How to Make, Buy, Build or Rent a Beauty and the Beast Lumiere Costume
If you're in a production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and are playing Lumiere, the enchanted candlestick, this is the best place to find information on making, buying, building or renting a costume for that production.
I have links to other helpful articles all about taking measurements, costuming Beauty and the Beast, caring for wigs and much, much more. We'll talk about the headwear, wigs, costume pieces, and footwear needed.
Please feel free to comment at the bottom of the lens. I get emails when you leave a question or a comment and I'll check back and answer as I'm able to. I hope that you find this lens helpful and....break a leg!
Disney Princess Beauty and the Beast 14 Inch Plush Doll Lumiere
I have links to other helpful articles all about taking measurements, costuming Beauty and the Beast, caring for wigs and much, much more. We'll talk about the headwear, wigs, costume pieces, and footwear needed.
Please feel free to comment at the bottom of the lens. I get emails when you leave a question or a comment and I'll check back and answer as I'm able to. I hope that you find this lens helpful and....break a leg!
Disney Princess Beauty and the Beast 14 Inch Plush Doll Lumiere
How to Take Measurements
Great costumes start with accurate measurements!
Before you get started, check out this lens on taking proper body measurements. (Right click to open in a new window and easily keep your place here at your costuming article!)
Research Your Show: Beauty and the Beast
The best movie to watch to quickly research the show itself
Beauty and the Beast (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)
Amazon Price: $26.89 (as of 06/01/2012)
Even though this is a cartoon version, the Disney play is based on the story told in this animated version of the story, making this the best movie to watch to research the show and the style. As with any play that was based first on a movie (like Christmas Story, Wizard of Oz and others), choose carefully which things you think the audience will expect to look just like the movie, a little like the movie or won't care if it's anything like the movie. The more pivotal the detail or role, the more married to the original concept they probably are.
Headwear
Lumiere's Headwear
Hats and Candle Pieces
For the first part of the play, Lumiere is enchanted and needs his enchanted candlestick type hat. This could take some creativity, but I suggest starting with a base hat (any large sturdy hat or helmet) and add some thick foam (or a yoga mat) around the outside, making a tall tube (to look like a candle stub). Then cut to make it look like it's melted. Add expandable spray foam to create the candle wax "drips". Paint white and accent with spray glitter paint.
For the last part of the show, Lumiere becomes human again, and will need a good quality tricorn hat to wear over his wig, which I'll talk about below.
For the last part of the show, Lumiere becomes human again, and will need a good quality tricorn hat to wear over his wig, which I'll talk about below.
Other Beauty and the Beast Costumes
Check out the rest of the show here!
This lens is a lens branched off of a larger article I wrote called "Costumes for Beauty and the Beast on a Budget". There's info there on how to decide whether to buy rent or build your costumes and links to all the other Beauty and the Beast costuming lenses I have.
Bodywear
General Costume Wear for Lumiere
Jacket, shirt, knickers and vest!
For both parts of the show, Lumiere will need a white shirt (you can use a regular button down and add neck jabot and sleeve ruffs, which I'll talk about later), pair of knickers (in a combination of black and/or gold and/or silver), and a fancy colonial style jacket.
To make things easier, you can start with a pair of black knickers or black pants shortened and add designs, stripes or harlequin diamonds to them with ribbon.
The jacket is really one item you may want to purchase if you're not able to build it. It is the only piece that's more complicated to sew.
To make things easier, you can start with a pair of black knickers or black pants shortened and add designs, stripes or harlequin diamonds to them with ribbon.
The jacket is really one item you may want to purchase if you're not able to build it. It is the only piece that's more complicated to sew.
Movies Set in this Time Period
Research the time period more!
Sometimes a great way to get some additional research in on a time period or a character is to watch some movies. You can get some great visuals on what period costumes look like. Plus, it's fun!
This is a little difficult because it's fantasy, but I'm aiming for the mid 1700's on a time period.
This is a little difficult because it's fantasy, but I'm aiming for the mid 1700's on a time period.
Custom Postage
Themed postage for your show promotion or invitations!
Footwear
Lumiere's Footwear
Shoes, boots, spats or buckles!
If Lumiere is wearing knickers instead of long pants, you'll want a pair of colonial socks. They're long enough to cover the gap between a regular sock and the knickers. They're also fairly heavy duty and should last a few performances. If you're looking to not do laundry each day, buy a couple pair.
For shoes, you could do a black dress shoe (any with a black sole) and just add boot buckles. They're really affordable and can be reused by others because size isn't an option. The same goes for boot spats or boot toppers as they're sometimes called.
For shoes, you could do a black dress shoe (any with a black sole) and just add boot buckles. They're really affordable and can be reused by others because size isn't an option. The same goes for boot spats or boot toppers as they're sometimes called.
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Cast Gift Ideas
Accessories
Lumiere's Accessories
Jabots and candle lights
Lumiere will need a set of fluffy jabot collar and cuffs. This makes it easy for you to have him wear a simple white shirt--the jabot and cuffs make it period-appropriate without breaking the bank.
I've included a pattern for jabot and cuffs because sometimes it's fun to have a gold lame set for the enchanted version of Lumiere.
The butane lighters are for the hand candles. DO NOT use these if your fire marshal does not approve of open flame in your theatre venue. The candle pieces can be made much like the hat, which is described in headwear.
The gold spray paint is for jazzing up any part of the costume that you'd like. The hand candles, the cuffs.
I've included a pattern for jabot and cuffs because sometimes it's fun to have a gold lame set for the enchanted version of Lumiere.
The butane lighters are for the hand candles. DO NOT use these if your fire marshal does not approve of open flame in your theatre venue. The candle pieces can be made much like the hat, which is described in headwear.
The gold spray paint is for jazzing up any part of the costume that you'd like. The hand candles, the cuffs.
Thinking of Renting?
Here's some advice before you sign the papers
If you've read through this lens and you're thinking maybe you'd rather rent a costume instead of making one or buying one online. That's cool. Here's some information I wrote on questions to ask before renting theatrical costumes. I worked for nine years as a costume rental shop manager for a shop that specialized in theatrical show costumes.
I'm also including a link to a lens I wrote with links to theatrical costume rental shops across the country. You can vote them up or down if you've used one or more of them, and also leave comments about the service, quality and selection.
I'm also including a link to a lens I wrote with links to theatrical costume rental shops across the country. You can vote them up or down if you've used one or more of them, and also leave comments about the service, quality and selection.
Hair Styles
Lumiere's Wigs
Colonial style men's wigs
The colonial man's wig is the type of wig Lumiere should wear. I recommend a white colonial man's wig in white to wear with or under the candlestick hat (they could be glued together to make it easier to wear and to help it stay on), and a similar style wig in brown for the human Lumiere.
I also definitely recommend that you get two wigs for Lumiere, whether you get two white or one white and one brown. It's best to combine the wig and candle top and have a separate wig for the last scene.
I also definitely recommend that you get two wigs for Lumiere, whether you get two white or one white and one brown. It's best to combine the wig and candle top and have a separate wig for the last scene.
Washing and Caring for Costume Wigs
If you choose to use a wig, check out this article!
Here's a detailed lens about washing and caring for costume quality wigs. If you're using costume wigs in your theatrical production, you'll want to check it out!
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About the Author
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Have a comment about these costumes?
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mihgasper
Mar 3, 2012 @ 7:39 am | delete
- Very original idea. Thanks!
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TapIn2U Jul 6, 2011 @ 8:33 am | delete
- Fantastic guide! Enjoyed the video, too! Great job! Sundae ;-)
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Amazon Price: $5.34 (as of 06/01/2012)
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