Last updated: 8/31/11

Note: for tattoos, see makeup.

For large pictures and detailed descriptions, go to the Frank Props & Details Page by clicking on the links.

Sweet T:

• Black curly wig.
  Loose curls, not tight ones. Frank has slight bangs, and the wig is sort of pyramidally shaped. Shorter on top. Should fall about to the shoulders; choose a wig that is slightly too long over one that is slightly too short (you can always trim it). Do not use an afro wig: you will almost certainly look like a mushroom.
• Black sequined corset
  Laces up the front; shoulder straps. For some reason, many Franks make this too short. Please don't: this costume has no pity if you have any tummy at all. It should extend almost all the way down to your garter belt.
• Black satin cape with stand-up Dracula-type collar, lined with silver lamé.
  Shimmery black material -- a full half circle (buy material on sale). Really big shoulder pads. Cape just covers the tops of Frank's heels. Make sure it's not too long or you'll trip on it. The collar has vertical lines of boning (visible about every 4" along the collar). The cape is loosely gathered at the center neckline in back.

• Oversize pearls, separated with little tiny spacer beads.
  Buy beads at craft stores or buy a necklace (discount, accessory and department stores; $12-$30). I wondered for years if there were knots in between the pearls or spacer beads; the Mick Rock book answered that questions - knots don't shine.
• Black half-finger elbow-length gloves with woven-in silver threads (Lurex?).
  What I originally thought was a long vertical rip on Frank's left inner wrist is apparently the wrist opening of a button-at-the-wrist glove. It is repeated on the right wrist, and I have caught a glimpse of the buttons on the big screen. Thanks to Shawn Anthony for pointing this out.

  Right glove:

  • 5 parallel rips on the outer arm just below the elbow, 3 rips over back of his hand, small hole on back of index finger.

  Left glove:

  • 1 hole between fingers and thumb. We bought black socks shot with silver Lurex and chopped them up.

• 2 dirty Band-Aids crossed on left inner elbow.
  There is blood where they cross.
• Black garter belt.
  Belt is a wide band of lace with repeating medallion design, edged on top and bottom with a strip of thin, more solid lace. Straps are plain black/dark gray elastic, with slight vertical ribbing and silver clips. The actual rubber nubbin that holds the stockings is white (check the poster magazines).
• Seamed fishnet stockings and black satin undies.
  Fishnets have a plain narrow black top. In a pinch, buy fishnet hose, chop the top off and treat with No-Fray. There are two holes at the right knee, one hole at the left knee, and one hole at about mid-thigh above the left knee.
• 3-row rhinestone anklet.
  3-row banded rhinestones; rows are staggered in a checkerboard pattern (so the rhinestones form little "X"s), not lined up. Worn over stocking on right ankle, later over boot. Buy rhinestone trim (often called "rhinestone banding") by the yard and a jewelry catch at a fabric or craft store (may be in the bridal section). Sew onto a black ribbon or elastic to avoid snagging your stockings. If you must have the staggered rows, you'll probably have to buy three single rows and sew them, very close and staggered, onto the ribbon/elastic yourself (I have never found staggered rhinestone banding anywhere). My husband did this and it looks quite nice. Most rhinestone trim nowadays is made on a plastic support instead of metal; make sure the plastic isn't too prominent or it will look wrong. Generally, I prefer the white to black plastic; it looks more like the actual shiny silver-tone metal supports from 1975.
• Glitter-covered black peep toe platform d'Orsay sandals with white heels.
  "d'Orsay" shoes expose the sides of the foot; essentially these are what some shoe manufacturers call a "two-piece" shoe. Closed back (heel cup) and a thin back-strap (rhinestone buckle). The loop next to the buckle that the strap tucks into is silver. Shoes are a good 4" or 5"; actual height will depend on how tall you are and how well you can walk in them. The heel is essentially straight up and down, not curved-in at all; this style is hard to find nowadays. Both shoes and heels are covered with sparkly glitter (try coating shoes with glue, then white/clear or black glitter, then shellac or nail polish so shoes don't shed). Heels are scattered with 20 or so rhinestones (I can count 12-14 on just the back of each heel in the elevator); some are blue and green. On the DVD, rhinestones can also be seen on the black part of the shoes (check the closeup on Columbia holding Frank's leg during "maybe a bite"). Platform sandals can be bought from Frederick's or Wild Pair. JC Penney's (!) also had them in their catalog recently ($40). You may want to wear shoes with black heels and make removable white velcroed heel covers. It was only in 2011 that I actually saw anyone do this: it appears to work. Frank changes shoes for Creation Scene.
• Small white paper cone cup.
  Brave Franks will fill this with water and splash the audience. (Avoid splashing people wearing expensive leather jackets!)

If applicable, remove white heel covers on black shoes.

• Extender chain to lengthen Frank's pearls (your pearls may include this as part of the necklace).
  Worn on the back right of Frank's neck.
• Green surgeons' gown
  Red triangle on left breast (point up). Mid-calf length; rolled-up sleeves are rolled up to the elbows.
• Pink dishwashing gloves (may be hard to find).
  Worn cuffed for much of the scene.
• Stemmed widemouth glass.
  "Champagne bowl" style. Actually a Riff prop, but many Franks bring their own. Look for plastic ones at party stores.
• Black pick.
  Make from cardboard and duct tape.
• Peep toe black glitter platform sandals (black heels), thin back-strap.
  Same basic style as Sweet T shoes. In several photos, Frank's toes are far enough back that the shoes do look closed-toe, but they're not: you can see them peeking out as the elevator comes up to the lab. Strap is not glittered. Rectangular silver buckle.

