This trip has definitely been more business than "vacation" though I still love everything about this nutty place. I am dealing with about 10 different shops, most existing in this very unassuming maze-like marketplace. It's completely unhip and untrendy, totally away from most tourist traffic. Yet, they have a certain specific international following of queens, trannies, and other show people who come to get costumes, wardrobe shows, etc.
Perfidia and I notice little trends in what's going on each year. Like, one shop will start making headdresses from a glittter-covered vinyl, then they next year so are all of the others, then the next year they are making flower shapes out of the vinyl, etc. This year they finally discovered corsetry. Also, I saw quite a bit of period costume, totally new. It probably started because one of the mega drag shows, Tiffany, had a Marie Antoinette inspired production number in the show this year. They started out in huge pannier dresses. When the music picked up and got dancey the panniers tore away and they were in sexy high cut corset/pantie ensembles.
Today I discovered a new place that is totally away from the other shops. I spotted it from a cab last week and wandered back to look for it. It was a storefront with a glass windows and mannequins, though it is nowhere near the fancy shopping districts. It turns out to be a 5 story building owned and operated by trannies who make, sell, and rent costumes. I never ran across a rental place but it all makes sense. There are so many shows in bars and clubs that have amazing costumes, I always wondered where they were all coming from. I'm getting a few items from her this week but there's not time to start anything big, I'm leaving soon. She took me upstairs to see her collection, she has a lot of those Japanese-style anime-inspired outfits, like the uniforms with puffy shoulders and petticoats. Unfortunately like many of these shops, her English is limited and mail order would not be a good idea. That's why I stay here for a month!