Stitching for seamless performance

Fashion designer Shereen Loth had a big job on her hands in creating more than 40 costumes, most of them individually tailored, for the performers in the Final Big Splash.

Loth, who runs a small clothing manufacturing facility in a former dance studio in Laguna Beach, worked closely with Splash creator Ken Jillson to design and sew costumes that range from silky showgirl outfits to colorful clownwear.

One of the acts, a Michael Jackson tribute, is all in black and white. The performers wear outfits that are white on one side and black on the other, while they sing Jackson’s song. It wasn’t easy stitching the costumes so they would present the correct color on the right side.

“The Barbies were the hardest,” she said. She was given a photo of an original Barbie doll in a black-and-white striped bathing suit, from which Loth had to fashion waterproof suits for the performers, all of whom are men.

“Barbie isn’t anatomically correct,” Loth said. “If she was a woman, she’d have a 12-inch waist.”

It took nine hours to perfect the pattern for the one-piece, strapless suits, which had to have horizontal stripes.

“No woman would ever wear a suit with horizontal stripes,” Loth said. But the five Aquanettes will in the Final Big Splash.

Loth and her staff of stitchers are now working hard on Halloween costumes which will be available soon at her shop, Delicate Illusions, at 1953-1957 S. Coast Hwy.

The biggest emphasis for Loth this year is Michael Jackson.

She has created a Gloved One ensemble for Halloween including a sparkly red jacket, black pants, and, of course, one sequined glove. The costumes are heading into shops and will be available for purchase in about two weeks.

For more information, call (949) 497-7470.