 1970’s
the Double Triangle Basically the cylinder pulled in under the bust the late Greek and Roman Periods the Empire Waist look of the Napoleonic Period Late 1960’s (Flower Power)
the Elongated Triangle Narrow through the shoulders -- extra fullness in the skirt Medieval / Gothic Period the 1700’s 1930’s Glamour
the Inverted Triangle Emphasizes broad shoulders – and a narrow waistline the 1600’s the 1940’s the late 1980’s (Shoulder Pad Hell)
the Hourglass Emphasis is on a TINY waistline the late 1900’s The 1950’s
the Bell Focused on “roundness” Usually lavishly adorned the mid-18 th Century Europe the mid-19 th Century America
the Cowbell Think of the Bell shape flattened in the front and back Gave the appearance of extra-wide hips the late 18 th Century
the Bell and Oval Pulled excess fabric to the back of the skirt For those who liked “junk in the trunk” late Victorian the Bustle Period side view
the Dumb Bell Waistline dropped to the hip line Removed look of natural waistline Skirt had flare or fullness Very Unflattering! late 1920’s the 1990’s
Other Combinations the Inverted Triangle & the Bell of the Elizabethan Period
By understanding and being able to identify shapes and through the use of a little creativity, period costumes can be created from modern or found clothing of other periods.
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE Dress purchased at Goodwill in Lawrenceville, GA for $5
Skirts and vests created from $1.00/yard Wal-Mart Fabric Blouses from the $3.00 sale rack at Wal-Mart
Plaid added to suit used in other productions to tie it to look and style of other costumes
Goodwill dress from the ‘90’s (note shoulder pad cut although pads were removed) Red inset at neck, red band at hips to drop waist line and red underskirt added for length.
Sweeney Todd