Favorite Costumes on Broadway

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 11/23/17 at 12:46am

Broadway has a plethora of amazing costumes, but what are your favorites? Who are your favorite costume designers? What exactly makes those costumes your favorites? Post ‘em here.
For me, it’s currently a tie between Anastasia and Hello Dolly. The costumes are so unbelievably lush and detailed (Anya’s red gown, the blue ballet dress, Irene and Minnie’s dresses, Dolly’s red gown, etc). The quality of those costumes are amazing, too; the jewels in the Romanov outfits and the lace and layers of the Dolly dresses always leave me at least a little shocked. A close second would be Phantom! Maria Björnson created costumes 29 years ago that still look fresh and unique today. The Aminta gown, the Wishing dress, the Hannibal costumes, the Don Juan outfits, I could go on and on.

[theater_tech]

Posted: 11/23/17 at 1:03am

God bless you for opening this thread.

My favorite costume designers are currently Catherine Zuber and Paloma Young. Catherine Zuber is amazing for those old-fasion, classic revivals while Paloma Young tends to play around with more experimental stuff. I've never been disappointed with any of their designs even if I think the show itself is below subpar (Warpaint for Zuber; Bandstand for Young). 

I think Paloma should've won the Tony last year, but I was completely mesmerized by Santo Loquasto's design for Hello, Dolly!  Comet's costumes are better in terms of originality but Hello,Dolly! was much, much better in SHOWCASING the costumes. I mean, people literally applauded for them. 

I do love Linda Cho's designs for Anastasia, much better than its scenic design. 

Also, I think William Ivey Long should be permanently in everyone's top ten lists. 

[asoftplacetoland]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 2:00am

William Ivey Long is amazing. He did the costumes for R + H’s Cinderella and I still think about about they outrageously beautiful they were now. Ugh, that whole show was just beautiful.

[morosco]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 1:53pm

Posted: 11/27/17 at 3:01pm

Theoni V. Aldredge's stunning costumes for Dreamgirls!

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 9:42pm

asoftplacetoland said: "William Ivey Long is amazing. He did the costumes for R + H’s Cinderella and I still think about about they outrageously beautiful they were now. Ugh, that whole show was just beautiful."

Agree. And my favorite costume was his Act 1 transformation dress (modified here for the Tony Awards at 2:10). 

 

 

 

Updated On: 11/27/17 at 09:42 PM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 10:40pm

Some of my favorites:

-- The current production of Hello Dolly.  While the originals were excellent, these are so much better.  The colors are more vivid and the designs seem more varied.  (I think the current sets are far superior to the originals, which always seemed cheesy to me).

-- The original production of Follies.  None of the other productions I have seen have been nearly as good.

-- The original production of Nine.  There were actually not a lot of them, but they were great, starting with the basic black / white concept.

-- Coco.  I remember it getting criticized when it opened, because the costumes did not all look like Chanels.  I could not comment on that, only the fact that they were gorgeous, particularly during 'Always Mademoiselle'.

-- The current production of Chicago.  

-- The original production of Mame.

-- Hamilton.  

-- Dreamgirls.  Instantaneous costume changes, over the top Dreams costumes.

 

 

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 10:50pm

Itonlytakesajourney said: "A close second would be Phantom! Maria Björnson created costumes 29 years ago that still look fresh and unique today. The Aminta gown, the Wishing dress, the Hannibal costumes, the Don Juan outfits, I could go on and on. "

The Red Death costume at the top of Act 2 still dazzles me. Would be so fun to wear that to a masquerade party. And I love how the lower jaw moves. 

 

[BroadwayMan5]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 10:52pm

Among current shows, I think Anastasia's costumes are stunning from beginning to end

Among all time shows, some that immediately spring to mind are Cinderella (2013), 42nd Street (2001 revival), Into the Woods (OBC), and Hairspray

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 11:24pm

In my eyes, Catherine Zuber can do no wrong.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 11:31pm

^she is the finest designer out there.
I think my favorite costume design currently on broadway is Hello, Dolly! Overall, probably the 2015 king and I.

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 11:47pm

Jarethan said: "Some of my favorites:

-- Coco. I remember it getting criticized when it opened, because the costumes did not all look like Chanels. I could not comment on that, only the fact that they were gorgeous, particularly during 'Always Mademoiselle'."

I saw Coco in LA and I agree with you. Cecil Beaton and Michael Bennett were as important to that show as Kate.

 

[Lot666]

Posted: 11/28/17 at 12:00pm

PatrickDC said: "Itonlytakesajourney said: "A close second would be Phantom! Maria Björnson created costumes 29 years ago that still look fresh and unique today. The Aminta gown, the Wishing dress, the Hannibal costumes, the Don Juan outfits, I could go on and on. "

The Red Death costume at the top of Act 2 still dazzles me. Would be so fun to wear that to a masquerade party. And I love how the lower jaw moves."

Ms. Björnson put so much time and attention to detail into those costumes that I just don't think they'll ever be surpassed for me. She did an amazing job and they still look every bit as impressive 30 years later (the current touring production costumes, however, are an entirely different story).