BOMBALURINA'S GUIDE TO MAKING A "CATS" COSTUME
Making a homemade "CATS" costume is not very hard or very expensive. All you need are the right tools and accessories.
First of all I need to tell you that you can get everything you need in a dance catalog called "ADA DISCOUNT DANCE COMPANY". If you order from that magazine I guarantee LOW prices. Go HERE
The first thing you need is the unitard. For "CATS" the perfect unitard is long sleeves with NO scoop neck. A few of the cats do have scoop necks, it depends what cat you want to play. I'd say the best material for your cat costume unitard would be nylon/lycra, because nylon/lycra keeps you cooler than the cotton/lycra, and is also easier to paint with fabric paints.
Next you need the wig. Depending on if you are a long-haired or a short-haired cat decides on what kind of wig you get. If you are a long-haired cat you will want the "Japanese Beast Wig". It comes in the basic colors. If you get it in white you can color it and trim it to match your cat. I have only found this wig in the ADA Discount Dance Company mag. If you are a short-haired cat you will want a "bald cap". It is a lot cheaper than the "Japenese beast wig", but if you buy a "bald cap" you will need to buy cat ears as well. Both are very cheap. You will also need to color the ears and cap the color of your cat.
Next thing are the leg and arm warmers. Another name for leg and arm warmers are "long" and "short" warmers. You can buy them at almost any dance store. They come in all sizes. All you need to do is color them according to your character.
Next you need dance shoes! Any dance shoe or boot will do, but the cast of "CATS" themselves use Capezio dance boots. These are easiest to move around in. But don't feel bad if you can't afford them, they can get pretty expensive. As long as your able to move and they are the right color, they are good "CATS" shoes.
For your whole costume you need fabric paints. I don't like actual paints for your costume. Instead I like to use fabric markers. They come in a lot of colors and last a long time. You can get them at any craft store, CHEAP!
Now you need makeup. Again, I don't use actual face paints. I use face crayons, which don't run off when you sweat. It comes off easy with soap and water, they are cheap, they are found everywhere, and they come in all colors. Another important factor of the face crayons are they do NOT smudge.
Now you can add your tail. You can buy one in the color you want or you can make one. You can use a lot of things to make a tail. Old clothes and other materials. Just shread them up and tie the ends together so you don't lose the pieces of your tail! To keep your tail on, tie a rope around your waste and tie the tail to the back of it. Make sure the rope around your waste is a simple color!
Last but not least, you need a collar. Any dog collar will do. Make sure though that your collar matches your character's personality.
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