Comments on: Wonder How Much That Costume is Worth?

By: What I Learned from NOT Going to Costume College – Historical Sewing

What I Learned from NOT Going to Costume College – Historical Sewing — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 14:40:44 +0000

[…] – I didn’t have to scrape up the extra money to both attend the weekend and spend for new costumes. (Cause goodness knows our costume habit is expensive!) […]

By: charlie

charlie — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 09:43:46 +0000

I tend to look for really good deals on fabric, snatch it up, and the design around what I have.
When you look at my individual costumes, they tend to have less than fifty dollars of fabric, and less than fifty dollars in trims and notions.
But if you look at my fabric stash… well. There’s a few thousand dollars worth of fabric there that has yet to find its way into a dress. Some of it I do have plans for. Some of it I don’t. Sometimes it sits in a bin for years until I finally realize I don’t want it and donate it to a charity shop.

I’m fairly certain that I would spend less money if I bought my wools and silks at regular price but only bought them as I used them. But spending $200+ on fabric for a single dress is a whole different sort of nerve-wracking.

By: Celeste

Celeste — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 04:24:09 +0000

Because my grade has usually depened on it, I do. But now that I’m not sewing for a grade, I have no idea how that’ll work. I DO know that my stays have cost about $40. I should probably start keeping track………

By: Jennifer Rosbrugh

Jennifer Rosbrugh — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:57:48 +0000

In reply to Chris. Sounds like great organization! I keep a journal of my projects too. (See this blog post)

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:46:14 +0000

When I made a gown I do it as a portfolio art piece. I keep track of how much I spend on the project so that I know I’m staying on budget, and also so I know if someone wants to buy the ensemble from me how much I would need to charge. It also helps when people ask me questions about it. I keep each project in a ‘journal’ so I can come back and reference it should I need to make it again, for what ever reason.

By: Cathy Symonds

Cathy Symonds — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 17:54:06 +0000

I think getting started is the really big money item. Before I ever got to my lovely 1860’s style day dress, I made drawers ( one cotton and one flannel), a chemise, a Victorian corset ( Thanks, Jenn, for the on-line corset class!), the TV elliptical hoops, and 2 petticoats. After that I needed to make a bonnet, a reticule, and a woolen paletot. Certainly there was also stockings , footwear and gloves as well. All told, all those pieces and their supplies, such as hoop steel, corset bones & busk, eyelets, patterns, and fabrics were probably pushing well over $500. My dress fabric was a simple cotton and even with the yardage, didn’t cost me much. Did I tell my husband the total? Heck no, but I think he likes seeing the total ensemble. I have worn it the last several years for our town’s Victorian Holidays in November.

By: Lane Robson

Lane Robson — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 00:55:58 +0000

To all the ladies who make and sell your costumes remember you are creating a Haut Couture garment don’t be afraid to charge like it especially if you use silk and other expensive fabric and trims.

By: Holly Champion

Holly Champion — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 13:53:05 +0000

I find it highly amusing that not one person has actually stated how much they have spent on a single costume! Even if they are quite aware! Hehe