Thoroughly Modern Millie

Costume & Hair Needs

We will be renting costumes for the musical, but due to the number of costumes needed, and

the fact that ensemble members play multiple parts and need multiple costumes, we are

asking that the following students in the show provide one of their own costumes. You will

also be in charge of your own hairstyle (start practicing now)!

COSTUMES

DO NOT spend a ton of money on a costume. You’ll be surprised what you can do with some

skirts, blouses, necklaces and scarves from Goodwill (or Mom’s closet)!

Ensemble Girls & Hotel Girls – you need “every day” outfits. Hotel girls, you’ll also wear

this outfit when you’re hanging out at the Hotel Priscilla.

Ensemble Boys & Speakeasy BOYS (played by girls) – You need slacks, a solid colored

button-down shirt (preferably white) and a tie. Girls do not have to worry about

changing their shoes as long as their pants are long enough to cover their heeled shoes

(you didn’t see many boys in heels back in the 20’s)!

Dorothy – you need an “every day” outfit.

Flannery – you need the outfit you wear when you go to the Hotel Priscilla (your

“disguise”)

Examples of 1920’s styles for women are on the next page for reference. IMPORTANT NOTE:

There were NO SKIRTS ABOVE THE KNEE, but they were starting to show more leg than in the

past (so no ankle-length skirts, either)!

Also, don’t forget about your shoes!

HAIR

BOYS: Slick your hair back with gel as much as humanly possible!

GIRLS: The Great Gatsby is a great reference. You are welcome to buy a wig if you want one

(check out Costume World in Austin - http://www.costumeworld.com/cw-austin.php), but

they can be expensive. This website has some great “how to” tutorials for 1920’s hairstyles:

http://www.howtohairgirl.com/tag/1920s-hairstyles/

Women’s 1920’s Fashion

Separate sweater and skirt ensembles, having plain or pleated skirts, reflected the popular straight cut of the decade.

The silhouette was basically tubular throughout the period. However, this was also a period of great experimentation in

fashion--the first time in centuries that designers had a truly different silhouette to work with. Innovative seaming, draping,

gauzy fabrics, beads, and feathers were all called upon.

*NO SKIRTS ABOVE THE KNEE!*