Phantom costumes - real and replicas 1

TheFinnishPhantom wrote:
That looks great! Do I see some Fazer's chocolate paper wrappings?

Yes indeed you do, every Phantom need's his sugar, right?

Thanks for all the nice comments. I love Phantom and love to work on stuff like that.

Viscountess wrote:I don't think it was the actual costume makers. I remember seeing the bear at Broadway Cares and the name in the description wasn't of anyone from the shop, at least not that I remember. I could be wrong though.

The folks from the Phantom wardrobe department have also done some of the previous bears.

Interesting info, thanks a lot!

If anyone want to rent Phantom costumes (replicas, that is), I came across a website with various frocks. It hink I recognize the Hannibal slavegirl costume from one of the school productions, but don't quite me on it. The Elissa and slavegirl costumes are similar to the stage design, ditto for the wedding dress, dressing gown and some of the ballet costumes. Carlotta's Notes dresses aren't all that bad either.

But the Don Juan costumes? WTF? Looks like they've bought a bunch of Tyrol or Hungarian folk costumes... The Il Muto ones are also.... eeeh, creative.
http://www.broadwaycostumes.com/shows/phantom-of-the-opera.htm


Or what about some Sims frocks? Carlotta rules the stage there too...
http://modthesims.info/download.php?t=432964

Progress! I used various appliquées to make the "wings" on the front of the fabric. The bottom layer (picture 2) is made of sequined leaves I cut out from a transparent fabric. The top layer are "bullioned" golden appliquées. They can be seen before use in picture 1. The large flowers will be used on the shoulders.

Oh, and I added golden beads to the fringe of the skirt. Something similar is seen in the design, and I like the look.

I made one fundamental mistake when making the bodice - I made it pointed in front and in the back and curved over the hips. But in the costume design the skirt is draped in a diagonal angle, being high on one side, and going low over the hip on the other side. I don't think I'll be able to copy that, and it bugs me. I might be able to make one side longer, but that'll be a lot of work, and in the end I'm not sure how good a result it'll give. Baaah.

ETA: the costume design added above shows the diagonal skirt draping well, as well as the beaded skirt fringe.

ETA 2: I've updated the Hannibal slavegirl costume in my personal site. Decided to finally split the presentation of the slavegirl and Elissa costume. I have yet to add pictures of the redone costume, but I've tried to add a better description of it, as well as more pictures. I even dug out a picture of the first, utterly tragic version I made! Oh, horror... Here: http://aneafiles.webs.com/hnblslavegirl.html

ETA 3: ....aaaaand the Elissa skirt is in: http://aneafiles.webs.com/hnblelissa.html

operafantomet wrote:But the Don Juan costumes? WTF? Looks like they've bought a bunch of Tyrol or Hungarian folk costumes... The Il Muto ones are also.... eeeh, creative.
http://www.broadwaycostumes.com/shows/phantom-of-the-opera.htm

That Aminta dress... I'm not gonna say what I really think.
I remember seeing photos from one of the schools in these and thinking they had made them and being so impressed. I should have known better.

On a happier (and much older) topic: Ah! I love Carlotta's Notes dresses. I want to make one, but can't decide between I and II. If you make it, I'm sure you'll rock it! And there are not enough people making those outfits. In fact, I haven't ever seen a Notes II. But I totally agree about finding the fabric. When I was toying with the idea of Notes II dress, I would keep an eye out for fabric and... it was depressing, my lack of success.

I can't believe I never posted pictures of the finished Meg Gypsy costume here! But here it is, and I'll try to upload some detail pics.



OR... if I have, just ignore me. I've been trying to organize my Photobucket these past few days.

Oooh I love the Gypsy costume. I think it turned out great. The materials worked out really nicely.

It turned out absolutely lovely, Viscountess!

Your Meg gypsy costume is really nice Viscountess. Great to get to see it.

Hey you guys. I thought I'd point this out, since these look a lot like the shoes Christine wears in her dressing room.

White Shoes

Viscountess, I've commented on it elsewhere, but must do it again: I love it! Especially those hanging tabs. I still wanna see those pictures of you wearing it!

I'm revamping the Hannibal slavegirl costume. It... uh... shrunk in my closet. I've replaced the back panels with bigger ones, added snap buttons to bodice and belt, replaced heavy glass beads with lighter (and blingier) plastic ones, and also replaced cotton straps with elastic ones. What remains is to add more rope skirt to the back, as there now is a slightly unflattering gap there... And also make/buy velvet panties to wear underneath. Pictures to come.

