[PHOTO: KINKYBOOTS. CREDIT: Matthew Murphy. HYPERLINK: https://www.broadwayworld.com/national-tours/article/Photo-Flash-Brand-New-Photos-Released-from-the-National-Tour-of-KINKY-BOOTS-20170213]
Hey, Camp Broadway!
Now that summer is officially underway, we’re all packing up our cold weather gear and bringing out our summer clothes. Seasonal clothing is not just a question of temperature, though, it also has to do with personality, style, and communication.
Great costume design is also about communication.
And as far as communicating with the audience, the costume design for KINKY BOOTS is off-the-charts!
I had the delightful opportunity to see KINKY BOOTS on tour at Broadway San Jose in 2017. Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, with book by Harvey Fierstein and music/lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, this production starred J. Harrison Ghee as Lola, Curt Hansen as Charlie, Rose Hemingway as Lauren, and Katerina Papacostas as Nicola, as well as a diverse, multi-generational cast.
Here’s the stitch-by-stitch analysis of the costumes of the KINKY BOOTS National Tour:
[PHOTO: OVERVIEW. CREDIT: Matthew Murphy. HYPERLINK: https://www.broadwayworld.com/national-tours/article/Photo-Flash-Brand-New-Photos-Released-from-the-National-Tour-of-KINKY-BOOTS-20170213]
The Overview:
The costumes, designed by Gregg Barnes, are perfect snapshots of the personalities of the characters within them. The most successful costumes are those of the two leads, Charlie and Lola. The clothes tell the stories of the two vastly different characters, and illustrate the stark contrast between their attitudes.
[PHOTO: CHARLIE. CREDIT: Matthew Murphy. HYPERLINK: https://www.broadwayworld.com/national-tours/article/Photo-Flash-Brand-New-Photos-Released-from-the-National-Tour-of-KINKY-BOOTS-20170213]
Charlie’s Costume:
Charlie is the son of a shoemaker, who finds himself stuck running his father’s shoe factory. Throughout the show, he wears clothes made out of basic, unassuming fabric and dark earth tones. His attire remains very similar throughout the beginning and middle of the show, without any defining features to differentiate between his outfits. This fits the character’s circumstances perfectly, because Charlie dislikes working in the drab, dull factory: he feels that every day blends into the next, and that he is powerless to change the downward spiral of his company—and his personal life.
[PHOTO: LOLA. CREDIT: Matthew Murphy. HYPERLINK: https://www.broadwayworld.com/national-tours/article/Photo-Flash-Brand-New-Photos-Released-from-the-National-Tour-of-KINKY-BOOTS-20170213]
Lola’s Costume:
Lola, however, rocks outfits with a completely different style. A self-confident and larger-than-life drag queen, Lola changes outfits nearly every scene, sporting everything from fluttering ball gowns to slinky frocks to neatly patterned button-downs. Although her costume pieces are wildly different in appearance, her wardrobe throughout the show has a unifying theme of glittery sequins, brilliant colors, and brightly patterned stiletto shoes. After her experiences of being shunned and heavily ridiculed, Lola’s main outlet of self-expression is the way she dresses. In defiance of the disrespectful treatment she withstood, her celebration of life, love, and fashion is perfectly showcased in the fabulous costumes she wears.
[PHOTO: RELATIONSHIP. CREDIT: Matthew Murphy. HYPERLINK: https://www.broadwayworld.com/national-tours/article/Photo-Flash-Brand-New-Photos-Released-from-the-National-Tour-of-KINKY-BOOTS-20170213]
The Relationship Between the Two:
Lola’s and Charlie’s costumes fit together very well: while Charlie’s overworked and uninspired mood is shown by his dark, somber attire, Lola’s infectious energy radiates from her clothing. Gregg Barnes’ playful and imaginative costume design masterfully blended personality, plotline, and passion to create show-stopping eye candy across the stage.
Overall, KINKY BOOTS costumes are an awesome, extravagant storytelling vehicle for the larger-than-life show, making “Everybody Say Yeah” both onstage and in the audience.
KINKY BOOTS is currently playing on Broadway and in two international tours. Get your tickets for this wonderful show here!
Do you have a favorite piece of clothing or pair of shoes that makes a statement about your personality? Describe your go-to outfit in the comments below!
Special thank-you to Sheila Townsend for arranging this KINKY BOOTS opportunity!