How to Make Appropriate Showgirl Costumes

A showgirl is envisioned in a Las Vegas venue.

Although a showgirl costume is known to be slightly scandalous, flirtatious and sultry, there are ways of pulling off the look while keeping the costume appropriate for your surroundings. With a few well-placed accessories and by careful selection of the costume pieces, the costume will still be recognizable as a classic showgirl, but without risk of embarrassment or too much exposed skin. This careful costume planning can enable you to wear the ensemble to school, a family party, or virtually anywhere modesty is important.

Things You'll Need

• Bathing suit
• Hot glue gun
• Rhinestones
• Sequins
• Skin-tone leggings
• Skirt
• Headpiece
• Gloves
• Jewelry

Instructions

1. Choose a brightly colored, one piece bathing suit for the base of the torso portion of the costume. The bathing suit will capture the form-fitting essence typical of showgirl costumes while providing cover to prevent too much skin from showing. Choose a bathing suit that is not cut low in the front, as this will likely show too much cleavage.

2. Embellish the bathing suit to give it a touch of showgirl glitz and glamor. Glue rhinestones and sequins to the front and back of the costume, as well as to the hems on the neckline and straps. Adding sparkle and embellishment to the costume can help you achieve the showgirl theme and make the costume recognizable without reverting to a scandalously cut outfit.

3. Add a pair of skin-tone colored leggings to the costume, which will further add to the level of modesty.

4. Include a bold skirt in the ensemble. Classic choices for showgirl skirts include mini skirts, long, elaborate and translucent tulle skirts or skirts composed simply of hanging fringe. Regardless of your specific choice, wearing the leggings underneath the skirt will allow you to remain modest while giving the illusion of showing skin.

5. Incorporate accessories to further enhance the costume. Headpieces composed of or accented with feathers are a common sight on a showgirl. Bold, sparkling costume jewelry, long, hanging strands of beads and even elbow-length satin gloves will incorporate the showgirl theme effectively, while still being appropriate.

References

• Showgirl Costumes: Showgirl Costumes Las Vegas