In the Winners' Circle

by Robin McGann.  Published in the September/October 2016 issue of Finery.

In this article, we take a look at several members who have won a prize in a competition as inspiration for our own costuming goals. Take a look at these creative, inventive endeavors to see what you can bring to your own costuming. Who knows? Maybe these will inspire us all to kick it up a notch.

First up are Phillip and Kathe Gust recreating costumes from the movie “Cleopatra”.

“Kathe and I recreated Elizabeth Taylor’s “Cleopatra” and Rex Harrison’s “Caesar” costumes from the “Entrance to Rome” sequence from the 1963 movie “Cleopatra” for Costume-Con 33 in Charleston, South Carolina in May. Both costumes were designed by Irene Sharaff. Cleopatra’s headdress was designed and built by Wah Chang, who also designed the Star Trek props.

“The beading for Cleopatra’s gold “Phoenix” cape took both of us working from early December 2014 to Easter weekend this year to finish. We literally cornered the entire North American market for Toho silver-lined gold glass seed and bugle beads — around 100,000 total. Recreating the Cleopatra headdress turned out to be at least as difficult as the cape and gown. For our performance in the historical masquerade, we re-enacted Frank Mankiewicz shooting a take from the “Entrance to Rome” scene.

“In the historical masquerade, we received “best in show – documentation,” “best in show — workmanship,” “best in show – performance,” and overall “best in show.” Needless to say, we were in total shock.” – Phillip Gust

Linda Wenzelberger has won three awards with her “Wonder Woman” costume. At Con-volution 2014, this costume was “Best in Show Presentation” and “Best in Class Workmanship (Novice)”. At Costume con 33, Linda won the award “Honor for Excellence for Comic Book Recreation Novice Division”, in part due to her documentation!

Richard Man took this beautiful photo of Linda’s “Wonder Woman” for his Transformations project.

Judy Grivich was awarded First Place in the “Once Upon a Costume” Category for the Disney D23 Mousequerade. Judy wrote, “The tentacles were constructed from metallic Lycra over HVAC ducting, supported by a PVC and pool noodle frame. The entire costume breaks down to fit in station wagon. The tentacle “suckers” were created by pressing silicon caulk into stretched Lycra, letting it dry, and then releasing the Lycra to create a raised effect.

If your costume has won a prize, send me some photos and information. Your GBACG fellow members would love to see what you’ve been up to.