The theme for Costume College’s Thursday night welcome party was “Camp! Cinema” in 2026, and part of the description included: “Think What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? meets Pink Flamingos, with a dash of Rocky Horror and a full face of glitter.” And for the first time in a long while, I was inspired to make something new and on-theme for CoCo!
Two of my favorite things in the world are 16th-century fashion and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I looked up at Dr. Frank N. Furter artwork that’s over my home-office desk, and I saw the pearl necklace he wears as a white ruff.
Then I added 16th-c. style undergarments reimagined as the rest of Frank’s costume. I have a 16th-c. corset, but why not bling it up with a sparkly partlet? I have fishnets and red 16th-c. shoes, so instead of a garter belt, how about Venetian breeches? Everything fell into place.
1560s illustration of a Venetian courtesan wearing drawers, concealed by a paper flip-up panel.
I know I’d mocked up a pattern for Venetian breeches based on The Tudor Tailor at some point, but I couldn’t find it. So I had to buy Margo Anderson’s pattern, which is basically the same thing. I made that up in black linen and set about machine-embroidering “Don’t Dream It, Be It” on the butt.
I used my standard partlet pattern to make a longer, lace-up partlet from a black micro-sequined fabric and added red grommets up the center front. Not strictly from the movie, but the contrast was cool. I mocked up a mitt on my arm and sewed those from a sparkly black stretch fabric. Full fingerless gloves was too much trouble for a joke costume.
But I did make one wacky extra — a tied-on pocket that I embroidered with symbols that reflect the movie. At the bottom is the castle (“over at the Frankenstein place”), on both sides are party hats and noise-makers for the Transylvanian convention attendees, there’s a bell (“when we made it, did you hear a bell ring?”), several slices of toast (“a toast!”), a roll of toilet paper (great Scott!”), and playing cards (“cards for sorrow, cards for pain”). I connected the designs with red embroidery intended to be like the curling lines surrounding blackwork.
I had a black curly wig and practiced Frank’s makeup. I also bought a “Boss” fake tattoo but couldn’t get it to apply correctly on the night of the event.
At Costume College, a few people called me “Shakespearean Rocky Horror, ” and I love that!
Photo by Mark Edwards.