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| Photo by Lapis |
Feathers look absolutely sensational onstage.
Whether you’re using huge Sally Rand fans, rockin’ a lusciously fat boa, or wearing a
costume and/or headdress trimmed with
feathers, they always look glamorous and amazing. The plumes waft through the air
looking elegant and ethereal or flirtatiously accent every shimmy. They also
make the audience swoon like nothing else. But beautiful plumed costumes, props
and accessories are also expensive….so
you should definitely know how to maintain them!
The first thing you need to know is that
plumes pick up oils from your skin quite easily. Our natural sebaceous
oils will adhere to the feathers and attract more dirt.
Always
wash your hands before using your fans or wearing your boas; please don’t wear
any oily body lotions when using these props. And remember: lip gloss is
literally The Kiss Of Death onstage – not just cause it will mess up
your feather props and costume pieces, but because you’ll spend the
entire show spitting errant fluff out of your mouth!
Here are some tips on
maintaining your feather props and costume pieces:
Feather Fan Storage
Store your
large ( or smaller) plumed fans in one
of those long, sturdy locking plastic containers. Rubbermaid makes a terrific,
rectangular giant sized one… but you can find several types at
places like Target or Walmart, too.
You
can easily fit a couple of sets of Sally
Rand fans- and more, if they’re smaller- in these without cramping them. Make
sure to lay the feathers into the container with the plumes facing up so
you won’t break the spines. Before sealing the box for storage, add
in cedar chip sachets or plenty of cedar balls to prevent insect
infestation- moths adore fans! You can also use good old mothbalss, but I dislike them for two
reasons: they stink like chemicals, and
more importantly, they’re toxic to pets.
Fan Maintenance
Check
and if necessary, repair your fans thoroughly before
each performance. Keep a Fan Emergency Kit with you in your
bag whenever you’re gigging. It should include an
extra hex bolt in case the one on the butt-end of your
fan blades gets stripped, a tube of crazy glue in case
your feathers start releasing from the staves, some pliable craft
wire and a jewelry pliers. You’ll also need a “stubby screw driver”-
an adorable teensy tool that often comes with both a straight head
and a Phillips or star-shaped head. They’re really inexpensive and
even come in bright colors like purple, pink and aqua
Fan Transportation
I
have a specially made carrying case for transporting my Sally
Rand fans to local gigs, but a long, wide document tube
or Fed Ex box would work just as well! For air travel, your fans will
undoubtedly need to be checked ( they’re usually too long for
the storage bins in the cabin) so make sure you pad
whatever container you’re using well and include your little tool kit.
Storing and caring for
Boas, feathered Costumes And Headdresses
Store
your feather boas in the same way you would your Sally Rand fans or
smaller feather fans- in a tightly sealed plastic container, with
cedar chips to keep moths away. Depending on the size of the boa, you
can use abig round container, the type made for large cakes. Coil the boa
up like a snake ( a boa snake, of
course!) and close the container.
Larger
boas might not fit into a cake container, so some gals store their boas in round
hat boxes. When I do this, then I seal the boa
in a large plastic bag with the cedar
chips before putting it in the hat box- just to be extra
careful about insect infestation.
To
store headdresses, I have found that the easiest way is to
place them on a Styrofoam wig stand, and pin them securely onto the wig head
itself. I then wrap the headdress in plastic wrap, sealing it firmly
around the bottom of the wig-head, and store the entire thing on a shelf. Again, throw in a
sachet of cedar chips. If your headdress is large, you can also stick an
opened-up wire hanger or two into the Styrofoam,
to create a “tent”, holding the plastic up so it won’t break or bend
the feathers. You might also have to weigh down the bottom of the
stand to prevent it from toppling over due to the height and weight of the
headdress.
Feather
boas and feathered headresses are simply the height of glamour- but
since feathers are basically an animal ( or rather, avian)
product, they tend to dry out over time and can become droopy
or flattened out and limp. To restore your boas to their
brand-new fluffiness, you’ll need to care for them
and maintain them occasionally.
Grab
your boa and briskly but gently feathers between your hands.
This will shake off any dust as well as fluff up the
“nap” of the feathers, making each one look perky again.
You
can also clean the feathers on your headdresses the same way- but instead of
using your entire hand, fluff each feather individually with your fingers.
For
a costume that has feathered accents, do the same – just fluff the plumes with
your fingers.
Next,
steam your boa or headdress. If you have a clothing steamer, hang the boa up by one end and steam it
this way, being super-careful not to get
the tip of the steamer too close to the feathers- you want the
fine mist to cover the boa, but you don’t want it
dripping wet! Steam each section of the boa only for a few seconds, until
the feathers have opened up. For a headdress, do this while the
headdress is sitting on the wig stand.
If
you’re cleaning feather accents that are sewed or glued to a costume,
use your steamer in the same way.
If
you don’t own or have access to a steamer, you can also use a tea kettle or a
large pot full of boiling water to
steam your boa, holding it horizontally over
the pot or kettle, steaming it in sections. For
headdresses, make sure to hit only the tips of the feathers with
steam- try not to get the crown wet. I do not recommend this method for costumes with
feather accents, though.
Be
very careful not to burn your hands or fingers- steam is just as hot-if not
more so- than boiling water!
Make sure to turn off the flame on the stove burner off
while doing this or you’ll be courting disaster… BOAS AND FEATHERS ARE HIGHLY
FLAMMABLE!
If you maintain your gorgeous feathered
costumes and props well, they’ll look great for years!
#
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