To Our Theatre Friends • Applying Prosthetics • Old-Age Make-Up
 Using Liquid Latex •  Working with Crepe Hair

To Our Theatre Friends

How do I start?

Reserve early! We are ready and willing to take care of anything from your smallest detailed piece, to an entire show. As soon as you select your show, call us to reserve your dates and book the show. For shows in October, November and seasonal productions in December, early booking is very important. Our theatre family is growing fast, and early reservations help us prepare for the upcoming season. As soon as your show is cast, all measurements should be taken immediately and returned to us on the sheets we provide. One qualified person should take all measurements according to the guidelines we send you, as all costumes are altered strictly to these measurements. Do not believe size or measurements given to you by the actor/actress.  Be sure to take a tape and measure them.

 Schedule a Meeting

Meetings can be held to customize your show in the shop or by phone. If possible, you need to have the following information with you:

Knowledge of the show, time period, and season

Budget Information

PO#

Billing Address

Cast List

Completed Measurement Sheets. Download worksheets here.

Set colors, specifications, description of the desired look, pictures, special requirements
   or conceptual ideas.

Rates and Rental Period

Individual Costumes rates start at $48/rental          
Production rental rates start at $45 per costume/one week - the second week is 50% of the first week
Rates for extended runs can be negotiated.
A costume is defined as a complete outfit worn by an actor on stage for one particular scene. This can be as simple as a peasant for "Fiddler on the Roof", or as elaborate as a king from " The Lion in Winter".  Partial costumes (shirts, hat, jacket only, etc.) are pro-rated. Complete show pricing is available upon request, based on the number of weeks and cast size. All Dressed Up will be happy to act as your school or organization's vendor. Call us before your budgets are set and we can negotiate a lot price for the whole year, or selected shows within your season.

Costume Preparations

Costumes are selected for you from the fully completed measurement sheets that we provide. Individual fittings, special requests, or unusual sizes are subject to an additional charge. All costumes are individually covered in plastic for their protection. Each garment is tagged as to actor, character, act and scene. This information is taken from the measurement sheets or determined during our meetings. Accessories are attached to each costume. Boot tops, selected hats, and gloves are included in the pricing of costumes. Some items not included in the rental cost include footwear, props, weapons and wigs. Tights socks, and new gloves are available for purchase.

Shipping

All Dressed Up makes arrangements to ship your costumes early enough to allow sufficient technical and dress rehearsal periods. The cost of shipping is not included in the basic rental rate. All orders can be shipped UPS ground service. Shipping costs are based on normal UPS Ground Service. Second Day Air, and Next Day Air are subject to additional charges. If you do not have UPS service to return the costumes to us, we can arrange for pick-up at the completion of your show at a pre-arranged cost. Costumes must be returned to us or shipped back the Monday immediately following your last performance.

Pick-Ups

While we strive for perfection, there may be minor changes or alternations that need to be addressed once the costumes that have arrived. Please contact us immediately with any questions you may have. We are here to help insure your show is a success.

Service - Our Pride

All Dressed Up is dedicated to advancing the theatrical arts. We pride ourselves in the quality of our costumes and services, along with the professionalism of our talented staff.

Application of a Prosthetic Appliance

List of Supplies:

Rubbing alcohol, cotton balls, adhesive, liquid latex, sponges, castor oil based make up, highlight colors, brushes, loose powders, makeup, and adhesive remover.

How to Apply a Prosthetic Appliance:

1. Clean facial or skin area where prosthetic will be placed.
2. Position prosthetic to face or area desired to trim an any edges, gently tear.
3. Apply adhesive to skin where the prosthetic will be placed. With large prosthetic pieces, start by covering a smaller area in the center where the prosthetic will be placed.
4. Position the prosthetic onto face or area desired, cover remaining areas with adhesive and tack down edges of prosthetic.
5. Allow adhesive to dry.
6. Apply liquid latex to the edges of the prosthetic to blend into the face or skin area that you are working with. This may take several layered applications in order to blend to your preference. When applying liquid latex be sure to allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next layer.
7. Gently brush loose powder over the liquid latex and prosthetic 8. Apply the base make up color (preferably castor oil based). Sponge the makeup onto prosthetic gently in dabbing motions.
9. Gently brush loose powder over the base make up.
10. Apply detailing, highlights, definition lines, etc. with a fine brush. To create shadowing you may also use a make up sponge.
11. Gently brush loose powder over the detailing.
12. Apply make up to any facial or skin area not covered by prosthetic if you desire to blend in prosthetic.
13. Add desired hair or effects to prosthetic.

Remember, each individual will apply make up slightly differently. Keep in mind that you have created a unique look to a prosthetic, and in order to have the opportunity for reuse, special care must be taken. After use, carefully remove the prosthetic with adhesive remover starting from the edges and working your way from the edge toward the center. Work slowly as not to tear the application edge of the prosthetic. After removing the prosthetic, clean away any loose latex from the edges. Store in an airtight bag in a cool dry place. Do not place anything on top of the bag, for it may mis-shape the prosthetic.

How To Do Old Age Make-Up

1.With Sponge, apply Base over face and neck. Pat entire face with a sponge for a smooth, even texture.

