A work in progress since 1997.

DISCLAIMER:

These are scene-by scene breakdowns of costumes and hand props for a movie-accurate rendition of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Makeup (including tattoos and scars) is treated separately in the Makeup section. This list is based on observations of several different prints of the film, discussions with other fans, and extensive use of Rocky Horror posters, books, magazines, video, DVD, stills, etc. I've had lots of excellent help. (My thanks to everyone on the Rocky Horror newsgroup for their input and support.)

The descriptions here are not perfect; this is a work in progress. Remember, if what's on this list doesn't look like what's on-screen, go with what's on-screen. This list is NOT "definitive" and is intended as a convenience to people assembling costumes, not the word of God.

If you think you notice a mistake or just want to chat about costuming, please email me. (If you see something that is wrong/incomplete, it would really help if you tell me which scene I can see the detail in question.) I am happy to talk with anyone so long as a tone of mutual respect is maintained. Yes, the site is still regularly updated; for details, see "What's New" below.

All mistakes on this list are my own--nothing goes onto the site until I have verified it with my own eyes.

A note about the DVD: it really has changed everything. Now everyone can have access to high-quality stills. If you want to do serious detail work, buy a copy. I bought a DVD player just for this release, and I don't regret it a bit. Make sure you get a DVD player with zoom capabilites. If you're looking for DVD software for your computer, I recommend PowerDVD; it has screen capture capabilities and frame advance. Several of my friends have also been happy with it.

How To Use This List
This list is intended for fans who want to recreate the costumes from the movie "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
If you are costuming a production of the play "The Rocky Horror Show," I can't stop you from using this website for reference. But I can strongly encourage you to do what Sue Blane did and costume the play using your own original ideas, or, if you must, using her designs as a jumping-off point instead of slavishly copying them. Please leave that to us fans.

Each section has a "last-updated" date on it--remember, if you print off a section, you do not have the most current version unless the dates match!

Thank you,
Ruth

What's New

What's Coming Up - What's Not Coming Up

Correctly-colored Columbia bustier fabric available!
In 1999, Kim Shafer, faced with the impossibility of finding correctly-colored multisequin material, had a bolt MADE and offered it for sale to Rocky fans. It went in less than 2 months. Since then, Larry Viezel has periodically had additional bolts custom-made. Price is $50 a yard; custom is expensive. http://www.homeofhappiness.com/fabric has the details.

I'm not associated with this, and have no financial interest in people buying it. I just figured detail-minded Columbias should know.

Costuming Plug: Mick Rock Calendars, and A Coffee Table Book
The Mick Rock calendars are highly recommended for costume work. Mick Rock took a slew of photos on the set with a very good camera; serious costumers have been discovering new things even when we own mass-reproduced 8x10s of some of the same photos. (As someone grumbled when he previewed some of the photos at the 2005 Las Vegas convention, "Oh, great, we all get to redo our Riff costumes.")

The majority of these photos can be seen in the 2005 coffee table book "Mick Rock: Rocky Horror," which features over 300 photos. You can order the non-limited edition bilingual German/English $99 version at http://www.mickrock.com. However, it's cheaper from amazon.de (Amazon.com's German branch) - about $60 with shipping, depending on the value of the Euro. (If your German's good, individual sellers list used copies there for a lot less.) A more affordable US paperback version was supposed to come out in 2006, but whether it ever will is uncertain. If you're a serious costume freak, order it.

Close-up photos of actual film costumes:
Frank's dinner corset. In October 2000, my husband and I won Frank's dinner corset from the film at auction at the 25th anniversary. Many thanks to Jaimie Froemming and Mark Beck., who photographed it for us and who floated us a small loan.

Frank's jacket, as it looks today (we think) (external link): A gentleman named Mike Scott owns what is probably Frank's original jacket, purchased at auction from the 59 Club, and he's been kind enough to put up a website with photos of it. If it isn't the original, it's a damn good reproduction. The jacket has been refurbished (in which process some of the original patches were lost), the leather repaired, and the badges cleaned. Some items have broken over the years, notably the zipper pulls. Mike will also make you a reproduction jacket, if you have the means...

Rocky's trunks in gory detail and in color!: Some wonderful fans from South Carolina went and took a bunch of close-up pictures of Rocky's trunks at the Hard Rock Cafe in Myrtle Beach. (Thanks, Dawn!) The external link's been dead, so we're displaying some of them here, in addition to a few I shot.
Keep in mind that Sue Blane says she thinks Rocky had several pairs (the gold wore off very quickly). But these photos are as close as we'll probably ever get to definitive.

Frank's floorshow shoe. A friend acquired it and asked if I'd like to take pictures. Here they are!

Columbia's bustier. Larry Viezel acquired it and let a couple of us take pictures. Some of these were posted on rhpscostumes; here they are, with some additional photos to boot.

Columbia's floor show boa. Larry Viezel acquired it and let a couple of us take pictures. Some of these were posted on rhpscostumes. Here they are at last.

Close-up photos of Belasco (1975 Broadway) costumes:
NOT FROM THE FILM - Frank's red floorshow corset and the yellow sequin gauntlet.
Also a platform shoe, a red sequin gauntlet and a fishnet gauntlet. At the same auction where my husband and I purchased Frank's dinner corset, we also purchased costumes from the original Broadway production at the Belasco: Frank's floorshow corset, fishnet and yellow sequin gauntlet, and underwear; as well as a red sequin floorshow gauntlet I was told was Brad's. While these costumes weren't in the film, they look very similar and I presume they'll be of interest.

I have since acquired Frank's Belasco shoe from the same auction.

Frank
Janet Brad
Riff Magenta
Columbia Rocky
Eddie Dr. Scott
Crim Trixie
Transylvanians (Preliminary)

Makeup by Character and Tips & Tricks

Costume & Prop Tips & Tricks
Where to find costume-making supplies, costume-making hints, and costume care tips

Wig and Hair Tricks
Thoughts on wig and hair supplies, and basic wig care. Not the thoughts of an expert but might help.

Helpful Links
(photo sites, costume sites, costumer sites)

Thank You List (and Source List)

Who is Ruth, anyway?