In the mean time, I've been searching the web in hope of finding some new, interesting stage photos. Didn't really find that, but I found other stuff...

I think I've posted a link to this replica before. It can be yours! It's for sale. I LOVE that butterfly like collar.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/31143415/hannibal-dancer-corset-costume

Seems like some of the movie costumes has been re-sold. Here's the Hannibal Elissa one (sold):
http://entertainment.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=7020&Lot_No=49432
http://roseleclublair.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/hannibal-carlotta2-1.jpg

Carlotta/Christine/Elissa gone Sims:
http://thumbs2.modthesims.info/img/8/4/7/5/1/4/MTS2_haphazard_helena_1173510_CarlottaChristineElissa.jpg

Aminta gone Sims:
http://thumbs2.modthesims.info/img/8/4/7/5/1/4/MTS2_haphazard_helena_1173923_AlternateAmintaCostume.jpg

Aminta replica - in need of an underskirt, but a lovely version:
http://www.cosplay.com/costume/150339/

Another Aminta replica, in making. Loving the colour of the fabric:
http://lemonysnicketlover.deviantart.com/#/d38rt3o

ML6 wrote:Hey you guys. I thought I'd point this out, since these look a lot like the shoes Christine wears in her dressing room.

White Shoes

I have a pair of those and they are what Christine wears (although I see Capezio shoes used some places) with the dressing gown. If anyone buys these, note that they run a 1/2 size small.

Revamped Slavegirl bodice. Note that it's worn on top of the Triton bodice AND over the Elissa skirt, and only closed with the middle hook and eye in the back. It looks a lot larger in size than it is! It's almost finished, I just need to add more ropes to the back of the rope skirt. What's done:

*Cotton straps have been replaced by elastic ones. They were made skin coloured by makeup. I used semi sticky powder/foundation and a sponge, and applied it richly. I then used tissue paper to wipe off eventual extra colour. Worked like a dream.

*Beads have been replaced. Many of the old ones were glass, and just too heavy. The new ones are various fashion jewelry and christmas decorations, all plastic. One bead string were silver, one were gold. I used the trick from the US Elissa replica, and applied nail polish (red and green) to change the colours. The good thing about nail polish is that they're semi transparent, unlike paint, so some of the gold/silver shine still shines through. It's also dead cheap. The third string (the lower one) was one I beaded myself. They're looped over the shoulders, and attached high up at the straps in the back to form a loop in the back as well. To make eventual remodelings easier later on, I have attached each end of the loop to a golden appliquée. This means the appliquée easily can be repicked if I for example need to remove the straps anew.


1. I wired the three strings together, with some space between them, before sewing it to an appliquée. Hangs better that way.
2. This shows the golden appliquée in the back and at the strap.
3. I tried the bodice on backwards. It almost looks like a Carlotta bodice! It shows well how the beads loop in the back. And finally a photo where the green velvet actually looks green, and not black.

*I added new panels to the back, to make the size bigger. It now fits... I've finally also added snap buttons to the belt and bodice, all the way around, so it can be fully removed.

New pictures to come once I've finished the skirt (don't feel like posing in that already skimpy costume with my hiney exposed...). I'll try to finish the TOM scarf as well, so I can take some seriously wannabe-pictures...

I've updated the site on my Phantom wedding dress replica. The dress just ain't coming together right. It's so annoying! The materials are good, but there are so many details which seems off when I wear it. Aaaagh...

http://aneafiles.webs.com/weddingdress.html

For my own sanity I should have given up on this project long ago... But I love the materials so much. Problem is that every time I fix an issue one place, I create issues elsewhere. When I finally fitted the bodice in the front, it became too wide around the neck. And it bulks in front. And a button fell out. And I'm really not happy with the basque. I need to replace it with a whiter and more pleated version. And I need to replace that yellowed ribbon on the skirt, and also make backdrapes, and large rosettas for the lace trims...

But at least I'm very happy about the lace sleeves!

My Phantom costumes has gotten a better life. After Josefine visited and was in shock over the tiny boxes some of them lived in, I decided to throw out my tiny collection of shoes (they fit anywhere) to use the closet for the Phantom dresses instead. So I lined most of them up on the floor...