2. With Brown Shadow (Palette), block out age contours to nasal fold, cheek hollows, jowls at jaw-line, temple, nose and neck using a #7 Flat Brush. With Ultralite Highlight (Palette), block out highlight areas adjacent to shadows using a #7 Flat Brush.

3. With a #10 Flat Brush or Sponge, feather shadows away from the base of each contour area. Leave color deepest in the creases of wrinkles and shadows. Soften highlights downward to blended shadows.

4. Wrinkle forehead and apply Ultralite to high points. For crowsfeet, squint and apply Ultralite to lines at outer corners of eyes. With Dark Brown Pencil, apply thin "wrinkle" lines within highlights. Fine wrinkles may also be penciled in on either side of nose. Set makeup with Powder on a Puff:

5. Lips: Apply #7 Lipstick to lips; powder. Pucker lips tightly; apply Ultralite. With Plum Pencil draw wrinkles above upper lip downward into pucker creases. Draw wrinkles through puckers to area beneath lower lip.

6. With SS, lightly apply uneven texture to create liver spots, age spots and broken capillaries using colors from Old Age Stipple Wheel. For sallow effect, stipple Golden Yellow (Palette) over highlights and shadows.

Final Details: With toothbrush or sponge, lightly apply Grey or White Hair Color to hair and eyebrows. Add additional shadows and highlights as necessary. Powder if needed.

How To Use Liquid Latex

Liquid latex is used by the make-up artist to change the contours of the face and create a change of character by use of prosthetic pieces. It can also be used in building reusable beards and mustaches. The equipment needed to work with liquid latex includes: a small brush, scissors, coarse comb, nylon stocking and a hand held hair dryer.

Special Effects:

Liquid latex can be used with nose and scar wax to help hold form of special effects such as scars, warts, and wrinkles.

Beards & Mustaches:

Liquid latex can be used to help create reusable beards, mustaches, and other types of facial hair. Once the style of the hairpiece is determined, select the color of crepe hair you intend on using and prepare it as you would when using spirit gum. (See below) The hair may be left curly, or combed and straightened depending on the desired style. Apply liquid latex to the facial area you are going to cover, applying the latex a small area past desired area to be covered. Allow this first coat of latex to dry. A hair dryer can be used to speed up this process.

Apply a second coat of latex and allow to dry to a tacky stage. Cut small pieces of nylon with scissors and press them into the tacky surface, overlapping the edges until the entire working area is covered. Allow to dry. Paint on a third coat of latex, and apply the prepared hair. The effect will look more natural if the hair is not pressed flat into the latex. Press only the ends of the hair into the latex, making it appear to grow out from the skin. Arrange the hair in the desired style. Once the latex has dried, shaping and trimming is best done with scissors and a coarse hair comb. Remove the latex hairpiece from the skin by starting at the corners and gently pulling the piece away from the face. Trim off any excess latex from the edges.

The piece is now ready for reapplication using either spirit gum, double faced adhesive, or liquid latex used as an adhesive. Only the corners and points of stress on the latex piece may need to be painted again when reapplied. If spirit gum is used as an adhesive, use an adhesive remover to soften the spirit gum to prevent tearing during the removal of the piece. Any spirit gum residue left on the skin can be easily taken off with adhesive or spirit gum remover. Excess latex can be peeled or rubbed off of the skin.

BEARDS and MUSTACHES: Once the style of the hairpiece is determined, select the color of crepe hair and prepare it as you would when using spirit gum. (See below) The hair may be left curly, combed or straightened depending on the desired style. Paint the face with liquid latex a little past the area to be covered with hair. Allow this first coat to dry. The hair dryer can be used to speed up this process. Apply a second coat and allow to dry to a tacky stage. Cut small pieces of nylon with scissors and press them into the tacky surface, overlapping the edges until the entire area is covered. Allow to dry. Paint on a third coat and apply the prepared hair, the effect is more natural if the hair is not pressed flat into the latex. Press only the ends of the hair into the latex making it appear to grow out from the face. Arrange the hair in the desired style. Once dry, shaping and trimming is done with scissors and a coarse comb. Starting at the corners, gently pull the entire piece away from the face. Trim off the excess latex from the edges. The piece is now ready for reapplication using either spirit gum, double faced adhesive or liquid latex as adhesive. Only the corners and points of stress will need to be painted when reapplied. If spirit gum is used as an adhesive, use alcohol to soften the gum to prevent tearing during removal of the piece. Clean off spirit gum residue left on the skin with alcohol. Latex can be peeled or rubbed off the skin.

Working with Crepe Hair

Crepe hair is used to create beards, mustaches, eye brows and side burns. It is available in 12 colors. Crepe hair normally comes tightly braided on a string. To prepare the hair for best results, first unravel the braid, dampen the hair and stretch it to its full length. Tie the piece at both ends to a rigid object making it taut. A chair back or chair legs make a good frame for stretching. Let the hair remain this way for several hours or overnight. The hair can then be combed with a coarse comb. If time is short, use a steam iron to press the hair. Be sure to cover it with a cloth to prevent scorching.

901 N. Batavia Avenue, Batavia, Illinois 60510
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