Getting Started

Who's that handsome devil?

If my brother can do it, so can you! Starlight Express costumes certainly look complicated, but it's not too difficult to make something that looks good, and it needn't cost the Earth either. If you've got the time and the money, then feel free to use them as much as you can - but for the most part we're going to assume you're working in your spare time and with a limited budget.

The first, and most important, step in making a costume is knowing exactly what it is you want to do. Find as many photos as possible of the costume you want to make, and study them (good sources for photos - Pearl's Domain, Belle's Domain, The Stage Door). Try and work out how the costume is put together, where the fastenings are, and what materials have been used. Obviously you're not going to be able to replicate it exactly - at least, not straight off - but the more you know about the real costume, the better costume you're going to be able to make.

Then you need to work out what you're going to do. Draw some quick sketches of the different parts of the costume. It doesn't matter if they're not very good, no one else is going to see them! It's a good idea to start with the basic blocks of colour that make up the costume and concentrate on those to begin with - you can always add in the detail later, and trust me, it'll look better this way.

The day before a meet. I'm so organised.

So now you know what you want to do, you can think about how you're going to do it. You need good solid bases to build the costume around. To do the female costumes properly you really need a leotard and leggings. For the male costumes, it depends on who you're trying to do - usually the top needs to be tight or fitted, but the trousers can be looser. Try and get the colour as close as you can at this point. If you can't buy things new, haunt your local charity shops - when you start out, it's much easier to amend existing clothing that you know fits than to make new things. If you're already good at dressmaking, or when you've had some practice, then it's time to be more adventurous.

Once you've got bases, taken them in or let them out so they fit, and got the dimensions and shapes right, you can start decorating them. This is the best part, I think. Applique, ribbon, fabric paint, studs, all have their place....just have fun!

Various things are necessary to make sure your costume looks like a train. All Starlight Express costumes have knee-pads, elbow-pads, ankle-warmers (slinkies) and a belt with handles. The knee-pads and belt are perhaps the most important, particularly if you want to skate in your costume. Many of the costumes also have shoulder boxes, wrist wheels and gloves. Half-fingered gloves are best, if only for practical purposes.

And when you've finished your costume - be sure to send me a picture!