Lisa/Costume Magic University 2025

  • $375 or 6 monthly payments of $63

Costume Magic University 2025

  • Closed
  • Course
  • 36 Lessons

Imagine feeling confident in one-of-a-kind, professional level costumes that flawlessly fit your body and your personality. Finally find that step you've been missing that takes your costumes from home-made to custom couture.

Costume Magic University will give you the skills and support you need to make costumes that stop people in their tracks. Go beyond lessons in just construction and learn how to design like an artist.

Our program offers high-level support and exclusive training to take you from “bless her heart-she made that” to “holy cow! Where did you get that?”

With a mix of live and pre-recorded classes, individual feedback, and accountability check-ins, this isn’t just your standard workshop-in-a-box. By the end of the term you’ll not only have a costume that makes you look and feel amazing, but you’ll have the expertise to whip up more in the future.



The first 5 to sign up will get a FREE 30 minute 1-1 consultation with Michelle to help you fine tune your design and make some serious costume magic!

Ready to take your dance wardrobe from bland to grand?  Hit that button NOW to grab your spot!

Check out the progression of this costume design from "look at the cute costume she made" to "that's gorgeous! Who made that?" as Michelle honed her costuming chops.

Skills you'll learn

  • Design skills to take your costumes from homemade to so PROFESSIONAL people will be asking "Where did you get that?!"

  • How to design a costume as UNIQUE as you are

  • Knowledge to get your costume to fit PERFECTLY, no gapping, sagging, or slipping

  • Tips and tricks to make your costume FUNCTIONAL & COMFORTABLE

  • Ways to make your costumes more VERSATILE


What's included with the course:

  • 4 live lecture classes to cover the main components of costume creation (Bra & Belt Construction, Skirts, Decorating, and Accessories)

  • 2 live hands-on work sessions so you don't have to create alone and can ask your questions in real time

  • Exclusive pre-recorded lessons only available in the program

  • Private facebook group with access to our head teacher to get all your questions answered as you move through the process

  • Free 1:1 consultation with Michelle to get in depth answers and insight into your project for the first 10 dancers to enroll

Testimonials

Alyssa


I had the vision for what I wanted to create, but what I didn't have was a clue where to start for such a unique costume. When I saw that Michelle and Lisa were offering a costuming course I jumped right in! It was great to have the ability to meet live online for costuming lectures and then be able to go back and watch again (and again, and again...) on replay while I was putting what we learned into practice. I absolutely LOVE my new costume and it never would have happened without signing up for the program. Having Michelle and Lisa keeping me accountable helped me to meet my own project goals while still giving me the flexibility to embrace my natural chaos learning style. I now have a fantastic, well-fitting costume and a newly discovered addiction to rhinestoning.

Enchanting Erica

Costume Magic University was a great help to me in upping my costume game! Michelle’s technique for reinforcing bras made construction a lot easier and makes the bra more wearable. Personally, I can be somewhat unimaginative in my designs, and I really got good advice on thinking bigger and being more elaborate. I also appreciated the discussions on thinking outside of the standard color wheel combinations. While this might sound like a ton of work (it can be if you go a bit crazy with it like me) there is also good advice on how to work smarter, not harder. Particularly with circle skirt cutting. I highly recommend CMU if you want to make more of your own costumes.

Lisa Jean

"Before taking Costume Magic University, I really felt like I was just winging it. I had some basic sewing skills and had done a lot of internet "research". But my costumes never seemed to fit quite right and they definitely screamed "I MADE THIS!!!"

But by taking Costume Magic University with Michelle, I learned tips and tricks I had never dreamed of and learned to make a perfect fitting costume that reflects my personal style.

I loved being able to use the Facebook group to ask Michelle questions as we went along. "Why doesn't this look right?" "Should that go here or here?" Having an actual person to answer my questions and give me feedback was invaluable!

And more importantly, I ACTUALLY FINISHED THE PROJECT! Having someone to hold me accountable was just what I needed to take things from dreams to reality."

Meet the Teacher

Michelle

Michelle came from a family that didn't buy Halloween costumes. Store-bought costumes were not a thing. Why buy it when you can dig into the dress up box or make your own costume even better from scratch? 


This led to a life of sewing, crafting, learning historical techniques with a DYI ethos that culminated with Michelle getting her degree in Fiber Arts and starting her own costume line. 

After making costumes for local and international dancers for several years, life led Michelle down a different path, but that didn’t stop the costume making and experimenting. 

Now she is ready to share this costume knowledge with you in Costume Magic University!

Contents

Introduction

March 9th Welcome Meeting!
Welcome Class.mp4

Design

#1 A Costume's Job
#2 Design 101
#3 Inspiration
#4 Construction Choices
#5 Measurements
#6 Design Sketch
#7 Knots
Measurement Form
Croquis
Washing Tutorial

Costume Renovations

Renovation Class
Renovation Follow Along Vlog

Bra & Belt Basics

Bra Live Class: April 13, 12:00pm - 2:00pm Central
Bra Shopping
7 Bra Reinforcement
Bra Straps Pt 1.mp4
Bra Straps Pt 2.mp4
Floaty Boob
Bra & Belt Class Recording pt 1
Bra & Belt Class Recording pt 2

Skirts for All

Skirt Live Class: May 4, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
CMU Skirts for All.pdf
Shorts Cutting Tutorial
1/4 skirt cutting guide
Skirt Class 25

Check-in/Co-work day

Check-in/Co-working Day June 8
check-in recording

Decorate or Die

Costume Decoration Class: July 6, 12:00pm - 2:00pm Central
Decor class slides
Decor Class

Accessorize or Die

Costume Accessories Class: August 3, 12:00pm - 2:00pm Central
Accessory slides.pdf
Accessories video

Final

Check in and program wrap up - Sept 7, 12:00pm - 2:00pm Central