More costume challenges!

Seussical was zany and bright, with lots of characters from Jungle Animals to the Whos who lived in Whoville. And of course, The Cat in The Hat.
I loved making these costumes - especially the challenge of creating different costumes for all the different characters. Lycra is amazing - it comes in loads of bright colors, doesn't need hemming and stretches to fit!
Well, next year's show will have not one, but three musicals - The Sound of Music, Les Miserables and We Will Rock You - with nearly all the 65 kids and young people in the cast needing costumes for all of these - I'd better get started then! A slightly different challenge this time - there will be less individual costumes as there are lots of nuns, soldiers, workers, poor, Ga-Ga kids, yuppies - who will need to have similar or identical costumes. The colours will need to be more subdued than Seussical, but I still have to make each group stand out.
I've been scouring the internet for inspiration - and discovered the wonderful Pinterest. Brilliant for keeping all my ideas together - I've set up a Costume Making Board where I have pinned images from the official shows and local productions, design ideas and links to web sites or shops where I may be able to buy clothes that can be adapted into costumes.
One area where I can add a bit of colour is for the Lovely Ladies in Les Miserables - the prostitutes or ladies of the night that persuade Fantine to join them. I am really keen on authenticity, but I wasn't sure if I wanted these ladies to be bright and gaudy in satin and lace like the original West End show, or whether I wanted them to look more like 19th century french whores by using pale chemises and bloomers.
As I am going to be doing lots of costumes, I recycle and upcycle where I can, rather than creating everything from scratch. I picked up a red satin corset and black gypsy skirt on Ebay - used but in great condition. I made a soft muslin blouse/sleeve and used lots of black and red lace. The skirt is hitched up to show some leg - essential for those Lovely Ladies. Just need to add some fishnets and button boots and a feathered hat!
I do like this look, and I think it will inject a vivid touch to the show against the drab costumes of the workers and poor. I'm going to use some other rich jewel colours such as turquoise, orange and purple, but I think I'll mix up the colours in the skirts and tops so they are less "matched" for the show. I am considering making them a little more tattered too, although I am thinking they could be re-used as burlesque or gypsy costumes for other shows if I don't tatter them too much.
In the meantime, my eldest child has her eye on this combination for a Halloween party!