We're doing "Me and My girl" at school, and I had been promised a set of pearly costumes that I could borrow, but these now seem to have fallen through.

I have budgeted neither time nor cash for them - anyone have a set they might hire cheaply, or any ideas for a quick make? I am working on having to raid charity shops for black bits and bobs and then - oh joy - sew on sequins and buttons. If anyone has any better ideas, I'd be overjoyed.

Go with your buy black and sew but get the kids to do it?

Yes, probably, and staff will help too, I imagine. The problem I find with kids and sewing is that they don't seem to know how to cast off!. The stuff they do looks fine but then promptly falls apart!

lol yeah true.

I know you can get a little gadgety thing that with one move fastens a press stud to material (operates a bit like a stapler). Is there something that can do the same with buttons? Could this be the sort of thing that Woolies sell (you know, like the Dremel Thingummybob)?

How many pearlies are you planning on by the way? One man, one woman? Or a whole cast of pearlies? When we did it I think we only had the one of each - pearly king and queen - rest of the commoners wore flat caps, waistcoats and rolled up sleeves and so forth.

If you DO only a few, Leicester Little Theatre Costume Hire has them and I think they're only ?20 each to hire. If you're a way away, they may be willing to post. Tel: 0116 2540472. I know ?40 is still a lot of money but by the time you've bought bits and bobs and buttons....?

I'd had similar thoughts about numbers. The King and queen are sorting themselves out and I think I'll do one or two more so that a few more kids are "SOMETHING" rather than chorus. I also have some satin skirts black ones and red ones I made for poppies in the Wiz. Don't want to add things to them, as they are rather gorgeous, but if I added white blouses and perhaps a few waistcoats. I think I can get away with a black, white and red look. Black and white with red kerchief will let the red stuff work I hope, unless anyone else has stock for hire. What did you put Sally in for that scene - script says "cockney dress"

Well I was convinced she came in in her red and white spotty dress but Ian tells me she was in full pearlie queen gear - big hat, black boa, buttons everywhere. Considering he's done the show 3 times, I bow to his memory. I love your idea of black white and red. Should look stunning. Are you able to carry that theme through to the guests' ballgowns? Probably unnecessary but like the thought....!

Actually, I hadn't though about it, but I probably could, more or less, because I've been using a lot of black cocktail lenth stuff. What a brilliant idea! Thanks for that.

When we did My Fair Lady we bought suits and/or dresses from charity shops, then got hold of loads of mens' shirts from jumble sales and cut all the buttons off. Each cast member who was a pearly king or queen was sent home with a large bag of buttons and a costume to do themselves .They looked fantastic!

That's one of the things I wondered about, but it's amazing how many parents won't help in the slightest, although some are really good. As I say, the poblem with kids sewing is that it is never very secure. I know it's not on there for long, but I have this unpleasant vision of the first "Oi" being accompanied by a cacophony of falling buttons! I have ordered some glue that claims to stick trimming to fabric very securely, and also some 3D fabric paint that I can draw some outline designs on with, and I think I'll go on a charity show trawl today and see what I can hunt down. It's such an important scene, I really want the "Wow" factor. Photos will follow if I achieve it!

This forum has proved a great place to talk things through - aren't people nice?

I'd make it a condition of their kid being in the show. There's always a keen auntie, gran or similar who can help them out.

Update - I found some really cheap black skirts (50 p) from a catalogue clearance shops and some cheap white buttons and pearl sequins on the market. The real find was some fabric glue called Jones Tones Plexi Glue which sticks things on really well, even when the fabric flexes. It's been far too much fun to let anyone else do them, and they are looking great! Will post some pics