Bedroom Scene:

Post-Bedroom Scene:

• Black leather jacket with lots of embroidered patches and enamel metal badges (mostly motorcycle themed) on it
  Enamel badges on the upper chest. The sleeves are vented with zippers, and are edged with black fringe. The sleeves are decorated with various embroidered patches (mostly circular), the back with different shapes.
• Cigarette.
  A sturdier prop can be made from a white ballpoint pen casing cut to length, melted slightly with a lighter, and then painted with red nailpolish to make "lit" end. Or you can buy a prop cigarette at a theater/joke shop; these actually produce "smoke."
• Whip.
  Alternating gray and black tails braided for about half its length, then hanging loose. The tails are probably a good four feet long. Medium brown wooden handle ("stock"). Brown leather loop on the end of the handle for hanging.

Image from Mina Smith

Before dinner, take off your half-finger gloves and pearls.

• Conical party hat.
  Thin cardboard, with a thin elastic string to hold it under the chin. The hat is a cone with a pattern of red and gold diamonds, with a small cheap blue feather stapled to the front. Thin accordion-folded yellow, red and blue paper streamers hang down from the tip of the hat to the brim. The side edges of the hat are folded up to form a little triangular pointed brim on either side.
• Black velvet and chiffon dinner corset
  Spangled with white rhinestones and embroidered silver flowers.
• Black knee-high platform boots with cutaway toes (covered with clear plastic) and a lacing tied around the boot shaft from the back into a bow at the top front.
  They fasten up the back; the rhinestone anklet is over the right boot. (For a photo, click here.) Some lingerie catalogs have leggings that, worn with heels, look like boots. You can modify regular boots with an Exacto knife or box cutter, but be careful - my husband cut his hand doing this and had to drive himself to the emergency room.
  
• White electric knife.
  The handle's top half is white and bottom half is orange.
• Red plastic ketchup squeeze bottle with red nozzle.
  Labelled "KETCHUP" in white horizontal lettering.

Pre-Floor Show:

Realistically, you won't have time to do this costume unless you are at a convention or doing a costume contest. But it's a cool costume for either of those events.

• Frank's hair is up in a top-knot at the top front of his head, held in place with a pink chiffon scarf and two picks. The rest of his hair is in plastic curlers.
• Frank's face is covered with what is presumably cold cream. I've heard of Franks using Noxzema or even toothpaste ("my face was minty fresh!" notes Emma from Scotland). I've heard Franks talk about making a mask with the white stuff on it, but have never seen it.
• Black satin robe.
  Lined in red; back has a gold dragon, head up, with long antennae/feelers. The front breast on either side features hollow golden clouds.
• Pink rubber gloves

Picture from Cosmo's Factory

Floor Show:

Put pearls back on (or use different, more silvery pearls)

• Silver rhinestone crown with smooth, shiny black spiky feathers.
  Buy a "princess crown" around Halloween, cut styrofoam to fit, and stick in feathers. Bobbypin to your wig. Shawn McHorse recommends sticking the feathers into the back of your wig, pushing the tips through the wigcap. They're then held in place between the wig and your head. The feathers have a curve to them; coque (rooster) feathers look nice and have a nice curve to them. I haven't seen them in craft stores but they can be purchased on-line (see the the Links Page).
• Red satin floor show corset
  Strapless; laces 2/3 of the way up the front. Two attached red crinkly garters on each side. Corset is trimmed with red sequins, and garlands of red bugle beads at the bust.
• Dark brown/black fur boa.
  4 whole pelts sewed end to end (including heads, tails, feet). Tail tips are white. About 6' long, with smaller hanging pieces (feet). Cruise the thrifts and vintage shops, hit eBay, or use fake fur.
• Black chiffon scarf.
  This should be about 6' x 2.5'. Scale it to your body so it looks right. Sew a couple of washers in one of the corners to weight it down if someone must throw it to you.
• Gold sequined gauntlet (right arm), over the elbow, black feather trim around the upper cuff.
  The gauntlet covers the top of the hand, coming to a point which is hooks over the middle finger with a thin white loop. The sequins are sewn in a looping pattern (I've since discovered this is called "vermicelli") which shows a lot of the backing material (harvest gold).
• Seamed fishnet sleeve (left arm), over the elbow.
  Cut up a stocking and secure with a black rubber band or clear elastic. It has several rhinestones on it of different colors and at least two flat red sequins, probably from someone's glove; try slitting some sequins from the edge to the center hole and weaving them into the fishnet.
• Open toe black d'Orsay satin platform sandals spangled with red rhinestones, thin back-strap.
  Black heels, with a thin strap (oval rhinestone buckle). The whole outside of the shoe (including platforms, not including the strap - it's too narrow) is covered with red rhinestones.
  I've had a chance to look at one of the actual Floor Show shoes (originally auctioned or raffled off at a convention to Alan Hiero, then given to Betzi Vojtko, then sold to its current owner). The rhinestones are not all the same size, and there appears to be one orange sequin. I'm not sure if anyone can verify this on screen or on the DVD...but I've seen the shoe. It's a Terry de Havilland. And no, it doesn't look like he still makes that model. The vamp is slightly scalloped - good luck finding that! Photos now available.
• Quartered red and white life preserver.
  "S.S. TITANIC" is printed in black on the white part. Life preserver has some rope hanging under it.