Thread: Whats your Costume Fantasy Land?

If you walked into a boutique that sold designer named costumes, how would you want to see them displayed? (and why :)

Would you like it to look as wild and colourful as a bazar/market?
Or more organized so you can focus more on your purchase?

On racks? Mannequins? Organized by size? Or colour?

Please share any interesting experiences !!

SCNR: On a sales rack ;-)

More seriously, I am more into things displayed on tables, not mannequins. No preference whether sorted by size or color - either way could probably work, but I like to see prices and sizes clearly marked.

I don't like things just thrown on tables - bazaar style - as they end up with all types of pulls and damage. Neatly laid out or hung on hangers so you can see the entire costume would be nice. Not on a mannequin - as taking them on and off all day would also cause damage. Nothing I hate more than shopping and seeing a beautiful costume for sale already damaged.

Hi Angelica,

This is a great question. I have horrible phobias of crowded stores where everything is thrown together and you have to swim through a sea of costumes or clothes. I just can't do it! I prefer a clean, well-lit place, organized but not to the point of looking clinical. I think it's nice when costumes are organized by type - skirts in one rack, full costumes in another area, accesories separate. Mannequins work for me because it gives me ideas of what the finished product might look like, and I like them more when the display suggests a pairing that's not quite as obvious. I also think it's cool to have costumes on the walls (not on mannequins) for ambience.

What would you think about having an organized catelogue that shows photographs of the costumes on a body (like posted here, or on websites), and having a sales clerk pulling out the ones you're interested in to see close up.

Would this take away from the experience? Or help calm the "overwhelmingness"

Originally Posted by AngelicaDances

What would you think about having an organized catelogue that shows photographs of the costumes on a body (like posted here, or on websites), and having a sales clerk pulling out the ones you're interested in to see close up.

I'd rather see a computer database with pictures (not a paper catalog), like the public terminals for looking up books at the library. That way, I could specify the size and color/style/designer/whatever, and have a menu of choices presented back to me to "pull." Actually, I don't understand why more online vendors don't do this with their inventory. When I'm shopping, I'm not interested in wading through piles of costumes that won't fit me!

As for pictures on bodies...I personally prefer mannequins. A lot of these costumes are as much "intimate apparel" as swimsuits and underwear--and they're not particularly washable--so I'd like to minimize the number of people who've tried on the one I'm buying!

I'd want them organized by size and on hangers. I hate getting my hopes up looking through costumes only to find NONE in my size.

Organize it by size. so I know costume a,b,c,d is one size, e,f,g,h is another size. Sometimes I find a bra that fits and not the belt and vice versa. Also by color So picky people like me who don't really like to get out of her crayon box much. Hangers are my preference. It will save me time. I personally hate clothes shopping so the easier you make it for me to find things the better.
I know for shame a woman who hates clothes shopping.
Shoes well that's a different story..

Alrana

By size, including length. I don't like mannequins as they are shaped weird and never have hips.

Otherwise, neat and organized. Well lit, especially in the dressing room, with close-to-natural lighting.

if i'm at a mall or shopping center i won't enter the store if it's so packed with items that you can't see anything. i also hate when so many items are hung on one rack that you can't pull things out to look at them

well organized, neat and clean, plenty of space with prices displayed is excellent.

also none of that bright flourescent lighting as it shows all the flaws on your body and gets you so depressed you go home and eat a plate of brownies (does not claim this as personal experience)

On hangers hung by size and color.

Organized by size. I don't have much patience with poking through stuff that won't fit me in hopes of finding something that will.

Generally prefer to NOT have it be hung because some skirts have the hem stretch out of shape when hung.

i agree w/not hanging them. I keep my costumes in canvas bins, so it'd be REALLY cool to see a picture of the costme on a mannequin (that is proportional to the girl that'd wear the costume. meaning a DD isn't on an A mannequin) and the costume either on a table or in a bag. Measurements clearly listed: ribcage, cup size, upper hip, lower hip, skirt length. Assorted by size.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I'd want them organized by size and on hangers. I hate getting my hopes up looking through costumes only to find NONE in my size.

I agree. I really don't care what a costume I'm interested in looks like on someone else! I am hard to fit and I'd rather not waste my time or the salesperson's time looking for a costume that might or might not fit. I would organize by bra size on costumes, skirt length on chiffon skirts, S/M/L/XL on cover ups and dresses. OK, so I'm opinionated!

My fantasy is actually very simple. Hangers that don't break. Some of my costumes are so heavy it takes two or three hangers just to hang them cause I like it all on one hanger...

Originally Posted by jesennia

also none of that bright flourescent lighting as it shows all the flaws on your body and gets you so depressed you go home and eat a plate of brownies (does not claim this as personal experience)

thank you! seriously, if these clothing stores would invest in better lighting they would sell so much more clothing!!! I think lane bryant is the only one I know of that's figured that out.

i'd say ( as someone who's had plenty of retail experience...familly business)

I'd say size is the first organizational priority ( I deffinately sympathize with andalee in not being able to find anything that fits) but then organize the sections of size to color. Mannequins give a nice idea of how things look on a body, but I prefer photos so i can see how effective the cups are. Hard cups look so awkward on a mannequin and it's very important for me to see that a cup lifts and shapes the girls correctly. Maybe hung on the wall? but since you can try them on maybe this won't be so much of an issue. I think the photo database would be a wonderful idea!

really any type of organization so i can find the size and color I'm looking for without wading through a sea of merchandise would be ideal.

Well I would have to say since its my fantasy =D

All in my size neatly hung in colors I like and all Bellas or Sims!!

Hows that for my fantasy!

And with price tags that I could afford all I wanted!!

I know Ann Marie just wake up LOL

High class boutique style. Id love to have a spot to sit down in, have tea and look through the selection and have the costumes brought to me in the correct size to try on in a lavish dressing room...

,r:;

Not going to happen... but its my fantasy. Im such a princess.

Originally Posted by Amber_moon

High class boutique style. Id love to have a spot to sit down in, have tea and look through the selection and have the costumes brought to me in the correct size to try on in a lavish dressing room...

,r:;

Not going to happen... but its my fantasy. Im such a princess.

Sounds like that bridal store in NYC on that show "Say Yes to the Dress"
It exists.. just not for us, YET! ..g.:

Ooo pure fantasy? I'd enter the store and instantly someone hands me a chocolate cupcake that wouldn't make me fat and a pina colada. Then lead me to a section where everything is 34 D 35 hip, then offer a massage to prepare my body for the strenuous task of trying them on. After that I sit on a super soft chair that I sink into and handed yet another cupcake, the sales assistant determines which costumes would fit my shape the best. THEN she claps her hands, heavy consistent drum beats starts in the back ground, and men clad in oily muscles and loose fitting pants start to bring out the costumes. Every costume fits perfectly and come to find out they cost $20 each. As I leave, too weak to walk and carry my purchases, I am carried to my limo and handed another cupcake as I leave.