Period Corsets® Gets Witchy with Salem

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Grab your broomsticks and suspend your sense of disbelief! We're off to Salem, Massachusetts circa 1692.  This production provided us another great collaboration with an amazing design team for this latest supernatural drama, "Salem".  The series focuses less on the historically accurate side of the infamous witch burning events in the town, and more on scandal, sex and incantations.

The costumes designed by Joseph Porro are provocative and decadent. Period Corsets® garments figure prominently throughout the series from episode 5 though 14 and are often seen on screen as outerwear and under wear.

detail of our custom brocade corset

Though many liberties are taken in the plot with the re-telling of the famous witch trials, it does reference actual historical figures. We had the pleasure of costuming many of the characters involved, most notably Tituba, Mercy Lewis and Mary Sibley. These were all real women involved in the trials, who now play a larger, if not more scandalous, role in the series.

Mercy and the witches of Salem in our front lacing custom corset

The costume designer, Mr. Porro has brought his usual skill and knowledge of the period to this project. He combines details that nod to the fantastical side (ie: embroidered iridescent green beetle wings seen below ),  with his solid historic underlying silhouettes. Together they evoke the world of the show eloquently.

Mary in our custom green brocade bodice

As with all costumes, Salem's wardrobe is a valuable player in portraying the personality and role of each character. Mary's wardrobe consisted of a lot of rich fabrics and elaborate brocades. Her costumes create a very lady-like and grand feel, being one of the most prominent characters with an important background in the community. To represent Mercy's dark story, the designer chose a lot of heavily textured, black on black materials balanced with some neutral pieces. Tituba is more exotic with a lot of jewel tones and more natural fibers.

"Mary Sibley"

"Mercy Lewis"

"Tituba"

Period Corsets® was in four months of production with Salem, providing us with an incredibly creative collaboration with  their design team. They inundated us with a huge range of materials, everything from vintage silver lame herringbone kimono fabric to eyelet faux leather to burnout velvet silk overlaying satin. Every day was filled with anticipation to discover what rich materials they had in store for us next. Our finished garments where often the base for Mr. Porro's design team to take them to the next level of fantasy. They used luxurious trims and feathers, or distressed them with dirt, and of course lots and lots of blood.

Corsets and bodices in every fabric possible

Close to 40 pieces were created for the first season of the show. Some were stock items, such as our Marie Antoinette corset and our Kristina corset. Other items were completely custom created from the designers research images. Many of our creations were bodices with sleeves. A fitted corset look with either inset sleeves or tied-on sleeves, with or without cuffs in varying shapes.

Bodice with sleeves

See the full first season  of "Salem" streaming on Netflix. See our cauldron full of corsets in our slideshow below! Stay tuned for Season 2.

Slideshow not working? Follow the link to see our album.

Period Corsets® in Two Tony Nominated Shows

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 This year Period Corsets® collaborated with two Tony Award nominated shows  "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" and "Oliver!". One of the many thrills for Period Corsets® is getting the chance to work with theater productions. We've been honored to work with lots of shows and companies throughout the years, be they big or small.  What is always rewarding is when we help outfit the cast of a runaway hit.

c. 1905  Mae Corsets  in brocades coutils

Period Corsets® went undercover again in creating the graceful silhouette of the 19th century for "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder". We created multiple corsets to be worn underneath the costumes, giving the actors the proper shape of the day. We made our c. 1905 Mae Corset in every color of brocade.

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder"

Not only were our corsets used for their design and shaping, they also provided help in organizing the cast. We helped wardrobe out by making each member of the cast a different color of brocade so they could tell who was who at a glance.

brocades in many shades

Our c. 1905 Mae creates S-curve shape of the 19th century.

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" recently won 4 Tony Awards including one for "Best Musical" and "Best Costume Design of a Musical".

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For "Oliver!", designer Sarah Nash Gates was in need of an 1830s style corset. This request gave us the opportunity to go ahead with our plans to fill the gap between our c 1805 Patricia Corset and our c. 1860 Julia Corset.

Oliver! at the 5th Ave. Theatre

With all of our corsets, each new design represents an important chapter in the evolution of  he corset shaping  particular to each historic period silhouette. Our 1830's pattern is an integral part of the dramatic transition between two very different period silhouettes. It's a bridge between the columnar straight lines of the early 19th century and the hourglass curving lines of the mid 19th century.

Our c. 1835 Ada  mock-up and finished corset in brocade

We took our design sketch and brought it into reality through multiple fittings and pattern alterations.. Our newest addition to the Period Corsets® line debuted as the c. 1835 Ada Corset, named for a maternal great-grandmother and, as always, a nod to a historic figure of the period; a pioneering mathematician of the era, Ada Byron, Countess of Lovelace.


from design sketch by Doris Black to brocade

constructing in dusty rose brocade

Because "Oliver!" is a musical, that meant a certain amount of movement was required. The dancers would be wearing corsets, providing the correct silhouette of the era but, with the aid of clever stretch panels, they would still be allowed the freedom and comfort to move.

ready to go

This version of the Tony nominated "Oliver!" debuted at the 5th Ave. Theatre here in Seattle, Washington. The classic story of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens is re-told and set to Lionel Bart’s unforgettable score. The classic story of poor orphaned Oliver Twist and his experience with the seedy underside of London, England.

c. 1835 Ada Corset in Paisley

3 views of another c. 1835 Ada Corset

Bibbitty-bobbity-boo, Period Corsets® works magic with Cinderella on Broadway

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Magic was in the air when Period Corsets® was asked to make a special custom corset for Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella on Broadway. The classic tale is being re-told on stage with 330 costumes by the talented William Ivey Long. Ivey Long recently won his 6th Tony Award for these amazing costumes that literally transform before your eyes on stage.

