Past Board Member: Frances Lopez, Secretary

Why costuming? What brought you here?

I got involved in costuming through theater and a general love of being fabulous. I have been on stage pretty regularly since I was 7. When I got into my teens I started taking a real interest in characterization through costuming, and was fortunate enough to get to explore that more in college. From a theatrical stand point I think it really is amazing the story you can tell before a single word is said just based off of the colors, fabrics, and details from a costume. When I get the role of Bet in Oliver Twist at The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, I borrowed a friends sewing machine, and down the rabbit hole I went. Now I spend a lot of time researching the histories of garments and the lives of the people who wore them, made them, or designed them. For our most recent event “Murder on the Delta King”, I was inspired by a Worth gown made for Maria Feodorovna, Dagmar of Denmark. I had so much fun researching her life and that of her children and her father, as well as Worth and the fashion house. This hobby has not only allowed me to keep in touch with an aspect of theater, but to dig into so many moments in history.

What’s your costuming focus?

I have played around mostly with renaissance and Victorian. I really like focusing on the foundations to get the ideal silhouette. I have a slight obsession with making petticoats as a result. Although I am developing a love for details, such as hand beading a belt for a 1920’s ensemble.

Do you do anything else crafty or artistic?

My entire life is a performance! Not really, actually I am very boring. I like to refinish furniture for fun.

What’s your day job?

I’m a sales rep in the Aerospace industry.

What was the first costume you made? Is there a picture?

I made my first bodice for Bet. Everything else I managed to scrounge around for. The first costume I made entirely on my own was my very first Gaskell’s dress. It was very blue. Top stitching everywhere, no lining, I think the shoulder straps were made from dangly bits of trim. Half of my grommets were going the wrong way and they weren’t properly seated either. I recently found it, and had a good laugh about where we all start.

What’s on the sewing table now?

A new corset, despite my love of making petticoats, that love does not extend to corsets. However, if there’s anything I have learned it’s that I know some amazing costumers who can always point me in the right direction for research, techniques, or fitting help.

Costume you’re most proud of?

I love all my children equally. Although I do resent some more than others. My dress I made for Delta King, was my best so far. I already have to re cut the bodice though because I was silly and lost weight between the final fitting and wearing it. Oh well.

What’s your holy grail costuming project? The one you dream of doing?

I want a His and Hers matching set for 18th century. For me. Because sometimes a girl just wants to wear fancy pants.

What’s your costuming Kryptonite, the thing you just can’t master?

Zippers! Oh how I loath zippers. Seven years and I have yet to set a good zipper. Once while visiting my parents, I was looking cute in a retro 50’s outfit I had made. My aunt, a very competent seamstress, sees me in town from across the street, and calls me over. “Well Frances, you wrapped this one around the axel, if you can’t do a zipper well, get a contrasting color and do it loud.” I took her advice to heart and if I ever need to set a zipper, I make it as loud and contrasting as possible.

Tell us one (or two or three) things about you that others might not know.

I love goats!

I buy most of my fabric in increments of 10, so at my local fabric shop they call me “10 Yards”.

My dog and I were in Best Friends Magazine.

What was your first/most memorable costuming disaster/ learning moment?

First weekend of my first Dickens fair, I got costume approved by the skin of my teeth. The front of my bodice was too tall and was flapping all over my non existent chest, but it fit surprisingly well everywhere else. So I kept tucking the front into my corset, and it would fall out. Tuck, fall, tuck, fall, tuck, fall. Cynthia Howell was my AD at the time, and after the 100th time, she reaches over with a very impressive pair of scissors and just chops off the front of my bodice. With a wry smile and an eyebrow quirk she said something to the effect, “You’re playing a whore. It’s okay to show a little décolletage. And you can fix that later” While not a disaster it was memorable.  P.S. 7 years later and I still have yet to finished the top of that bodice. Sorry Cynthia!