Things You'll Need:
- hot glue
- needle & thread
- your imagination
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Step 1
Consider the song you're dancing to. Does a color feature heavily in the song? You should probably incorporate it into your costume. For instance if you're dancing to Devil With A Blue Dress On, you may want to make your costume primarily blue, with just one or two other colors for a little contrast.
Also think about the FEEL of the song you've chosen. If it's hard and edgy you probably don't want a super frilly, lacy costume. Conversely, if it's a sweet ballad, then PVC and leather is probably a bad choice. You don't have to decide right now EXACTLY what the costume will look like, but you should have a general idea. -
Step 2
Spend some time working on your choreography before you start making your costume. What you wear can limit or accentuate the way you move, so to make the most of your costume it's important to know how you want to move when it's on.
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Step 3
The last major thing to consider before you start creating is your venue/audience. Some venues will have strict rules about exactly how much you're allowed to take off. You don't want to pour time and energy into a fantastic pair of pasties, only to learn that you have to keep your bra on. Conversely if this is the penultimate activity on a romantic evening, you may want to take off a little more than you would on stage.
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Step 4
Do a google image search for "burlesque" and/or "burlesque costume." Of course you don't want to duplicate someone else's costume, but it should give you some insight into burlesque costume conventions and maybe even inspire some design choices.
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Step 5
With all that in mind, take a look in your closet. Before you start spending a lot of money, see if there's anything already in there that you can already use. Depending on your costume concept, this may be anything from a button-down shirt or sexy skirt to a bra and pantie set you love but never get to wear.
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Step 6
For the top layer(s) (the clothes you'll be taking off) there's often nothing to do but scour the stores or hire a costume designer. I recommend starting at Good Will or a similar thrift store. There's a good chance that whatever you buy will need to be modified a little, and if you're an inexpert sewer like myself you don't want to spend too much money on something you're about to hot-glue. Not to mention that taking your clothes off on stage always brings a risk of snags and tears.
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Step 7
Snaps, snaps, snaps! You can purchase individual snaps or snap tape at nearly any fabric store, and I promise you you'll want them. Not all costumes and dance numbers will require them, but a few handy snaps in place of zippers or hook & eye sets is often quite a life-saver.
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Step 8
Fringe is your friend. Fringe and similar materials can seriously emphasize the movement of your hips or breasts. If you're not using a much-loved bra and pantie set, consider picking up some fringe (try the upholstery section of your local fabric store) and attaching it in rows to the cup of your bra. This is where the hot glue and/or needle & thread come into play.
You may also consider attaching one or two hanging lines of fringe on either hip. This can be accomplished by attaching the fringe directly to your underwear, or by making a simple belt out of ribbon. Measure your waist and cut a piece of ribbon the appropriate length. Attach a snap to either end and now you're free to attach the fringe.
