I was inspired by some amazing burlesque costumes in December. After performing in a couple of burlesque shows, I am ready to invest in costumes. I got the bug for shiny after wearing my Christmas Palm Tree costume.
The Christmas outfit started as a beaded dress that Talloolah made me try on at a yard sale. At first I thought that she was being silly. Then I tried on the dress. She has quite an eye for costumes!
The green beaded dress fit like it was made for me. I didn't like the assymetrical shoulder but that was easily overcome by wearing a longer wig to cover my shoulders.
The pictures of me in that bright green beaded dress made me want more!
More beads, more sequins, more shiny!
Based on Vagina Jenkins' class Burlesque Costuming on a Budget, I had a plan.
But while I planned to work, I was hoping to find something I could wear straight off the rack.
I was chanting to myself, "shiny dress, shiny dress."
I expected to convert a prom dress from the thrift store into a bedazzled gown.
Also based on Vag's advice, I went to the Clothing Warehouse in East Point.
The sales clerk noticed that I was "on a mission".
When I told her that I was a burlesque dancer, she offered to let me into "the back warehouse".
Oh, the words of my bargain loving dreams!
I found quite a few things to experiment with, including a white faux fur jacket.
In the regular bins out front, I found the item I needed.
It smelled bad. No really bad.
It was a mixture of smells that scared me to try it on.
But it fit perfectly and The Clothing Warehouse let me take it home for $5.
Even better, it was a simple floor length dress that was fully sequined.
I took a big risk by putting it in the washing machine.
I know some of you just cringed.
After reading a dozen online entries on washing sequins or spangles I decided that I didn't have anything to lose. Even if the sequins lost their color, I was resigned that damaged sequins were better than smelly polyester. (The lining and structure of the dress were labeled: polyester, do not dry clean, do not wash, spot clean only.)
Before putting the dress into the washer, I put it into a zippered pillowcase.
I washed it twice, once on delicate. I dumped in a quarter cup of liquid lysol.
Which didn't seemed to damage the dress.
I got bolder.
I washed the dress on gentle and let it go through the spin cycle.
The smell is gone and I only found four loose sequins in the pillowcase.
The sequins are not damaged.
Unfortunately, I don't know if it shrank or not.
I do know that it fits perfectly and I feel like a lottery winner!
