Costume Design Instruction Book

[auraevans]

Is there an interest for a book with really good instructions for creating a costume from scratch, altering an existing costume, making and designing accessories for your costumes?

Would it help to have step by step photos done in full color?

Would it help to have detailed beading techniques for beading on a surface? Would it help to have techniques for making basic jewelry?

Or is learning from a step by step book old news, would it be better to learn from video or DVD instruction?

Also, would there be an interest in having some great patterns available to purchase if needed in conjunction with an intructional book such as this?

Such patterns would have a full pattern, not an instruction to measure and mark the fabric and then cut it. What if the patterns included full color photos/instruction to help inspire/give ideas for embellishing/beading fabric/sewn garments for dance and costuming.

Opinions everyone?

[auraevans]

opinions?

[mekyria]

For costuming books i prefer black and white drawings/patterns lay-out. Pictures of the finished costumes in full color would be great.

Wether the patterns that you'd offer for sale as an addition to the book would be a succes depends on the kind of pattern. Basic patterns a like circle skirt and harem pants are available for free on various websites. I'd be interested in patterns like the harempants with inserts (like the one on the second BDSS dvd) or assymetrical skirtstyles with ruffles, underbust vest.

I like workshops on dvd, but for costuming I also like to browse through my books for inspiration. It's also easier to have it lying next to your sewing machine when you're working on something. There are a lot of dancers who learn through seeing instead of reading, so I definetly think that there's a market for an instruction dvd.

[lizajuk]

Dawn Devine Browns books are great .
But I have a number of unused and unused B.D patterns I would like to sell. They are very substantial paper not tissue and I will try to get pictures and more details and post seperately on SWAP MEET.Mostly skirts, dresses and some tops.
I do have a book The Basics of Bead stringing by Debbie Kanan that I will sell for £2 or 4 dollars plus postage

[lizajuk]

PS OOOppps I meant to say I do think these things are already well covered.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

That idea sounds great especially color photos of the finished costume, the costume in progress and patterns. I know that Dina Lydia-the Costume Goddess has several books out. I know that Artemis Imports sells costume pattern books.

[*Shira*]

Hi Audra! I think step-by-step books are old news - Dina Lydia and Dawn Devine Brown have really covered the possibilities quite well. The only topic I haven't really seen covered by their books is costuming recommendations for plus-sized dancers. But this isn't really about construction so much as it is about stuff like halter bras can hurt your neck, here are ideas for covering the stomach, etc.

It sounds like you're thinking of creating some products. If you do decide you want to do a book, I'd suggest you take a good luck at what's already out there first and give some careful thought to how you could improve on it. Otherwise, you'll have an uphill road to creating your own niche.

I think you'd find a lot more success going the video/DVD route. I'm not aware of any recently-made videos on costuming. The only ones that come to mind are the FatChance one (which is not about costume construction) and several that were made in the 1980's (Delilah's, Aziza's, Joyce's, etc). A video could show the process of actually creating the costume item, and you could use the video medium to show how the very same style of skirt/pants/veil/whatever moves when made from different fabrics. Extra points if you get dancers of noticeably different sizes and shapes to model the same item so the viewer can see how it would look on different body types.

Your patterns idea has merit. Again, I'd suggest checking what's already out there and thinking of how to differentiate your patterns from competing products and free info on the web. For example, I don't think the belly dance world needs yet another pattern for a circle skirt. Your idea of including embellishment instructions with the pattern would be a great way to differentiate yourself - the only pattern company used by belly dancers that I'm aware of that offers embellishment suggestions is Folkwear.

Originally Posted by auraevans

Or is learning from a step by step book old news, would it be better to learn from video or DVD instruction?

Also, would there be an interest in having some great patterns available to purchase if needed in conjunction with an intructional book such as this?

Such patterns would have a full pattern, not an instruction to measure and mark the fabric and then cut it. What if the patterns included full color photos/instruction to help inspire/give ideas for embellishing/beading fabric/sewn garments for dance and costuming.

[bellydancerinfo]

I am confused....
I just put out a video- that had a little 20 min bonus section of costume stuff. People went wild for it. Everyone asking for more. How about a video, how about teaching costume making classes, how about -this- that-& the other.

So now Audra is asking - concretly- what could someone provide- and people here seem to sound like... they are not interested because they already have everything they need....

Which is confusing since some people seem to need "something" so ... what is that?

[chessurecat]

Yes, Dawn Devine Brown and Costume Goddess have books, etc...out, but there are alot of dancers out there and Brown or Goddess may not be thier thing. I say go for it, we need a variety. I have considered starting a construction and embellishment series myself basing everything on stage performance aspects (finally use my Theatre Arts education for once)...but honeslty, I am pulling myself in so many directions as it is, I'd screw it up.

GO FOR IT!!!

[chessurecat]

Originally Posted by auraevans

Is there an interest for a book with really good instructions for creating a costume from scratch, altering an existing costume, making and designing accessories for your costumes?

Would it help to have step by step photos done in full color?

Would it help to have detailed beading techniques for beading on a surface? Would it help to have techniques for making basic jewelry?

Or is learning from a step by step book old news, would it be better to learn from video or DVD instruction?

Also, would there be an interest in having some great patterns available to purchase if needed in conjunction with an intructional book such as this?

Such patterns would have a full pattern, not an instruction to measure and mark the fabric and then cut it. What if the patterns included full color photos/instruction to help inspire/give ideas for embellishing/beading fabric/sewn garments for dance and costuming.

Opinions everyone?

~I think an alteration book is an exceptionally good idea. A book for creating a costume completely from scratch would be a GREAT idea for those who have never made one before but is afraid to jump in....or designers who have run into a creative block.
~Step by step photos would be great (vs. some books out there I've seen with horrendous hand-sketched 'illlustrations' that could either be 'your finished belt' or something that resembles a Shetland Pony rolling on its' back ).
~I think detailed beading techniques is fabulous (maybe if you start with intermmediate so it's not intimidating) and don't forget the importance of the very frequent knot (sorry, had to mention it...too many beautiful pieces of art fall apart from improper knotting).
~IMO, I prefer books so I can pick it up and put it down at my leisure as I sit at my working table. Too many people find it hard to set up to utilize videos/dvds while actually working on a piece.
~Patterns: YES!! Well, if it's a start from scratch series. I have been disappointed by oh-so-many patterns out there and have wasted too much money back in my beginning days. PPffhhht.
~Inspiration text and photos ... yes, yes, yes! Photos of completed project ... yes, yes, yes!!!

I love your ideas. If you do this, please let me know!!! It's so inspiring to see someone so interested in an endeavor like this!

[auraevans]

Thanks for the feedback!