Mary Poppins Costume

I decided to design costumes for the play “Mary Poppins”. This is a childhood favorite for many. The story revolves around the Banks, a rich British family growing up in the Edwardian Era. I decided to design costumes for Mary Poppins, the two children Michael and Jane, and Bert the sidewalk entertainer they befriend. Since the play is has a very whimsical approach based a lot on imagination, I want the costumes to have that magical affect as well.

Mary Poppins: As the nanny and most important character in the play she needs the most attention. Her costume should be very conservative with a white blouse that buttons up to the neck and use a ribbon as a type of bow tie around the neck. Then she needs a long fitted jacket and a skirt that goes ¾ the way down her leg. For her shoes a pair of high buttoned old fashioned black boots would be perfect. Her most important touches would be her accessories which include an old fashioned black hat with a flower (daisy) preferably. Then she needs her famous carpet bag for which she can fit almost anything inside magically including her large black umbrella which she uses to travel location to location.

Bert: The kind chimney sweep/ street artist has many different outfits. I decided to focus on his costume as a chimney sweeper and how he is obviously in a lower class then the others. He would need a basically all black work outfit including black pants/jeans with a raged old suit jacket and black/brown shirt underneath. The jazz up his outfit slightly I would include a red neck tie and black pancake beret. For accessories he would need a chimney sweeper and ashed up face and hands.

Jane & Michael Banks: As the spoiled children of a rich banker and feminist mother the children will be dressed in nice conservative Edwardian Era clothing. This will include for Jane an old fashioned dress with sailor color and ribbon tied around hat. Jane will wear her hair straight and half up with a straw hat. White tights and mary-jane styled flat shoes will top off her outfit. Michael will wear a nice button up shirt with neck tie and sweater vest over top. He will wear knee length breeches with high socks and black leather lace up shoes. His hair will be tidy and slicked to one side.