Sewing the Seeds of Costume Creativity

On this episode of Creative Living, Jane Clauss is chatting with the queen of stitches and stories and the amazingly talented costume designer Amanda Tadaro. She's rocked the theater world with her 100+ productions and has tons to share about costume design magic. We took a little trip down memory lane to where it all started: with a young Amanda perched next to her mom, totally mesmerized by the sewing machine's dance. It wasn't long before she caught the costume bug in high school drama club and—spoiler alert—she never looked back.

For all you dreamers wanting to make a splash in the design world, Amanda’s got you. She’s all about getting your hands thread-deep in experience She's even got some killer tips for the up-and-comers—hint: volunteer to get those skills!

We also got the scoop on how she spun her career into something new when the world went topsy-turvy. So, hit play to soak up Amanda’s savvy on sewing education and sneak a peek at the wizardry that goes into dressing up characters not just for the stage, but for the soul.  Don’t miss out on the gems of wisdom Amanda dropped during our chat.  

So, tune in for a dose of inspiration and let’s keep our creativity cranking!  Ready, set, let's get inspired!

Here are some of the highlights:

3:52 – Amanda talks about embracing the flops and shifts in your creativity. Lead why you should be open to changes, new paths, and experimentation.

11:00 - Dive into how Amanda draws inspiration from the past, studying historical eras and characters for her costume designs.

12:00 - Peek into Amanda’s method for crafting costumes that echo a character's essence, including chats with directors, actors, and mood board magic.

16:00 - Discover the role of costumes in transforming actors into their characters and boosting their performances.

23:00 - Hear about Amanda's dazzling stint on Dancing with the Stars and the contest that spotlighted her designs.

25:00 – Amanda talks about the technical feats and oops moment of Squidward's four-legged costume in the Spongebob musical.

27:00 - Amanda's career swivel during the pandemic: from mask-making to mastering Adobe Illustrator and snagging a fabric licensing deal.

31:00 – Jane and Amanda look at sustainable practices in costume design, like recycling materials, allowing for alterations, and treasure hunting at thrift stores.

34:00 – Learn insight onto how the tech revolution is impacting costume design, and the innovations that are offering new robust sewing machines, light-up fabrics, and pattern projecting with gadgets like Ditto.

37:19 – Amanda gives tips for aspiring designers is to network, volunteer in costume shops, and don’t be afraid to get out there. She says, sketch and mood board away, even if you’re not the next Da Vinci. Portfolios are your golden ticket.

38:47 - The power of friendship and networking in the costume and theater helps to unlock doors to new gigs. Collaborations and referrals can lead to new opportunities.

40:00 - Amanda’s insights on sewing education and the key to stitching up confidence.

42:45 – Why you should build confidence in your sewing skills through practice. Start amping up your sewing game with relentless practice. Zippers got you down? Sew 'em till you own ‘em! 

44:01 – Amanda leaves us with her words of wisdom, don't shy away from cold calls or emails to pitch your skills. The worst you’ll hear is a 'no', but the best could be your next big break!

Huge high-fives to costume designer, Amanda Tadaro. She’s this incredible force in the costume design world, and she’s got stories for days about the magic of theater and fashion. Amanda’s been in the game for ages and has been crafting character looks for over 100 shows!  Thankfully, she dished out some solid gold tips for anyone itching to get into the biz. Amanda’s big on diving right in—volunteer at a costume shop, get your hands on fabric, and just start playing around.

So, here’s a shoutout to Amanda for spreading her wisdom and stoking that creative fire in all of us. Thanks for tuning in and remember to keep chasing those creative sparks!