Around this time last year I was fortunate enough to be given a list of contacts from a family friend and Amanda‘s was one of them – I spent a week and a bit with her working on a design she had been sent for a film being made in Wales, about a mining town which gets a visit from a travelling circus. And she very kindly let me help her with the construction on a costume for a trapeze artist – therefore it was important to get the fit right, no straps slipping off shoulders, etc, no thank you!
The inside of the bodice.
But to also make sure that the actor could move and perform comfortably which was a bit of a challenge as the dress, a period costume, was supposed to be quite fitted around the bodice and shoulders, so there was a bit of fiddling needed to get the shoulders sitting comfortably but that is all part of construction; nothing is always straightforward and problem solving is a good skill to rely on!
I feel I grew in confidence after my sessions with Amanda because the way she worked and went throughout the construction process was almost identical to the way we were being taught in 1st year – I learnt different techniques and tricks of the trade and experienced what it would be like to be a freelance costume maker/designer; and I have to say I loved every minute of it!
The finished costume!