...and added cotton straps to the inside of those who already didn't have it - that is everyone but the slavegirl and original Wishing one. The Elissa skirt and the Masquerade dress is still living in boxes, while the slavegirl, dressing gown, original Wishing, Aminta and Wedding dress got a new life in the closet:



I think I'll cover the original Wishing dress with a bed linen, as I did before. The sleeves are still stuffed to keep the rounded shape. It just feels safer that way. But the other ones gets a better life when hanging. And I get easier access as well. Seriously, those cotton straps inside skirts and bodices without sleeves is so good for the costumes. It also makes it way easier to hold them in place on the hanger.

I like .

But I'll ask the same question again: Can you really fit the Elissa skirt into one of those boxes? I thought that lived on your dummy.

Phantomlove wrote:But I'll ask the same question again: Can you really fit the Elissa skirt into one of those boxes? I thought that lived on your dummy.

The Elissa skirt is very foldable. The netting is squishy, and there's very little around the hips and thighs. I can fold it there. Plus, the big boxes are big! It's just the Masquerade one that lives in a small box... Poor thing.

Hey, I have a question for you Operafantomet!

I've often thought there was something familiar about Christine's costume in Masquerade. And then, when I was listening/watching to the Magic Flute today, it hit me. Christine's costume seems like a daughter costume to that of the Night Queen. I'll show you a picture.



Is this possible that Maria could have been influenced by that of The Magic Flute (I've also found some costume sketches and paintings done pre-phantom that show the crown like the one Christine wears)? Or, am I just hitting on something that's a weird coincidence?

That's interesting, because isn't Carlotta's costume supposed to be the Queen of the Night? It would be odd for Christine and her to draw from the same source...

~LCD

LadyCDaae wrote:That's interesting, because isn't Carlotta's costume supposed to be the Queen of the Night? It would be odd for Christine and her to draw from the same source...

~LCD

Really? I don't know much when it comes to the costumes. I often thought she was just a bat. But I don't know. I only just noticed it last night and I found the coincidence interesting. I also took notice in some forms, the daughter wears a variation of the Queen of the Night's costume. So, that could be why the dress was called The Star Princess.

Oh well, just coming forth with my find.

ML6 wrote:Hey, I have a question for you Operafantomet!

I've often thought there was something familiar about Christine's costume in Masquerade. And then, when I was listening/watching to the Magic Flute today, it hit me. Christine's costume seems like a daughter costume to that of the Night Queen. I'll show you a picture.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qzd9HIsRWeA/SWvpAJ9OwjI/AAAAAAAATaM/DL2g9EJRBRo/s1600/Magic%2BFlute%2BLV.jpg

Is this possible that Maria could have been influenced by that of The Magic Flute (I've also found some costume sketches and paintings done pre-phantom that show the crown like the one Christine wears)? Or, am I just hitting on something that's a weird coincidence?

I think Maria Bjørnson was inspired by all kinds of operas and historical prints and pictures for her Phantom design. She drew multiple sketches a day and finished them in quite a short span of time, and she used books on historical opera costumes as inspiration. So lots of the costumes reminds of known opera figures.

Christine's costume is in the design referred to as "The Star Princess". Wearing a crescent moon on the head is in Greek and Roman mythology a sign of the goddess Artemis/Diana, as well as Selene. It was also a popular feature for any night creatures, as well as those representing day/night. This is of course where "Queen of the Night" enters. Maria Bjørnson might have used this link on purpose, but usually the queen is depicted in much darker robes than Christine's pink/blue creation. So I don't think she's showcasing Christine as "Queen of the Night".

It could be fitting for Carlotta, and backstage crew at Phantom refers to Carlotta's costume both as "the Bat" and "Queen of the Night", Maria Bjørnson's intention was however completely different. Here's what I've written in the site about the design:

Designer Maria Bjørnson based Carlotta's Masquerade costume on the 19th century dancer Lola Montez and her famous "Spider dance". The concept of the dance was that the lady found spiders all over her clothes, and had to shred the garbs off, one by one. Basically, an advanced strip tease dance with elements from both classical ballet and flamenco. So there! The original design is today in the care of the V&A museum in London.
http://potocostumes.webs.com/masquerade/queenofnight.html

That said, the original Carlotta Masquerade costume was highly different from today's version. The bodice was petrol green, ending in a small apron with gold fringes, and the skirt multi coloured. Still, the bat and spider symbols are as present as in newer version. I think the costumes worn by Christine and Carlotta has become more similar throughout the years, especially in the US, and that they now appears to be eachothers opposites - Christine in a soft pink creation with a giant tulle skirt, Carlotta in a blackish purple creation with a giant tulle skirt. Originally their costumes reminded little of eachother (think silver "saloon" girl in West End VS the multicoloured spider creation of Carlotta).