Cinderella transforms as her outfit is revealed through lavish spins

Cinderella (Laura Osnes) is comforted by her Fairy Godmother (Victoria Clark)

 a behind the scenes look at our process

It's in the details:  piping was added to all the seams.

 Layers of eyelet, lace and trim with velvet ribbons and hand enameled grommets to match.

Ribbon candy colored threads for this sweet corset confection.



The finished piece, one of our custom c. 1890 Theodoras adorned with rows of lace and trim

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is now on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre. 

Silk Petticoats for The Metropolitan Opera in New York

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These petticoats are for "The Enchanted Island", a new opera  which opens December 31st at The Metropolitan Opera. "In one extraordinary new work, lovers of Baroque opera have it all:..."

These two pettiocats are our 18th c. petticoat shape. Just add a silk taffeta, a dupioni and a black and gold rose brocade ruffle and you have your custom petticoat from Period Corsets.

These petticoats are  patterned and made to fit over our Full Pannier for the dramatic hip silhouette of the late 18th century. If you were to attend the court at Versaille you would need to have your hips at least 36" wide. These will do the trick!

Spectrum Dance Theater debuts a dance in Period Corsets®

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Period Corsets® c.1950 Stevie Merry widow corsets danced across the stage in crimson, turquoise and peach at Spectrum Dance Theater this spring.  A collaboration of the Seattle Dance Project,  Act Theatre and choregraphed by Donald Byrd; the combination of talent was inspiring.

Photo credit: Gabriel Bienczycki

Titled the "Variety Show";  the collection of pieces was just as it sounds. It was a fresh and entertaining assemblage of dance showing the depth of this companies artistry; at times comic, sad, romantic, and powerful. Every turn inspired a new emotion.

  Photo credit: Gabriel Bienczycki

   



Doris Black costume designer for the show featured our Period Corsets® c. 1950 Stevie corsets.    The burlesque  piece starts out laconically with three women draped lazily in their chairs. You soon realize there is more to this line up than meets the eye. In the foreground there is a male observer, dressed in a suit, haphazardly taking notes, at times directing.  Each dancer takes a turn to show her un-enthusiastic half-heartedly rendered talent. The dancers  staccato, clumsy, “I can do this audition in my sleep” renditions proceed . The dancers tip-toe, tripping, carefully tread  the fine line of artful comedic sex appeal.   Hilarious, enticing and thought provoking!

  Photo credit: Gabriel Bienczycki

Period Corsets® was delighted to supply the corsets that enabled these wonderful dancers to communicate this subtle commentary in dance.

Photo credit: Gabriel Bienczycki

Photo credit: Gabriel Bienczycki

"At Spectrum Studio Theatre April 21-23, May 6-7At ACT April 28-30, 2011
In The Bullitt Cabaret
Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Delving into the converging place where art, entertainment and innovation meet, The Variety Show is a collaborative effort between Spectrum Dance Theater, Seattle Dance Project, and ACT Theatre. Drawing inspiration from a variety of sources – European cabaret, vintage game shows, supper club floor shows, and a little Dada as well – the performance will incorporate a number of short dance/theater pieces created by Donald Byrd, Catherine Cabeen, Eva Stone, Ezra Dickinson, and Timothy Lynch."

April 21-23 and May 6-7, The Variety Show performances will be held at the Spectrum Studio Theater. Tickets to go on sale for those performances in mid-March through Spectrum Dance Theater

Period Corsets® for Oklahoma! at Arena Stage Costumes Designed by Martin Pakledinaz

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 "OKLAHOMA!, where the wind come sweepin' down the plain"--  and at the Arena Stage this fall where the revival opened to rave reviews.  It runs from October 22 through December 26th.    Martin Pakledinaz, costume designer for the show selected a few Period Corsets® styles to grace his actresses undercover.  Mr. Pakledinaz's attention to the most minute details created new corsets that would be hard to distinguish from  their vintage counterparts.  Some of his design choices were to use antique brass front opening busks, complimenting bone channel seams tape and grommets that were hand painted to blend in with the corset fabrics. The fabrics he chose and sent us were all in the homespun palette of  light creams and beige's. From pinstripe cotton to herring bone twill the textures added to each corsets distinctive subtle charm.  Most of the corsets we made in a single layer of the fabric so they would not turn out chunky or over-built.  It was an great privilege to work with Mr. Pakledinaz to create these one of a kind Period Corsets®.

Pictured below are closeups of some of the exquisite detailing, 

Lilly c. 1900 corset in cream pinstripe cotton, contrast piping and antique brass busk

From Period Corsets® for Oklahoma! at Arena Stage designed by Martin Pakledinaz

Lilly c. 1900 corset showing hand enameled grommets to match.

From Period Corsets® for Oklahoma! at Arena Stage designed by Martin Pakledinaz

c. 1860 Julia Corset in beige stripe cotton, seams trimmed with hand dyed prussian tape

From Period Corsets® for Oklahoma! at Arena Stage designed by Martin Pakledinaz

 
c. 1890 Theodora Corset in cream herringbone twill

From Period Corsets® for Oklahoma! at Arena Stage designed by Martin Pakledinaz

Left to right: c. 1900 Lilly, c. 1860 Julia, c. 1890 Theodora all in custom fabrics and detailing.

From Period Corsets® for Oklahoma! at Arena Stage designed by Martin Pakledinaz

More Pictures:

Period Corsets® for Oklahoma! at Arena Stage designed by Martin Pakledinaz