COSTUME DRAMA
We ask a theatrical costumier what making outfits for blockbuster Hollywood films and hit TV shows is like
BESPOKE tailor and theatrical costumier Sara Fay has measured up many a superstar, having created costumes for films such as Disney’s Aladdin, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Paddington 2 and TV shows including Sherlock and Downton Abbey. Here Sara tells us all about sewing for the silver screen.
Did you like sewing when you were a child? What was the first costume you made?
I loved sewing from when I was about seven. I used to watch my mum sew for hours and she started to teach me. My first costume was a pirate shirt.
If you’d like to learn to sew, ask someone you know to teach you, or ask your parents to buy you some sewing stuff. When you go to secondary school, take sewing classes. Try making a Halloween costume for yourself every year – each time it will be better.
What’s it like working at a film studio?
Very exciting when you get to see all the cool costumes. Sometimes I play dress up with them. I like pretend I’m in the movie. I used to feel shy meeting famous people but then I found out they are just like you and me.
What’s your dream costume to make?
I would love to make a costume for a really cool wizard. Or for a king from a long time ago. Something with lots of gold and sparkle. I am excited to hopefully work on His Dark Materials.
What’s the weirdest costume you’ve made in your career?
It was for an opera about the Little Mermaid. Her dad’s costume was seethrough and I had to sew seaweed on it.
What costumes are you working on?
I am making costumes for a musical called Cinderella which will be in the theatre in London this summer.
How long does it take you to make a princess dress?
A big princess dress like Cinderella’s would take a long time - about three weeks - because of all the pretty layers of skirts and sparkly things.
Do you make clothes for yourself?
I do! I am currently making myself some doggy-walking clothes with lots of pockets for poop bags.
How do you feel when you see your work on screen?
Very happy! Sometimes it’s hard work... but when I see it in the finished production it makes it all worthwhile.