Leather with worbla armor.
Xena costume for the lovely Meghan.
Watch out. She’s beautiful but dangerous.
Xena Warrior Princess
Custom Tutus: Combat Ready
Combat Tutus
Unusual project from the archives, one for which a script did not even exist prior to the costumes being built.
Jen built the combat tutus purely as an art-for-art’s-sake collection then produced a performance with choreographer extraordinaire, Julie McDaniel who directed a lovely group of dancers in 2007.
Fun fact for those who may not know: A ‘tutu’ is not a frilly skirt. A tutu is a two-piece garment that combines a fitted bodice with a frilled brief. Both are usually held together with hooks and are sometimes even sewn together.
The clever “Jewelry Massacres” are by artist Justina Parsons-Bernstein, who designed each to accompany a specific tutu.
The tutus and jewelry massacre ensembles have been presented in several gallery exhibits and are now part of the McGrews’ Permanent Collection. We can make one just for you from whatever camo fabric or other fabric you wish. We can also make you a skirt instead of a tutu bottom with a frilled brief. Give us a call at 801-596-2210.
Custom Superheros: Mindy Marvel
Custom superhero costume we built for the Project Superwoman series. Built to order and matching their concept artist’s colors, silhouettes, logo and details.
Steampunk Wedding Attire
This ensemble is definitely all about “something old, something new.” Jessica wanted some of her existing items repurposed and integrated into this ensemble. We built the corset, blouse and bolero jacket as brand new pieces. Kyle’s vest is also a new item that we made, a double breasted black canvas waistcoat with silver buttons. Her white lace skirt was originally a full length dress and a family heirloom. She also owned a short black petticoat. I recut and made her lace dress into a full length skirt with a new waistband, and her black knee-length petticoat became a new ruffle of a new, full length underskirt.
This dress and vest are a lovely departure from steampunk’s usual sepia tones. Jessica and I discussed Cecil Beaton’s wonderful designs for the film, My Fair Lady, particularly the scenes at the racetrack. All the ladies and gentlemen wear black and white in these scenes, with fantastic dresses, hats and accessories.
All wedding attire becomes a piece of history, by definition. Wedding outfits are super satisfying to make whenever the couple wants to take their look out a slightly different door, say historic, fantasy, sci fi, steampunk, etc. So when we create suits and dresses that articulate an impossible world or replicate some earthly historic period, we’ve just doubled-down on the cool factor. We are helping people re-imagine, re-live or recreate history with clothing that’s used in new ceremonies and new contexts. It’s really fun. It’s also awesome to custom build for grooms. They’re often so overlooked.
Steampunk Vests for Men and Women
A great vest sets a great precedent. Especially when it has working features such as straps and buckles, grommets and lacing, or other closures.
Steampunk sometimes runs the risk of being ‘overdone’.
We prefer real working features vs. gears or accessories merely pasted onto clothing. We think this approach is awesome and we hope you feel this way too.
Custom Superheros: Space Ghost
We built custom bracers, a belt, a cape and an appliqued logo, then applied them all to Bryan’s white bodysuit. Now he is Spaaaaace Ghooossssst~
SPACE GHOST! Antics at the 2013 Salt Lake Comic Con
Custom Marine Corps Uniforms for Canines
Why should humans get all the great custom tailoring?
Meet Gunny Monster, friend and unofficial mascot to the Marine Corps League, Toys for Tots and a host of other great charities.
Gunny has his own facebook page and website where you can learn more about his busy schedule full of appearances and good deeds.
Our tailoring thus far for Gunny includes a full complement of uniforms. These include two sets of camoflauge, two sets of Dress Blues and one set of Charlies.
Semper Fidelis.
We develop a unique pattern specific to your dog’s height, weight and measurements to create each new custom uniform.
Uniform Ordering Info:
Step One:
Print out our Service Dog Measurement Chart and take some measurements.
Please call with any questions. 801-596-2210. We can skype with you or video-chat live, so you can show us any details you have questions about:)
Step Two:
Get your hands on a uniform for us to retailor. This means a real uniform, so that we can re-cut and restitch its parts to guarantee that your fit plus all of your trims and fabrics are accurate, ready to pass inspection. We have seen some knitted and crochet “sweaters” plus other cartoonish versions of uniforms on Etsy and other places. However, in getting to know many Marines personally, we can tell you that the Corps take their uniforms and their service very seriously. A knitted ‘sweater’ uniform or other clownish version would be considered disgraceful and completely inappropriate for proper, public presentations. Because you are probably either active duty or retired, we rely on your access to authentic uniforms. At McGrews we are civilians, and we have not earned your same privilege. As tailors and citizens, we honor our service men and women, (and their dogs). We create a high-quality custom-tailored product and we don’t want to substitute imposter fabrics or shoddy construction for the real thing. It would be disrespectful. Thanks for understanding:).
Step Three:
Make a deposit and send us your uniform. Total to retailor a uniform is $875 and includes shipping to you via UPS regular ground with a tracking number, anywhere in the continental United States. There’s no tax if you are ordering from outside the state of Utah. 1/2 deposit is required to start the patterning and labor. We can accept visa and mastercard payments in person or by phone with a small surcharge.
Step Four:
Pay the balance and receive your uniform. There is a four-six week turnaround time from your deposit date to have your finished uniform shipped via UPS regular ground with a tracking number. Please order well in advance for seasonal Marine Corps events when many dogs will be needing new uniforms.
Woof! (Please call us with your custom order:) 801-596-2210.
Rockabilly Wedding
All custom, in white dotted Swiss lace over white satin, corseted, metal stays throughout bodice with metal lacing stays in back and some red satin ribbon laces. She’s so gorgeous! Thank you, Rachael, for sharing these beautiful pics and congrats to you and Nate!! xxoo
Custom Mascots: Ogden-Weber Area Technical College’s “Randy Robotech”
Ogden-Weber Applied Technical College was the first trade-tech school in Utah to develop a branded mascot to promote its educational mission and programs.
Robert Hirschi, multimedia journalist for the Salt Lake Tribune, created a behind-the-scenes account of some of the steps in this creative process as well as the people behind it. Interviewed are OWATC creative directors Brock Porter and Jenny Everson, plus costume maker Jen McGrew with Katrina Kirkland-Cornia. The documentary details the mascot from concept to realized costume for a performer to wear at job fairs, parades, etc.
2002, Salt Lake Tribune archived servers.
Production and Costume Design: FLIGHT FROM SHADOW
