Thread: Am I the only one who do this crazy thing? (Re: Costuming)

Ok, I'm a thrifshop-aholic, love liquidation outlet sales, sidewalk sales, you name it. And as a dancer and costume maker, well I just can't resist sparkly stuff (espacialy when it's cheap)! But, even if I know I'm not going to use it... in its original format! Lol! ..l;,

Last week I spoted an halter top at Chinatown sidewalk sale, blinky cute little thing for $5. OK it's not my size (too small) but it's the last one and it has a cute beaded yoke on the neckline that to itself is worth more than that in fabric store. So there, I grad the thing!

I thing I'm going to take it off the halter and put it on the V-neck line of an other dress that I have.

And, again today at my lunch break, I went into a outlet store where they liquidate luggage, wallet, purses, etc. There was this summer rafiah purse that was on sale for $4 instead of $36. I couldn't care less about the bag, but, GEEEZ! It has a whole bunch of pretty sparkly stones on it (about $12 value of sew-on!).

So yup! I got the bag, and will remove the blinkies on it and find them other uses for a future project!

Please tell me you've done it tooooo? ..g.:..g.:




Qamar

I totally do this too.

I'm a total magpie. I'm naturally drawn to anything sparkly and ponder in my mind how I can make a costume out of it.

I love estate sales, yard sales, the clearance bin in the corner, you name it! I have the "best intentions" shopping reflex, but the majority of these ends as failed projects and in a large stack of shame. Over time, I have developed at least a minimal level of self-restraint, fortunately.

No way! I do it ALL the time! I took a $400 dress and ripped it up to make a belt and bra set LOL!
My husband always notes that I have rags to wear during the day but my costume closet it HOT!

That's so funny because I do this too. I don't care if the garment doesn't fit, as long as I can use the ornamentation for something else.

I do too... I usually get 80's dresses and other junk at the thrift store just to take the rhinestones for costume projects!

I do the same thing too!

me too! I like to take extra jewelry and such and use the stones and chain to embelish too.

Me too, me too!!! I have three costumes in the works from old 80s sequined/beaded shirts I liberated from Goodwill!!!

...My mum put christmas decorations on the last bra she made....

Originally Posted by Ahmber

No way! I do it ALL the time! I took a $400 dress and ripped it up to make a belt and bra set LOL!
My husband always notes that I have rags to wear during the day but my costume closet it HOT!

guilty. my costumes rock and are worth more than my regular clothes that don't fit right, have stains, and have tears in them....

I'm a junk store addict. Just recently I bought this HUGE framed belly dancer picture from the 70's....it's amazing. I really should post a pic....

Yep! In fact, I had a costume custom-made for me mostly from pieces harvested from a beaded evening gown, and it was AMAZING.

Squeeeee....wanna seeeee!

I buy fugly party dresses and make them into costumes too.

My failed projects get sold off then inexpicably I find 'just the thing' to finish them months later. Sigh.

Originally Posted by Doozer

Squeeeee....wanna seeeee!

Unfortunately, it's going to show up in the Swap Meet. I was injured just before it was finished, and I gained weight during the downtime. I never even got to wear it. :(

It may be a while before I post it, though. I want to get photos on a real person, since flat pics don't do it justice.

(WHINE)

I performed just this evening in a beledi dress that I made from a sparkly knit dress from Goodwill, plus velvet remnant from Joanne's to cover the bra and belt. The beaded appliques I bought from Ebay and the beaded fringe I bought from the Bhuz Swapmeet. I wore a blue skirt under it that I just got on the swapmeet, too. I got tons of compliments. It was very sparkly in the low-light environment.

Originally Posted by lenaregina

guilty. my costumes rock and are worth more than my regular clothes that don't fit right, have stains, and have tears in them....

I'm a junk store addict. Just recently I bought this HUGE framed belly dancer picture from the 70's....it's amazing. I really should post a pic....

You should, you should post a PIC! Bleaaaaze! I wanna see! ..g.:

Thanks gals, I'm so happy to see there is a whole club of blinks-sparklies-recuperation-fanatics! Yay!

Qamar

I do this too. :) I'm always thinking of how I can use things in a different way.

You are not alone! I love thrift-storing for sparklies! I love to peruse the jewelry and dresses for unique things that I can make into costuming pieces. Fun!

I tend to go into stores of all kinds with thoughts of aggressive recycling as well. Would do it more if I had better sewing skills.....l;,

Thrift stores are a great place for the thrill of the repurposing hunt.

I also find it hard to throw away street clothing. I recently used a turtleneck that was too big (but I liked the fabric) to make a headband. And I saved the rest for....who knows. Someday.

Originally Posted by dunyah

I performed just this evening in a beledi dress that I made from a sparkly knit dress from Goodwill, plus velvet remnant from Joanne's to cover the bra and belt. The beaded appliques I bought from Ebay and the beaded fringe I bought from the Bhuz Swapmeet. I wore a blue skirt under it that I just got on the swapmeet, too. I got tons of compliments. It was very sparkly in the low-light environment.

Woaw! FA-BU-LOUS!
Love, love, love!

I just remember that my leopard bedlah was made from a velvet tutleneck found in a thriftshop for $4!



Qamar

Gorgeous photos ladies!

Love the leopard print!

Of course, by the time we add the bra and belt base, the trim, etc., it's not in the under $10 price range any more, but still probably much less than buying a costume ready-made. And it is fun to create a costume, it's almost like an obsession that takes over and you just HAVE to make a costume out of something you find.

I've had some failures, too, though. There was a gorgeous silk rainbow-dyed dress that I tried to convert into a costume. I put some pretty silver beaded appliques and stuff on it, but the cut of the dress just didn't lend itself well to the conversion. It's still sitting in a bag in a drawer, I can't bring myself to throw away that gorgeous rainbow silk.

Yup, I do this, too. Sometimes, you just can't beat what you find on other garments. :) Plus, it's fun to be creative.

found a perfectly good black dress with black rhinestones all along the edges....$4...
so i bought the last two...took off the stones....still wear the dress. gave the other one to my sister in law....everybody's happy

something else though that i probably shouldn't even mention...you know those chinese slippers that have flowers beaded on them. when i finish wearing the slippers, i take off all the beads and sequins and use them to finish up costumes....that's beyond salvaging....

hanging my head in shame....

Originally Posted by Zobeida

...something else though that i probably shouldn't even mention...you know those chinese slippers that have flowers beaded on them. when i finish wearing the slippers, i take off all the beads and sequins and use them to finish up costumes....that's beyond salvaging....

hanging my head in shame....

Chinese splippers??!! Uh oh? .w.:

Don't be embarassed, because of you, I might start buying them again!..l;,..l;,

Qamar

Absolutely. I'm actually working on (okay, it's sitting in pieces on my couch, but...) a bedleh made from an Indian blouse covered in metalwork. I pick up tons of stuff at thrift stores; only problem is actually getting around to USING all that stuff.

Since this thread started, I found a purse at Goodwill with a dozen (at least) faux crystal sew-on stones, and have pulled out the rainbow costume to see if there is any hope for it. I think there is! And the new stones will work nicely on it. New project underway!

I just discovered the New Dress a Day blog, and it reminded me of this conversation.