I did a spot of blogging this morning on my favourite five costumes in the West End, have a read, let me know if I missed any of your faves

http://blog.show-and-stay.co.uk/2008/08/sh...t-end-costumes/

Very interesting! I quite agree with Elphaba and Gollum. Elphaba's act II dress represents Earth and Fire, where Glinda's bubble dress is air and water. the two being opposites and complimentary. Elphaba's is absolutely beautiful and crammed full of subtle pattern and details. It's gorgeous! I've made a replica, and it's just a bit bulletproof...

Gollum was amazing - I spent some time on work experience backstage, and he did indeed enjoy a jaunty dance in the wings! Absolutely hilarious, boogieing away to the battle scenes... the costume close-up was just spectacular, the actor completely disguised.

My list would, however, have to include someone from Cats - perhaps an understated, elegant character like Tantomile? Nah... Tugger! the mane, the fluff, the attitude and the studs! And the costumes for Starlight Express are responsible for my getting a degree in Costume Construction, they absolutely fascinate me. Nothing else matches the imagination and layers of ideas built into the Starlight costumes. If you're really bored, I wrote my dissertation on analysing John Napier's designs for those two shows - http://www.belledsomain.co.uk/ist.html It's got pictures!

Interesting read. Perhaps a few more details on the costumes would have been handy. I agree with you about Elphaba's costume though, very simple in the first act then very detailed in the second, absolutely perfect, and I would also say Trekkie is definately a costume even though he isn't technically worn, just like Nicky.
I love the costumes in WWRY.

Personally, I would've discounted Trekkie Monster, purely because I'd want to keep him to one side for Top Five West End Puppets (although I wouldn't stick just to the West End, and Joey from 'War Horse' shoves all the others into the shade as far as I'm concerned). :3 I think... despite the fact it's worn, I'd probably include the Giraffes in the Puppets list as well. There aren't that many puppets on London stages, but the ones that are there are simply phenomenal.

I was thinking it'd be quite nice to include a play or two. But I can only seem to remember a couple of play costumes right now. The one in my avatar (one scene only during the RSC's 'The Tempest'), which I absolutely adore but think is more impactful than beautiful. I genuinely wasn't expecting a skeletal, blood-spattered harpy to pop out of a seal carcass at that point, so it was pretty damn awesome when he did. :3 I also remember the horses from 'Equus'; again though, I think it's more about impact and performance than prettiness. Although the horse-masks probably count towards it, and there ain't nothing wrong with clothing foxy men in skin-tight tops. (And I can remember the monstrosities in 'Romeo & Juliet', but I wasn't as enamoured of those as certain critics were. XD)

I might have to have a bash at a list myself. We're all different people, so it's perfectly natural for us all to have different lists. :3 What criteria do you recommend using? Sticking to musicals, or encompassing musicals *and* plays if there are pretty enough costumes in both? Just stuff that's currently running in the West End, or can I think about shows that have left us as well? Strictly the West End, or can I break out into the National, Menier, etc? Set me boundaries! I want to play!

When I wrote mine i stuck to recent West End shows, it ended up entirely musical based more because that's what I'm familiar with than anything else. I would be interested to see the top five puppets list.
Thanks for the input guys, really useful

How was everyone's weekend?

I'm getting pretty into organising things into top fives, it adds a certain degree of order to my brain which I enjoy
This week, top five West End beauties, who's a looker on stage at the moment. Please feel free to take a look guys.

http://blog.show-and-stay.co.uk/2008/09/to...t-end-beauties/