Rocky Horror Picture Show is definitely one of my all-time guilty pleasures, and it will also be the inspiration for my Halloween costume this year! For my current RHPS costume, Halloween or not, I have chosen to dress up as Columbia (Little Nell). Since I already have the right hair length, that would be partly pretty simple (hello hair dye, here I come!). Which made me decide to share some of my Columbia costume secrets with you now, in case you want to create your own Columbia costume.
The shorts are the easiest part. Go to any regular clothing store and buy a pair of black biker shorts, then cut a multi-colored ribbon to size, sew the shorts together, making sure to use a zig-zag stitch (always use a zig-zag stitch). -zag on stretch fabrics). fabric so everything stays where you put it).
The top hat would be a bit more difficult, of course. It seems like the easiest option would be to buy a costume top hat (boo), or find a top hat at the thrift store and invest in lots of glitter. Spray glue on the top hat, spread it evenly over the glitter, and pop it off. I would do this a couple of times, of course, to make sure there were no spots where the top hat’s original color showed through.
Next comes the sequin top. I can hear the moans now – the sequins can be a pain, but check it out once you’re done – it’s absolutely beautiful and well worth the effort. Tube tops are also pretty easy to make, and I’d stick with an elastic knit base (probably with a four-way stretch) to make it less likely to move, and then sew an additional elastic band on top to make sure that fool really didn’t go anywhere. (This is especially important if you’re doing a stage production like I did once; you don’t want anything to jump out during your tap dance or lab scene with Eddie!)
And for the last part of a Columbia costume: the bright blue socks. Ruffled socks are pretty easy to come by in most sizes nowadays, but when I was playing Columbia, that wasn’t the case, and I wasn’t about to go out and buy a whole pack of RIT dye just for a pair! of socks! (And, to be honest, the RIT tint scares the hell out of me.) So this is what I did. Combine the blue unsweetened kool-aid and two cups of water in a small pot, adding a healthy dash of vinegar to that. Soak your new white frilly (cotton) socks in this solution, then wash them alone on the gentle cycle. Ta-da! Blue socks with frills.
Now throw on a pair of tap shoes and you’ll be on your way to a great performance, or just a night out on the town with friends. Hint: Learn the tap dance from the movie, or at least the hat-spinning trick. People really like that and you’ll be the hit of any party you attend this year with your own creative and colorful Rocky Horror Columbia costume. Have fun and Happy Halloween!