That didn't technically answer your question... Basically because I'm not quite sure Maria Bjørnson had a deeper meaning with the "Star Princess" costume. Mostly, I think Christine looks like the evening sky, with blue sky turning into pink, and with stars all over. She might have been inspired by the Magic Flute still, as the use of moons and stars for several characters has a long history. And I know Andrew Lloyd Webber was very inspired by the movie "Amadeus" when working on Phantom. This might have affected Bjørnson as well. I mean...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RXtkPp7y44g/SwG_dtP318I/AAAAAAAAACg/noqHpdGtaM0/s1600/Mozart_magic_flute.jpg

I'll add this as well. It's copied from a post I made back in 2009...

During the costume/makeup workshop at Phantom Fans Week, Sam Fleming recommended a book titled, "The Great Opera Stars in Historic Photographs". She said that a great deal of the show ideas come from that book.

I have a copy of the book and have to agree with Sam, if you're interested in costuming, then you should get this book. There are 343 black & white photos with short text descriptions of the singers/characters/dates. As you start leafing through the pictures you start to recognize where Maria Bjornson got ideas for some of the Phantom costumes. Sometimes you look at the whole costume and recognize it(Meg's boy costume), other times it's part of a costume. Lots of fun.

It's not an expensive book either. I found mine on eBay for $4. There are a few different versions of the cover but it's the same inside.

operafantomet wrote:

That didn't technically answer your question... Basically because I'm not quite sure Maria Bjørnson had a deeper meaning with the "Star Princess" costume. Mostly, I think Christine looks like the evening sky, with blue sky turning into pink, and with stars all over. She might have been inspired by the Magic Flute still, as the use of moons and stars for several characters has a long history. And I know Andrew Lloyd Webber was very inspired by the movie "Amadeus" when working on Phantom. This might have affected Bjørnson as well. I mean...

Or she could be Eos/Aurora, the goddess of the dawn, which would fit symbolically with Christine's roles as a person in a transitional or "border" state (darkness/light, innocence/maturity) and as a bringer of light (both the light Erik hopes to obtain through her love and the redemption she eventually sparks in him). I don't know if that's what Bjornson had in mind, but it works.

~LCD

LadyCDaae wrote:Or she could be Eos/Aurora, the goddess of the dawn, which would fit symbolically with Christine's roles as a person in a transitional or "border" state (darkness/light, innocence/maturity) and as a bringer of light (both the light Erik hopes to obtain through her love and the redemption she eventually sparks in him). I don't know if that's what Bjornson had in mind, but it works.

~LCD

I agree! I called her "Aurora" before I heard the name "Star Princess".

MasqPhan, thanks for the reminder of that book. I meant to pick it up when you guys told me about it after the Vegas event, but I since totally forgot about it... *off searching for a cheap copy*

Thanks for the responses, guys! I knew I could come here for information.

Working on the Triton costume again. I looked closer at the design, and realized something:

1. The backdrape isn't merely attached at the upper shoulder in the back. It's also attached in front somehow, as it flows down, hiding her armpits. Kinda like this: http://www.shopmcauleys.com/catalog/52158.jpg

2. In most many stage costumes the drape is attached to the wrists, sometimes also to the elbow, with elastic bands. However, in the design, the right arm has no drapes at all, while the left holds up parts of the drape. Some stage costumes has translated this to attaching the drape on one arm, but not both. But in effect, the design shows a backdrape solely attached to the shoulders.

So for the shoulder issue, I'm attaching it at two spots, and the fabric in between is looped, giving room for the arm to emerge. A large, golden brooch is attached on top. As for the wrists, I'm thinking using the Hannibal wristbands and maybe just pinning the drape to them as I prefer?


The Hannibal wristbands.

Just received this in the mail today. Mask from the UK tour that finished in Manchester in 2000.

OMG beautiful! That one is complete with wire and all. Wow. What an item! Is it going to be on display?

Thanks! I'm so excited to have a real mask. And of course like a dork I had to try it on a few times. Never thought I'd own one as they usually go for a lot more than I can afford. This one was more affordable as there is some damage to the bottom of the mask but it's all intact.
I will display it once I figure out the best way to do it.

Also got a signed anniversary UK tour program. The lady that owned both items used to work in wardrobe on the tour.