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Life of a Costume

Many times folks ask questions regarding how costumes are created.  The imagination of the Ball Captain is often the basis for each costume's journey from idea to reality .  The Ball Captain will consult with designers who will put his ideas onto paper.  Each ball costume is drawn out and colorized by the artist/designer. These drawings are presented to krewe members in an order dictated by tradition.  Once a krewe member selects his/her costume drawing, the real work begins.  The drawing is re-created in a multidimensional wirework art form.  The size of the wirework is dependant on many factors.  How tall? How wide?   All these questions are answered by the Ball Captain as he consults and guides the creation of his ideas by the krewe members. 

Below is a behind the scenes view rarely seen outside the krewe regarding the making of two costumes.  Use the scroll bars at the end of the thumbnail pictures to see these two creations go from wirework to the stage. We'll post the pictures of the initial costume drawings soon.
 

  

Wire work and masking tape, building the 3 dimensional form

The hours of detail work continue, Viscount Jules (right) and Baron Barry Sikes (left)

Hours of detail fabric work

Glue gun working into the night

Barefoot in the street, trying the back piece on for the first time.

Strapping on the backpack

Adjusting and making sure everything is in place.

Walking and making sure everything stays in place

Walking and moving to make sure everything structurally is secure.

On stage, feathers, fabric and all the parts come together.

Walking on stage takes practice with a costume strapped to your back.

Fabric beginning to cover the wirework

Exposed wirework and the backpack during construction

Q Beam spotlight in place, fabric work in process covering the masking tape over the wire work.

After a week of fabric work, a good use for a lawn chair too.

Amazing what household items can be used in a costume. Can you spot the oatmeal box?

A sturdy lawn chair in the garage as a costume stand.

Trying on the Train for the first time.

Learning to walk and move with the costume

Prior to transporting to the auditorium from the krewe's den space in New Orleans

Finished and in the Costume Den

Ball entrance - CO2 Systems and Q Beam Spotlight at work in the Train

Moving on stage

On Stage

Lord Todd Cole and the Train Engine

The Train in the den with other costumes. The costume was dismantled and the mechanical parts saved for a future costume.
     


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This site was last edited on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
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