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Monday, August 6, 2007
Alliance seeking ’70s fashion
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Face it, ladies. Those hip-hiding palazzo pants you bought at Greenbriar Mall in the ’70s probably aren’t doing anybody much good tucked away in your closet.
So maybe you’d like to offer them up for the Alliance Theatre’s new musical, “The Women of Brewster Place.”
Designer Paul Tazewell is seeking donations of authentic period garb for the world premiere, which begins previews Sept. 5. Adapted by composer-playwright Tim Acito from the popular Gloria Naylor novel, “Brewster Place” is the tale of seven African-American women living in an urban housing project in the ’70s.
Tazewell — who created the fashion for the Alliance and Broadway runs of “The Color Purple”and “Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk” — believes there’s a verisimilitude to actual objects that you won’t find in newly stitched pieces. Building the 150 costumes would be “cost prohibitive.” And thrift-store pickings can be slim.
“There’s a level of reality that you can’t attain all the time because those ’70s favorites aren’t necessarily in the stores,” the New York designer says.
Specifically, the Alliance needs sizes 2-12 from the years 1973-76. Among the items sought: dresses or pantsuits appropriate for a funeral; Afro-centric dashikis or caftans; church hats, dresses or shoes; crocheted vests, blouses, skirts. “Anything that people can remember they wore in those specific years, ” Tazewell says.
What the designer does not want is ’80s attire. “We want people to hold onto their 1980s things,” Tazewell says, “because that’s a different silhouette.”
Tazewell begins work at the Alliance costume shop today, but clothes can still be donated as late as Friday. Call (404) 733-4790 for details.
