hey guys :) i have been wanting to change my clown costume for quite some time now and ive finally decided to do it. the problem is that i cant find any other costume that i like. The costume websites all have the same costumes over and over again. what i really want is something different, creative, and that is in between clown and entertainer because that is what i am. I want it to have glitter and not be too puffy. if anyone knows of a good website that has creative ideas or a place where i can get ideas please let me know. PLEEZ HELP!!!im so bored of my old costume...(it got a really ugly stain that i cant remove, too) this is an emergency situation.... :!:

Hey, pequitas22!
Welcome to the website!

Can you give us a little more information?

Are you a whiteface, auguste or tramp clown?

Tramps/Hobos are easy. Think thrift stores. 'Nuf said there.

I agree that most of the costume websites look cookie-cutter
to me.
Try going to the fabric store and looking at the patterns there.
I'm presuming you are female from your user name (pardon me
if I'm wrong) but there are some nice, cute patterns for raggedy-ann
dresses. Add in some nice fabric in the colors of your choice and voila!

If you have somebody that can sew, they can add in sequins and big
buttons and all sorts of "bling."

Auguste clowns can also shop the thrift stores -- think big stripes
with big plaids and pants too big, etc.

I've also seen some nice bo-peep type dresses at thrift stores that
would work for a whiteface clown - big, puffy with several layers of
can-cans and hoops underneath. Just be sure to wear some
"bloomers" underneath so when curious kids decide to take a look
-- and they will.

Hope this helps some.

Ashes

Hi there pequitas, I just wanted to welcome you to Clown Forum! I'm not sure how helpful I can be regarding your costume, but when you said you wanted something glittery I immediately thought of the fairy wings I just bought my little cousin for her birthday. (She's turning five soon.) There are all sorts of sites selling fairy wings of varying sizes and ornateness out there. Anyway, just an idea; it would certainly be something different. :)

try ebay, not costumes though, look for glitter, sequine clothing that type of thing, entertainer outfit, you might be surprized [sorry I don't spell], welcome to the group.

oh by the way my auguste clown, I wanted something different, so my skirt is actually a squaredancing skirt, and I made my vest. I like it.

my advise would be to visit as many charity shops as you can find and crab anything shiny and that looks like it would make a good clown costume. all it would need would be a little customising :). thats what i did to gain my custome.

got myself a pair of baggy bajama trousers died them bright purple and got an old blazer and put some patches on it. you could do something simular with glitter and sequins?

I have found some of the best, most inexpensive clothing that is authentic and very comic at my local Good Will Stores...

ok guys thanks for the help :lol:

Welcome to the forum hope you can join us in chat on Thurs night at nine est
Changing your costume can be hard because people already know you caracter but when you do it can be a good thing and when you find the right one it will hit you like a ton of pies
I have just changed my tramp costume but it took a long time to find the right one

Welcome to the forum! I made my own costume. I found a pattern that was not a clown pattern an modified it. (Fabric, sequins, ribbons, etc.)

GiGi :D

I did the same as GiGi. Found patterns that were not clown patterns and went from there. The fabric makes the difference. Sometimes you need to refigure your yardage (for example, the pattern usually gives yardage for one color. If you want contrasting cuffs, collar, pockets, etc - you need to adjust accordingly).

You can do wonders at the Thrift store too. I'm helping a Youth group with costumes and even I was surprised by what we came up with! One costume: Blue striped pajama pants and elastic became bloomers; I shortened a long red polka dot skirt and used the extra to make a collar; she matched the shirt to the bloomers; added a straw hat and voila! a 30-minute costume!

Another costume: We actually found a designer outfit that was large red gingham (jacket and straight skirt). We paired the jacket with bright blue pants and red socks! Done!

Third: American Flag boxer shorts. Combined with tights and a cape and we have a Super Hero Clown --> "Stripes"!

It made me wonder why I spent hours and hours on my own costume!

Rooney our new clown, took a pajama pattern and added a little flounce, she looks great and she did another one of the girls in the groups that had outgrown her costume [had to cut the elastic at the last performance as it was cutting her-- she didn't tell us because she didn't want to mess up her outfit] any way she looked great too.

Don't box yourself in to thinking you have to have a "Clown" costume! As the others have suggested, any pattern can be modified. I used a pattern for a prom dress / Gone With The Wind period corsette gown. I had actually designed it years ago and a few seamstresses said "No Way" it was very complicated, like a wedding gown with sequens, braids, lace, etc. All the fabric is lame (sp?). Also, nobody says you have to have traditional colors like, red, yellow, blue etc.

Anyhow, God sent me a lady who lives in my town who actually used to make costumes for Disney! She looked at my design & fabric & accessory requirements & said, "Oh, That's easy"! Made my day!! The fabric & trim set me back a few hundred & she actually does this as a hobbie & didn't charge much. That's nothing compared to having one custom made by one of the clown costume companies! I had gotten a quote a few years ago for a couple thousand. I had considered how hot this fabric choice would be for the 100 + temps in SC, so, now she is making me a new costume, same colors, just out of cotton with the same sequens, trim, etc. She is putting in mesh under the arm pits for some "venting"!

Seek out a fabric shop that specializes in costumes, dance wear, etc. They have the best selections. Your chain stores typically don't carry alot of specialty type items.

Good luck!! Sparkles! :D

20+ years ago when I first started I made my own costumes and got a few things from thrift stores. but after a while I saw other clowns that looked a little more clowny wearing professionally made costumes.

I am luckly enough to live very close to one of America Biggest names in clown costumes "Betty Cash" She has been making them since before I has born.

http://www.bettycash.com/images/bettyheader.jpg

Her Web Site is http://www.bettycash.com/

http://www.bettycash.com/images/make-up/XXbettyrunning.jpg

Pricilla Mooseburger also has awesome costumes. She can make custom as well. Just "Google" Mooseburger.